Postgraduate Diploma in National Law (PGDNL) Program
POSTED ON - Jun 14th, 2023
PGDNL Program was previously offered by Bhutan National Legal Institute in collaboration with Royal Institute of Management (RIM) in Simtokha. However, after discontinuation of the Program at RIM, a series of meetings were held among the Bar Council of Bhutan, the Bhutan National Legal Institute, JSW School of Law, the Judiciary, and the Royal Civil Service Commission. After these series of meetings, it was agreed that this Program will be offered at and by JSW Law starting from August 2023.
JSW Law has agreed to takeover the Program with the objective of helping the law graduates (who studied outside Bhutan) qualify for practice of law in Bhutan, by grounding them with the knowledge of Bhutanese laws, and by providing skills necessary to understand and interpret the laws and practise pleading and conveyancing in the language of the court.
Eligibility Criteria
JSW Law has instituted a unique and very competitive admission process in the country. Students wishing to study at JSW Law must apply in accordance with the procedure described below and must meet the following criteria.
Application Portal
All Applicants interested in applying for law school should apply using the admission portal that will be live once the admission is open.
Postgraduate Diploma in National Law (PGDNL) Degree Requirement
The student must have completed his/her first law degree from outside Bhutan (as evidenced by degree certificate/provisional certificate/any other documents issued by the host institution certifying the successful completion of the law degree)
Curriculum Structure
| Semester I – Autumn | Semester II – Spring |
|---|---|
| LAW112 Ngag-doen (Dzongkha Vocabulary) (12 Credit) | LAW113 Nyen-ngag (Dzongkha Poetry) (12 Credit) |
| LAW111 Sumtag (Dzongkha Grammar) (12 credit) | LAW301 Tsed-Ma (Buddhist Logic and Debate) (12 Credit) |
| LAW210 Legal Drafting–Correspondence, Conveyances & Pleadings (in Dzongkha) (12 Credit) | LAW211 Civil & Criminal Procedure Course (12 credit) |
| LAW311 Evidence Law (12 credit) | LAW307 Constitutional Law II (Bhutanese Constitutional Law) (12 Credit) |
| LAW402 Family Law (12 Credit) | LAW202 Property Law (12 credit) |
Fee structure:
The following is the fee structure for a two-semester PGDNL Program:
- Tuition fee: Nu. 108,150/-
- Residence: Nu. 12,000/-
- Laundry: Nu. 2,400/-
- Food Service: Nu. 30,000/-
- Total payable: Nu. 152,550 (applicable for academic year 2025-2026 only)
Admissions Requirement:
Students must have completed BHSEC with minimum of 60% in Dzongkha
* Note: Students who do not meet the 60% Dzongkha requirement must undergo a two-week Bridging Dzongkha Language Course of 12 credits. Students must pass the course to be eligible to pursue PDGNL degree.
*Fees for bridging course will apply as follows:
Tuition fee: Nu.10,815/-
Residence: Nu. 500/-
Laundry: Nu. 200/-
Food Service: Nu.1,500/-
Total payable: Nu. 13,015 (applicable for academic year 2025-2026 only)
Slots : Maximum of 40 students are selected on first come first basis.
Registration period: Registration will remain open from 26th May – 26th June 2025.
Application Fee: Your application will be complete only after the payment of Nu.500 (non-refundable) application fee.
Bhutanese Students who have not completed BHSEC but have completed an equivalent secondary education must have a pass on an equivalent secondary education certificate to BHSEC 60% marks in a Dzongkha Test conducted by the Law School (modelled on BHSEC) or an equivalent score endorsed by the Law School.
Instructions
Please submit all the questions to the best of your ability with correct information.
You have to submit the form. The application will not be reviewed until you have selected “I have finished editing this application.”
Questions marked with a red star are compulsory. You can not continue until answering all questions marked with a red star.