Rice-Jones Charitable Trust Scholarship (fuer den Bar Training Course/BTC)

What the Rice-Jones Charitable Trust Scholarship gives you

You get up to about EUR 23,000 (up to 20,000 GBP) towards your tuition fees for the first year of a full-time postgraduate law course at Manchester Metropolitan University. The exact amount is set case by case. It may not cover all your fees, so you might still pay part yourself. For comparison, the Bar Training Course at MMU costs 16,000 GBP for 2026/27. The award is a one-off for a single academic year and is not renewed. It comes from the Rice-Jones Charitable Trust, a charity that supports trainee lawyers, and is administered by the law firm Michelmores LLP.

Who can apply

• Course: You already hold a firm place on a full-time postgraduate law course at MMU, such as the Bar Training Course (BTC), the Graduate Diploma in Law, or an LLM (Master of Laws). Distance learning does not count.
• Nationality and residence: You are a UK student (England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland) paying the Home tuition rate and holding a valid UK Student Support Number.
• Funding situation: You pay for your studies yourself, including through loans or family help. You must not already have full funding from someone else, such as a training contract or a pupillage.
• Grades: You have strong academic results.
• Commitment: You can show that you are serious about a career in law.
• Financial need: You can show that you need the money to fund your studies.

How to apply

Download the official application form and send it to Michelmores LLP by email or post. The form includes short essay questions about why you want a legal career, the biggest challenge facing the profession, and your finances. If you are shortlisted, you are invited to an in-person interview in Manchester. You hear the result within about two weeks of the interview.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is cut narrowly. You must be a UK Home-fee student, self-funded with no other sponsorship, and already holding a place on one of the listed MMU law courses. That keeps the eligible group small. If you clearly meet those conditions and back up your financial need and commitment to law with strong essays, your prospects are solid. The trustees decide at their own discretion, so a well-evidenced case matters most, and applying early in the cycle helps.