StepEx

Paying for the SQE: exam fees, prep courses and the loan

SQE1 is £2,006 and SQE2 £3,086 from September 2026. Which prep courses get the Master’s Loan, and what the loan leaves over.

  • £2,006

    SQE1 fee from September 2026

  • £3,086

    SQE2 fee from September 2026

  • Up to £13,206

    Master’s Loan on an LLM or MA prep course

Find courses you could afford

Two costs: the assessments and the preparation course. From September 2026 the SRA charges £2,006 for SQE1 and £3,086 for SQE2, £5,092 in total, paid when you book. A preparation course gets the Master’s Loan only if it is a full standalone master’s, such as an LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) or an MA Law (SQE1); a non-degree prep course does not.

ItemFigure
SQE1 fee from September 2026£2,006
SQE2 fee from September 2026£3,086
Master’s Loan on an LLM or MA prep courseUp to £13,206
Master’s Loan on a non-degree prep courseNot available
University of Law LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2), 2027/28£18,950 London, £15,450 outside London, excluding exam fees

Courses for this guide

SQE preparation courses in the finder

Enter your details once to see the loan position and the ways to pay for each.

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Courses with a StepEx loan

StepEx Lender Ltd offers loans for these courses. Approval is not guaranteed.

The University of Law

StepEx loanSee the representative example
LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) - Part-time Non London

LLM · Part time · 2 years

StepEx loan: 60 months · 5.1% APR representative

Fee
£15,450

Fee for 2027/28 · whole course, over 2 years

£2,244 more than the SLC master's loan covers
Affordability
Outcomes
University employment rate: 90%

The University of Law

StepEx loanSee the representative example
MA Law (SQE1) Non London / Online Full Time

MA · Full time · 1 year · Online

StepEx loan: 48 months · 6.5% APR representative

Fee
£16,850

Fee for 2027/28

£3,644 more than the SLC master's loan covers
Affordability
Outcomes
University employment rate: 90%

The University of Law

StepEx loanSee the representative example
MA Law (SQE1) Non London / Online Part Time

MA · Part time · 2 years · Online

StepEx loan: 60 months · 5.3% APR representative

Fee
£16,850

Fee for 2027/28 · whole course, over 2 years

£3,644 more than the SLC master's loan covers
Affordability
Outcomes
University employment rate: 90%

Our ranking is impartial: whether a course has a StepEx loan is not a factor. All courses are ranked by affordability, then graduate pay at 5 years. Courses with a StepEx loan are also shown in a separate section above.

More about how we rank

Top 5 of 23 courses

23 likely affordable · affordable first, then highest graduate pay at 5 years

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University of East London

Fee
£14,400

Fee for September 2027

£1,194 more than the SLC master's loan covers
Affordability
Outcomes
University employment rate: 55%

York

Fee
£14,390

Fee for 2027/28

£1,184 more than the SLC master's loan covers
Affordability
Outcomes
University employment rate: 80%

Surrey

Fee
£13,900

Fee for 2027/28

£694 more than the SLC master's loan covers
Affordability
Outcomes
University employment rate: not available

BPP University

LLM SQE1&2

LLM · Full time · 1 year

Fee
£15,300

Fee for 2027/28

£2,094 more than the SLC master's loan covers
Affordability
Outcomes
University employment rate: 92%

BPP University

LLM Law Conversion with SQE1

LLM · Full time · 1 year

Fee
£17,300

Fee for 2027/28

£4,094 more than the SLC master's loan covers
Affordability
Outcomes
University employment rate: 92%

Open Affordability or Outcomes on any course for the detail. Courses with a StepEx loan are marked and get no preference in the order. How we work it out

Paying the university directly assumes three instalments: at the start, after 4 months and after 7 months. Estimates based on the figures shown, not advice. A StepEx loan is subject to identity, affordability and credit checks; approval is not guaranteed.

The assessment fees

The SRA announced the increase in April 2026: SQE1 from £1,934 to £2,006 and SQE2 from £2,974 to £3,086, for candidates booking from October 2026. The SRA says fees rise each year with inflation plus a small uplift, so expect a further increase for 2027. The fees are paid when you book the assessment, separately from the course fee; the University of Law states its SQE course fees exclude them.

Prep course and the loan

GOV.UK’s test is whether the course is a full, standalone master’s (an LLM or MA qualifies; a postgraduate diploma or certificate does not). Part-time master’s versions lasting two years also qualify. Because the loan is paid to you rather than the university, you can put part of it towards the assessment fees.

Example: the University of Law’s LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) part-time outside London is £15,450 for 2027/28; the loan leaves £2,244 of fee plus £5,092 of assessments.

Employer funding

Some law firms and in-house teams fund SQE preparation and the assessments for their trainees and paralegals. If you have a training contract or a qualifying work experience arrangement, the firm’s policy decides what you pay yourself.

Ways to pay

  • Student loan. Where the course qualifies, the Master’s Loan of £13,206 (England; other UK nations differ, see the nations guide).
  • Pay the university. Ask about paying in instalments across the year; the university’s own page sets the dates.
  • Employer. Some employers pay all or part of a fee, usually with a condition that you stay for a period afterwards.
  • Scholarships and discounts. University scholarships and alumni discounts, see the scholarships guide.
  • StepEx loan. On the courses listed on the finance availability page, credit from StepEx Lender Ltd lets you pay the fee in monthly repayments after a deposit. Approval is not guaranteed. The representative example for each course is on the provider’s page.

A StepEx loan is credit from StepEx Lender Ltd, available on the courses listed on the finance availability page. Approval is not guaranteed. The representative example for each course is on the provider’s page.

Ways to pay

  • SLC

    The government SLC master's loan. The amount depends on where you live.

    How the SLC master's loan works

  • Pay the university directly

    Usually in three instalments: at the start, after 4 months and after 7 months.

  • StepEx loan

    Available on some courses here. See the representative example on the provider page.

    Check finance availability

Questions people ask

No. The loan is tied to enrolment on a qualifying master’s course.

One loan per person, up to £13,206 in total, however many stages the course covers. You cannot get a second Master’s Loan later.

Related guides

Sources and dates

Checked 7 November 2026. Figures are for UK students and change each year; check the university's page before you apply. Not advice.

Estimates, not advice.

Questions about these guides? Contact us.