[updated June 2025]
Are you ready for the next step of your exciting journey to becoming a solicitor in England and Wales? The Solicitor’s Qualifying Examination (SQE) is a big part of the process. The SQE assessments comprise of two components, SQE1 and SQE2. If you are wondering, "When are the upcoming SQE exams?" you’re in the right place! In this article we outline all the important SQE exam dates straight from the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority (SRA). As providers of SQE1 and SQE2 preparation courses, we’ve also clearly outlined the best courses to take that prepare you in time for your chosen exam date.
Remember, you must complete SQE1 before taking SQE2 unless you have specific exemption from the SRA for SQE1. If you are taking your exams outside of the UK, double-check your timings as these can vary internationally.
SQE1
SQE1 runs twice a year, in January and July. It is split into two assessments: FLK1, and FLK2.
For this exam, we recommend our SQE1 Prep course. We also offer an LLM programme that includes SQE prep for those interested in gaining a master's degree alongside their SQE preparation. Please note that this course lasts 1-2 years, depending on whether you choose the part-time or full-time option.
Our SQE1 preparation courses run year round, and are offered as a full time 13-week option, a part time 20-week option, and a part time 40-week option. Read more information about each course here. The 2025 July SQE1 exam has now passed.
January 2026 SQE1 exam:
- Dates: FLK1: 12th-16th January 2026/ FLK2:19th-23rd January 2026
- Booking opening: TBC
- Booking close: TBC
- Results date: 10th March 2026
Our full time, 13-week SQE1 Prep course that best prepares you for this sitting is our course running from 222nd September - 19th December 2025. Applications for this close on the 8th September 2025. This is the best option for you if you can dedicate 35 hours per week to study, and want to take on the quickest possible route to qualifying.
Our part time, 20-week course runs from 4th August 2025 - 19th December 2025. Applications close 21st July 2025. Our part time, 40-week course for this assessment has already started.
July 2026 SQE1 exam:
- Dates: FLK1: 13th-17th July / FLK2: 20th-24th July
- Booking opening: TBC
- Booking close: TBC
- Results date: TBC
Our full time, 13-week SQE1 Prep course and our part time, 20-week courses that best prepare you for this sitting are not yet open. This is the best option for you if you can dedicate 35 hours per week to study, and want to take on the quickest possible route to qualifying.
Our extended part time, 40-week courses for this assessment is running from 8th September 2025 until 26th June 2026. Applications close 25th August 2025.
Look at our various options all in one place on our course calendar:
SQE2
SQE2 assessments run four times a year in January, April, July and October. They comprise of two components - a written exam, and an oral exam. The oral assessments take place at exam centres in Birmingham, London, Cardiff and Manchester. Written assessments are at Pearson VUE test centres in the UK and across the world, more details on the SQE2 centres can be found here.
September-October 2025 SQE2 exam:
Oral dates:
- First Sitting: 30-31 October
- Second Sitting: 11-12 November
- Third Sitting: 13-14 November
Written dates:
- Dates: 4-6 November
- Booking opening: TBC
- Booking close: TBC
- Results date: 24 February 2026
If you’re looking to take the SQE2 in this sitting and study full time, our full time, 10-week SQE2 Prep course that best coincides with this sitting runs from the 14 July to 19 September 2025. Applications for this course close on 30 June 2025. Apply here. This is the best option for you if you can dedicate 30- 35 hours per week to study, and want to take on the quickest possible route to qualifying.
Our part time, 20-week SQE2 Prep course and our extended part time, 40-week SQE2 Prep course that best prepares you for this exam have now closed.
If you’re looking to sit the SQE in 2026, we also have course dates preparing you for those later sittings, which you can view via our course calendar.
January SQE2 exam:
Oral dates:
- First Sitting: 3rd-4th February
- Second Sitting: 5th-6th February
Written dates:
- Dates: 27th-29th January
- Booking opening: TBC
- Booking close: TBC
- Results date: 21st May 2026
If you’re looking to take the SQE2 in this sitting and study full time, our full time, 10-week SQE2 Prep course that best coincides with this sitting runs from the 13th October to 19th December 2025. Applications for this course close on 29th September 2025. Apply here. This is the best option for you if you can dedicate 30- 35 hours per week to study, and want to take on the quickest possible route to qualifying.
Our part time, 20-week SQE2 Prep course runs 4th August 2025-19th December 2025, and applications close on 21st July 2025. Our extended part time, 40-week SQE2 Prep course has now closed.
April 2026 SQE2 exam:
Oral dates:
- First Sitting: 5th-6th May
- Second Sitting: 7th-8th May
- Third Sitting: 12th-13th May
Written dates:
- Dates: 28th-30th April
- Booking opening: TBC
- Booking close: TBC
- Results date: 27th August 2026
If you’re looking to take the SQE2 in this sitting and study full time, our full time, 10-week SQE2 Prep course that best coincides with this sitting has not yet opened. This is the best option for you if you can dedicate 30- 35 hours per week to study, and want to take on the quickest possible route to qualifying.
Our part time, 20-week SQE2 Prep course is now open for applications and runs from 10th November 2025 - 10th April 2026. Applications close 27th October 2025. Our extended part time, 40-week SQE2 Prep course that best prepares you for this exam have now closed.
July 2026 SQE2 exam:
Oral dates:
- First Sitting: 4th - 5th August
- Second Sitting: 6th-7th August
Written dates:
- Dates: 28th-30th July 2026
- Booking opening: TBC
- Booking close: TBC
- Results date: TBC
If you’re looking to take the SQE2 in this sitting and study full time, our full time, 10-week SQE2 Prep course that best coincides with this sitting runs has not yet opened. This is the best option for you if you can dedicate 30- 35 hours per week to study, and want to take on the quickest possible route to qualifying.
Our part time, 20-week SQE2 Prep course has not yet opened. Our extended part time, 40-week SQE2 Prep course runs 8th September 2025 - 26th June 2026, and applications close 25th August 2025.
October 2026 SQE2 exam:
Oral dates:
- First Sitting: 3rd-4th November
- Second Sitting: 5th-6th November
- Third Sitting: 10th-11th November
Written dates:
- Dates: 27th-29th October
- Booking opening: TBC
- Booking close: TBC
- Results date: TBC
If you’re looking to take the SQE2 in this sitting and study full time, our full time, 10-week SQE2 Prep course that best coincides with this sitting runs has not yet opened. This is the best option for you if you can dedicate 30- 35 hours per week to study, and want to take on the quickest possible route to qualifying.
Our part time, 20-week SQE2 Prep course has not yet opened. Our extended part time, 40-week SQE2 Prep course runs 15th December 2025 - 2nd October 2026, and applications close 1st December 2025.
More resources
Ready to start your SQE journey? Visit our SQE hub for comprehensive guides to the assessment or view our SQE preparation courses.
Published June 2025.
The information on this page was correct at the time of publishing.