SQE Degree Requirements

To become a solicitor under the SQE route, you need a degree in any subject, an equivalent qualification, or relevant work experience. You are required to have attained a certain level of general education and intellectual capability, but you are not required to. A degree or its equivalent is verified by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) when you apply for admission as a solicitor.

A degree for SQE purposes must be awarded at level 6 (or above) of the UK Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) by a recognised degree-awarding body. This is typically an undergraduate degree but can also include diplomas or other level 6 qualifications. Equivalent UK qualifications include accredited or regulated level 6 qualifications from the FHEQ or Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), such as CILEx Level 6 qualifications. Similarly, apprenticeships at level 6 or above, approved by relevant government departments, also qualify.

In Scotland, qualifications or apprenticeships at level 9 or above of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF), accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) or a Scottish degree-awarding body, meet the equivalent standard. Additionally, overseas qualifications equivalent to a UK degree, or those accredited at level 6 (or above) of the European Qualifications Framework, may also satisfy this requirement.

For individuals without formal academic qualifications, the SRA may accept work experience as equivalent to a degree. This is evaluated on a case-by-case basis and requires substantial work-based learning combined with a sufficient standard of general education equivalent to level 3 of the RQF. This route offers flexibility for candidates with non-traditional educational backgrounds to qualify for admission.