Sitting the SQE abroad: international test centres

If you're qualifying as a solicitor from outside the UK, or you're a foreign-qualified lawyer working through the requalification route, one practical question comes before almost everything else: can you sit the exam without flying to England?

The short answer is yes, mostly. SQE1 is available at a wide network of international Pearson VUE test centres. SQE2 is split: its written stations run at a smaller set of international Pearson VUE centres, but its oral stations only run in England and Wales. For most candidates abroad, that means at least one trip is unavoidable. Here's how the two parts actually work in practice, and what to check before you book.

SQE1: sit it at a Pearson VUE centre near you

SQE1 is delivered on-screen through Pearson VUE, the same test-centre network used for a huge range of professional and IT exams worldwide. Because Pearson VUE already operates centres in most major cities globally, the SRA has been able to open SQE1 up to candidates sitting outside the UK, alongside the usual UK venues.

That matters if you're based overseas and don't want to travel twice, once for each part of the SQE. It also matters if you're working full-time in another jurisdiction and studying around your job: sitting SQE1 locally removes a chunk of cost and disruption that flying to a UK centre would add.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Not every Pearson VUE centre worldwide necessarily offers an SQE1 slot in every sitting window. Availability depends on where the SRA and Pearson VUE have opened up seats for that particular sitting.
• You choose your centre when you book, and popular international locations can fill up, just like popular UK ones do.
• The format doesn't change by location. SQE1 is still 360 multiple-choice questions split across two days (180 questions for FLK1, 180 for FLK2), delivered under the same conditions wherever you sit it.

The practical takeaway: book early. Booking windows close roughly five weeks before a sitting, and international seats at a convenient centre can go before the deadline if you leave it late. For the exact 2027 sitting dates and how the booking calendar works, see the SQE dates guide.

SQE2: split between written and oral, and the oral part is UK-only

SQE2 is a different exercise logistically, and it's actually two different exercises location-wise. It's 16 skills stations, oral and written, run over roughly five half-days, and it needs trained assessors, interview-style rooms, and recording or observation setups. That kind of exam infrastructure is expensive and slow to replicate everywhere.

SQE2's written stations run at Pearson VUE test centres, including international ones, though not everywhere: the SRA does not currently offer SQE2 written assessments in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, or Central and South America, so check availability for your country before assuming it's covered. SQE2's oral stations (client interviews and advocacy) are a different matter: they're held in person, only at dedicated venues in England and Wales. There is currently no international option for the oral half of SQE2.

For most candidates abroad, this means a trip to England or Wales for the oral stations is either necessary or, at minimum, the most realistic route, even if you can sit the written stations locally.

Before you plan your timeline, check the SRA's current SQE2 venue list directly on the sqe.sra.org.uk booking pages, since which locations run SQE2 written in a given sitting can change between sittings. Don't assume the location you sat SQE1 in will also run SQE2 written, and don't assume any location outside England and Wales will cover the oral stations.

If you're weighing up your route as a foreign-qualified lawyer more broadly, including possible exemptions, it's worth reading about the requalification path in full before you commit to booking either part.

What this means for planning your route

If you're studying and working outside the UK, the practical sequence usually looks like this:

1. Confirm whether you actually need to sit SQE1 at all, some foreign-qualified lawyers hold exemptions depending on prior qualification and jurisdiction. Check your position with the SRA before assuming you need to sit both parts.
2. If you do need SQE1, book at your nearest available international Pearson VUE centre as early as the window allows.
3. Treat SQE2 as a trip you need to plan for, budget for and take time off for, rather than something you can slot in locally. Factor in travel costs and, if relevant, visa or entry requirements for wherever SQE2 is being run.
4. Build results timelines into your planning. SQE1 results typically land five to six weeks after the sitting; SQE2 results take considerably longer, typically fourteen to eighteen weeks. If you're coordinating international travel around a resit, that wait matters.

None of this changes the underlying assessment fees. Whether you sit in London or Lagos, Singapore or Sydney, you pay the same SRA assessment fee, which is due to rise for anyone booking from October 2026 onward. For the current numbers, see what the SQE costs.

Costs beyond the assessment fee

The SRA fee is fixed by location, but your total cost isn't. Flights, accommodation and time off work for an SQE2 sitting abroad can add a meaningful amount on top of the assessment fee itself, especially if your nearest SQE2 venue means an international trip regardless of where you already live. Build that into your budget early rather than discovering it a few weeks before a sitting.

If you're weighing your overall study spend, whether that's an assessment-only route, self-study, or a full prep course, a free SQE study planner can help you lay travel time and prep time out against the real sitting and results dates rather than guessing.

A note on pass rates and preparation

Sitting abroad doesn't change how the exam is marked or graded; it's the same assessment, the same standard-setting process, wherever you take it. If you want context on how pass rates have moved recently, the pass rates explained post breaks down the most recent published figures without overclaiming what they mean for any individual candidate.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sit SQE1 outside the UK? Yes. SQE1 is available at international Pearson VUE test centres in addition to UK venues. Exact centre availability varies by sitting, so check the current list when you book.

Can I sit SQE2 outside the UK? Partly. SQE2's written stations run at Pearson VUE centres internationally, with some countries excluded (the SRA does not currently offer them in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, or Central and South America). SQE2's oral stations, client interviews and advocacy, are only held at venues in England and Wales, with no international option. Most candidates abroad should expect at least one trip for the oral half. Check the SRA's current venue list before assuming your local Pearson VUE centre covers the written stations too.

Do international sittings cost more than sitting in the UK? The SRA assessment fee itself doesn't vary by location. Your total cost can still be higher if you factor in travel and accommodation, particularly for SQE2 if there's no venue near you.

Does sitting abroad affect my results or pass mark? No. The exam content, marking and standard-setting process are the same regardless of where you sit it.

How far in advance should I book if I'm sitting abroad? Book as soon as the window opens where possible. Booking generally closes around five weeks before a sitting, and international seats at a specific centre can fill before that deadline.