SQE Fees Are Going Up Again: What the September 2026 Increase Means for You

Last updated: 23 April 2026

The SRA has confirmed another increase to SQE assessment fees. From September 2026, the cost of sitting SQE1 rises by £72, SQE2 rises by £112, and the combined first-attempt total climbs from £4,908 to £5,092.

It's the fourth fee adjustment since the SQE launched in 2021.

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The numbers

The total increase is 3.7%. The SRA says it reflects the cost of maintaining exam quality and translating assessments into Welsh.

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Who this actually affects

Not affected — paying current fees:

• SQE1 July 2026 sitting (registration deadline 28 May 2026)
• SQE2 July 2026 sitting (registration deadline 10 June 2026)

Likely affected — paying new fees:

• SQE2 October 2026 sitting (registration deadline 28 August 2026 — right at the September changeover)
• SQE1 January 2027 and all later sittings

If you are planning to sit SQE2 in October 2026, it is worth checking with the SRA whether the fee applicable is the old or new rate. Registration opens in July 2026 but the sitting itself falls after the September change. We will update this article once that is confirmed.

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Context: four increases in five years

The July 2026 sitting fees (current rates) are already 22% higher than the original launch fees in 2021. The trajectory:

• 2021 launch — original fees set
• July 2023 — 11% increase, the largest single rise
• March 2025 — further adjustment
• September 2026 — 3.7% increase (announced April 2026)

The stated justification for multiple increases has included Welsh language translation costs, which has drawn scepticism from some candidates given how frequently it has been cited. Readers of the Legal Cheek coverage of the announcement were pointed in their response.

The broader frustration runs deeper. The SQE was positioned as a more affordable, more accessible alternative to the LPC. At £1,934/£2,974 it remains cheaper than most LPC programmes — but the year-on-year creep erodes that advantage, and when you add course provider fees the total cost of qualification is not dramatically lower than the route it replaced.

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What to do if you're planning to sit

Sit this summer if you're ready. The July 2026 sittings for SQE1 and SQE2 both fall under current fees. If you are genuinely exam-ready, booking now locks in the lower rate.

Don't sit if you're not ready. An extra £72 or £112 is insignificant compared to the cost of a failed attempt — £967 for a single SQE1 paper resit, up to £2,974 for SQE2. Pass rates across all candidates average around 53% for SQE1. Don't book a sitting to beat a fee increase if your prep isn't there.

Model your costs now. If you'll be sitting after September 2026, update your budget using the new figures. The total first-attempt cost for anyone starting their SQE journey from late 2026 is £5,092 in SRA fees alone, before any course costs.

Use our free SQE cost calculator to model your total qualification costs including resit scenarios.

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The SRA's position

The official statement from the SRA reads: "Making sure that the quality of the SQE is maintained, and that it remains a valid, reliable, secure and fair assessment which meets the regulator's accessibility commitments, is a priority."

The authority has also pointed to the costs of running a secure, standardised national assessment — invigilation, psychometric analysis, centre operations — as ongoing drivers of expense.

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Bottom line

If you're sitting before September 2026: nothing changes. Book normally.

If you're sitting from September 2026 onwards: add £184 to your first-attempt budget. It's annoying but not catastrophic. Plan around it rather than letting it push you into sitting before you're ready.

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Related:

• Full SQE cost breakdown 2026
• SQE exam dates and registration deadlines 2026
• What happens if you fail the SQE