What SQE2 costs in 2026: assessment fees and prep-course prices
The SQE2 assessment fee is fixed by the SRA; preparation is a separate, optional cost. Here is what each part costs and a realistic total budget.
The SQE2 assessment fee (and the September 2026 rise)
The SQE2 assessment fee is £2,974 (VAT exempt) up to September 2026, rising to £3,086 from September 2026 — a £112 (3.8%) increase applying to anyone booking to sit from October 2026. The SRA attributes it to inflation plus the cost of translating assessments into Welsh; it was announced on 21 April 2026 (SRA).
SQE1 + SQE2 combined cost
SQE1 is £1,934 now (£2,006 from September 2026). Combined SQE1 + SQE2 assessment fees are £4,908 now and £5,092 from September 2026. These are assessment fees only — not preparation (SRA).
Prep-course prices
Preparation courses are optional and separate from the assessment fee, and prices vary widely by provider and campus — an SQE2 preparation course typically runs from around £2,000 to over £6,000. The main providers (BPP, University of Law, BARBRI and QLTS School) publish current prices on their own websites; check each directly, as figures change by academic year and location.
A realistic total budget
Assessment fees alone come to £4,908 now (£5,092 from September 2026) for both parts. Add a preparation course and the SQE2 stage realistically runs several thousand pounds more, depending on provider and campus. Treat it as a range, not a single number.
Where you can cut cost
You do not have to pay for a full course to practise. Kellys grades your SQE2 written answers against the SRA's published Performance Indicators, and your first written attempt is free — a lower-cost way to test where you stand before committing to a course.