Cohen Scholarship Programme
The Cohen Scholarship Programme is a merit-based scholarship open to those who wish to do their GDL and LPC at BPP Law School in Leeds or Manchester. If this is you, we strongly recommend you apply. The application form is straightforward, you simply need to complete your personal details and your academic achievements to date. There's no essay or personal statement. If you are successful you will be invited to an assessment day based on the ones which firms hold to recruit trainees. It will be a fun day and excellent experience.
BPP is the only leading provider to offer a multiple merit-based GDL scholarship programme in the UK.
The scholarship is named after Baroness Cohen, a Labour life peer (since 2000), a non-executive director of the London Stock Exchange plc (since 2001) and former BBC governor (1994 – 1999). She has had numerous corporate board roles with a range of financial institutions and was a senior civil servant at the Department of Trade and Industry (1969 - 1982). She is also a published author and chairman of the Cambridge Arts Theatre. Baroness Cohen was recently installed as the first president of BPP University College of Professional Studies.
Cohen scholarship details
The value of the scholarship is £5,000 comprising:
- £2,500 reduction in the GDL fees at BPP Law School, Leeds or Manchester
- £2,500 reduction in LPC fees (provided students obtain at least a commendation on the GDL) at BPP Law School, Leeds or Manchester
- payment of any non-refundable deposit paid to another provider, up to a maximum of £200
It is intended to offer between five and ten Cohen scholarships for each location (provided minimum criteria is met).
You do not have to have accepted your place with us to apply for the scholarship.
Application criteria
Applications can be made by any prospective GDL student considering commencing the GDL in September 2010, whether full-time or part-time.
Applications are open to all prospective GDL students irrespective of where you are currently considering studying.
This means it is not necessary to have applied to BPP at the time of the application nor is it necessary to have accepted an offer of a place at BPP at the time of application.
Criteria
The Cohen scholarships will be awarded entirely on the basis of merit. The BPP scholarship panel will make the decision on the basis of the:
- academic record of applicants
- legal potential demonstrated at the assessment day
What is the application process?
There will be two stages in the award of the Cohen scholarships:
Stage 1
Please send us your completed Cohen scholarship application form and a passport sized photo.
The deadline for applications is Friday 25th June 2010, however we will accept applications which are posted on this day and received by Monday 28th June 2010.
Applications should be submitted in full via the post clearly listing your name, address and contact telephone number to admissions.
Due to the volume of applications we receive individual acknowledgements cannot be sent. If you wish to receive confirmation of receipt, please enclose a sealed self-addressed envelope complete with postage. This envelope will be stamped and returned to you as acknowledgement.
Short list of applicants
Applications will be reviewed by the scholarship panel. The panel will select a short list of students based on their academic record to date.
Successful applicants will be informed by Friday 9th July 2010. If you are successful you will be invited to attend our scholarship assessment day.
The scholarship assessment day will be held on Tuesday 27th July 2010 in Leeds and Wednesday 28th July 2010 in Manchester. All successful applicants wishing to attend a scholarship assessment day must confirm their attendance by Friday 16th July 2010.
Stage 2 - assessment day
If you successfully make it through stage 1 you will need to attend a one day scholarship assessment day. This will run from 10am - 4pm and lunch will be provided.
The scholarship assessment day will comprise a number of activities including classes, presentations and assessments. No preparation is required (or desirable). It is a fun and enjoyable but competitive day, in which the scholarship panel will be looking for your potential as a lawyer. Classes will be delivered by BPP lecturers on various introductory aspects of law. This day is excellent practice for training contract assessment days - you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
The scholarship panel will decide on the Cohen scholars on the basis of academic records and potential demonstrated on the scholarship day.
A final decision on the award of Cohen scholarships will be made by Monday 9th August 2010.
How will I know if I've been successful?
Due to the volume of applications we receive, individuals will only be contacted directly if their application has been successful. All Cohen scholarship winners are posted on our website. If you have not been notified by the 9th August and your name does not appear on the website we regret to inform you that your application has not been successful. Individual feedback on unsuccessful applications cannot be given.
If you have any queries surrounding Cohen scholarships or any of BPP’s programmes, please contact admissions.