Qualifications which we will approve
Source: gov.uk (2025-02-06)

Which qualifications are in scope for funding approval.

This section explains which qualifications are in scope for post-16 funding approval from 1 August 2026 as part of the spring 2025 approval submission round.

We will only fund learners to study qualifications through one of the offers identified in this manual if we have approved those qualifications for funding.

As part of the conclusions from the review of post-16 reforms at level 3 (https://support.tlevels.gov.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/20323058751634-The-outcomes-of-the-Review-of-Qualifications-Reform-at-Level-3-in-England) that were announced in December 2024, public funding was extended for 57 existing qualifications (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-level-3-qualifications-reform-provisional-outcomes) until 31 July 2026.

This is to allow for continued reforms in:
- health and science
- education and early years
- construction and the built environment
- digital
- care services
We are now inviting awarding organisations to submit reformed qualifications in these routes, for delivery from 1 August 2026. Where we are inviting replacement qualifications to be considered for funding approval from 1 August 2026, unreformed qualifications in these routes will have public funding removed on 31 July 2026.

Following the output of this round of funding approvals and the conclusions of the curriculum and assessment review, we will provide further information about plans for reforming qualifications, including qualifications in the above routes where we are not inviting reformed replacements to be submitted in March 2025. This will include whether replacement qualifications are required and timescales for further reform, with the exception of large qualifications in T Level routes which will have funding removed as per the timescales set out in the conclusions of the review of qualifications reform.

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) currently holds the statutory function to approve technical qualifications in line with A2D5 of Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/22/section/A2D5) (ASCLA).

As with the previous submission round (known as Cycle 1), the approval decisions for the spring submission round will be conducted under A2D5 of the ASCLA and in accordance with the processes set out by IfATE. The Secretary of State will be responsible for considering qualifications for funding approval.

DfE will work closely with all organisations that are part of the approval process to ensure that all submissions are reviewed and a funding approval decision made against the process and criteria as set out in this funding manual.

DfE reserve discretion to request additional evidence and grant funding approval outside of the timelines specified in this manual to address gaps in the qualification offer or meet the needs of learners.

Offers in which qualifications will be funded

We will consider the following qualifications at level 3:
- alternative academic qualifications (AAQs)
- technical qualifications
- occupational entry
- additional specialist
For the relevant funded offers:
- 16 to 19 offer funded through study programmes
- statutory entitlement for learners aged 19 to 23 to be fully funded if they study for a first full qualification at level 2 or level 3
- level 3 free courses for jobs (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/free-courses-for-jobs) – qualifications at level 3 for adults aged 19 and over, to improve job prospects and progress in work as part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee
- ESFA funded local flexibility offer – qualifications at level 2 for learners aged 19 and over to respond to local skills needs
- adult offer at level 3 funded through an Advanced Learner Loan (https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan)
The Department for Education (DfE) will only consider a technical qualification for funding approval if:
- Ofqual regulates (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/awarding-organisations-understanding-our-regulatory-requirements) it
- it has been approved as a technical qualification (https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/qualifications/post-16-technical-qualifications/approvals-categories-and-associated-criteria-and-guidance/)
We will also only approve AAQs if:
- Ofqual recognises the awarding organisation
- the qualifications comply with Ofqual regulations
DfE’s funding approval decision is separate and independent from:
- Ofqual’s recognition of awarding organisations and regulation of qualifications
- the decision to approve a qualification as technical as per the technical qualification criteria (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/qualifications-funding-approval-manual-2025-to-2026/qualification-type-funding-approval-criteria-technical-qualifications)
Criteria which we apply

We will only approve a qualification for funding if it meets all the relevant funding approval criteria:
- common funding approval criteria (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/qualifications-funding-approval-manual-2025-to-2026/common-funding-approval-criteria) – all qualifications need to meet these criteria
- technical qualifications (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/qualifications-funding-approval-manual-2025-to-2026/qualification-type-funding-approval-criteria-technical-qualifications)
- alternative academic qualifications (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/qualifications-funding-approval-manual-2025-to-2026/qualification-type-funding-approval-criteria-alternative-academic-qualifications)
- offer-specific funding approval criteria – if the qualification meets the above 2 criteria, we will consider the qualification against the 16 to 19 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/qualifications-funding-approval-manual-2025-to-2026/offer-specific-funding-approval-criteria-16-to-19-offer) or adult (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/qualifications-funding-approval-manual-2025-to-2026/qualifications-approved-for-funding-for-adults-aged-19-and-over) offers
We reserve the right not to approve a qualification for public funding if:
- we have concerns about it meeting any of the funding approval criteria in this manual - this includes if we believe that issues raised by Ofqual, or any other organisation that is part of the approval process, have not been sufficiently addressed
- there is not sufficient evidence to demonstrate how the qualification meets the funding approval criteria
- the evidence that you have provided is submitted after the specified deadline
Criteria for adult offers

For adult offers you will only need to indicate that the qualification is suitable for adults in the submission form and Ofqual’s Register of Regulated Qualifications. We will apply the offer-specific funding approval criteria for adults to filter the qualification into the relevant adult offers.

