New data from the Bar Standards Board (BSB) reveals that only 41% of UK bar students secure pupillage within five years of starting their training. The regulator’s Bar Training report highlights the intense competition faced by aspiring barristers, with fewer than half successfully commencing pupillage by the end of 2025 despite enrolling in 2020-21.
Wide Disparities Among Training Providers
Success rates vary significantly across institutions. The Inns of Court College of Advocacy (ICCA) leads with a 67% pupillage rate, while Manchester Metropolitan University trails at 11%. BPP Manchester recorded 55%, compared to 44% at City St George’s and 34% at both BPP London and The University of Law’s London campus. These figures show the wide disparities between providers, with rates ranging from as high as 67% to as low as 11%.
The BSB notes that these figures, based on 2020-21 enrollment, should be interpreted cautiously due to differences in student profiles and cohort sizes.
Bar Course Completion Rates and Challenges
Of the 2,111 students who enrolled in 2020-21, only 78% completed all ten assessments within five years. The regulator further found that only 51% of students in this cohort passed all ten assessments at the first attempt, highlighting the challenges of the course.
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Undergraduate degree classification plays a significant role in performance. Among students who enrolled in 2024, 92% of those with a first-class degree passed all assessments by December 2025, compared to 78% with a 2:1 and 56% with a 2:2.
Rising Costs and Regulatory Response
The cost of bar training continues to rise, with average tuition fees reaching £17,600 in 2025-26, up from £16,700 the previous year. Despite this increase, fees remain below the £21,100 average recorded in 2019-20. A total of 2,449 students enrolled on bar training courses in 2025-26, a slight decrease from 2,488 the previous year.
BSB chair Professor Christopher Bones emphasized the financial and personal commitment required for bar training. He stated, “Finding pupillage after passing the course remains very competitive. Students should carefully consider their prospects before pursuing a career at the bar.”