Qualifications in scope of this process

We will only consider qualifications in certain levels, occupational routes and sector subject areas (SSAs). This is to ensure:
- there are no gaps in provision for learners during the transition from the existing qualifications to reformed qualifications at level 3
- providers have time to adjust to the new qualifications
During this transition, any qualifications that are approved for funding will be managed and monitored (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/qualifications-funding-approval-manual-2025-to-2026/managing-and-monitoring-the-qualification-offers).

Qualifications in scope for funding approval in spring 2025

We will accept for public funding approval, small AAQs of between 150 and 420 guided learning hours (GLH) and technical qualifications in the areas as outlined below.

Small alternative academic qualifications include:
- applied science (including areas such as forensic science)
- medical science
- human biology
- early years
- health and social care
- digital technology (practitioners), including Information technology and computing
- subjects which support progression to degrees in healthcare professions allied to medicine, dentistry, and nursing
- building and construction
- child development and wellbeing
- direct learning support
- teaching and lecturing
Technical qualifications

We will accept level 3 Technical Occupational Entry and Technical Additional Specialist qualifications in the following 5 routes:
- care services
- construction and the built environment
- digital
- education and early years
- health and science
We will only approve occupational entry qualifications for 16 to 19 against occupational standards that are not covered by T Levels as outlined in the Approved T Level technical qualifications and final outline content (https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/qualifications/t-levels/approved-t-level-technical-qualifications-and-final-outline-content/).

You can find more information on these 2 categories (Occupational Entry and Additional Specialist at level 3) in the approvals categories and associated criteria and guidance (https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/qualifications/post-16-technical-qualifications/approvals-categories-and-associated-criteria-and-guidance/). You should note that the spring submission round does not include the other categories referenced in this guidance.

Following the output of this round of funding approvals and the conclusions of the curriculum and assessment review, we will provide further information about plans for reforming qualifications, including qualifications in the above routes where we are not inviting reformed replacements to be submitted in March 2025. This will include whether replacement qualifications are required and timescales for further reform, with the exception of large qualifications in T Level routes which will have funding removed as per the timescales set out in the conclusions of the review of qualifications reform.

Qualifications out of scope of this process

The following qualification types will automatically be approved for funding for 2025 to 2026 and 2026 to 2027:
- AS and A levels
- access to higher education diplomas regulated by the Quality Assurance Agency
- advanced extension awards
- core maths qualifications
- extended project qualifications
- performing arts graded examinations
- International Baccalaureate diploma (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/qualifications-funding-approval-manual-2025-to-2026/qualification-type-funding-approval-criteria-alternative-academic-qualifications#ib)
- technical qualifications in T Levels
16 to 18 performance tables

We will publish full details of the eligibility criteria and process for adding qualifications to the list of those that count in 16 to 18 performance measures, performance points and the approach to discounting following the conclusion of the curriculum and assessment review.

Approval of qualifications for the 14 to 16 offer

We will not approve technical qualifications or AAQs for funding for 14- to 16-year-olds, as we do not expect these qualifications to be suitable for them.

Occupational pathways embedded within a technical qualification

The design of some qualifications may contain occupational pathways in the qualification.

These are routes a learner takes through the qualification. This usually relates to qualifications where learners can pursue more than one route through a compilation of optional modules or units in the qualifications structure.

These occupational pathways should be broadly comparable in size.

Where a qualification contains occupational pathways, we assign funding based on the qualification, not the individual pathways. This means that the qualification is only funded once.

Each occupational pathway must still comply with the wider technical qualifications approval criteria.

This does not apply to technical qualifications in T Levels.

Personal learning record

The personal learning record is a permanent online record of a learner’s qualifications and achievement.

We continue to encourage you to engage with the record by uploading achievement data (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/learner-registration-bodies-user-guide/using-the-learning-records-service-lrs-for-awarding-organisations-aos) for qualifications that you authorise and award in the UK.

You can also use the record to validate unique learner numbers received from colleges and other training institutions.