Guidance

Submit a level 3 alternative academic qualification (AAQ) or technical occupational qualification for approval

Updated 10 January 2024

Applies to England

Submit a level 3 alternative academic qualification (AAQ) for approval

In January 2024, we’ll contact you about registering your intention to submit level 3 AAQs for first teaching in August 2026. Register your intention by 11.59pm on 26 January 2024.

In June 2024, the application window for submitting level 3 AAQs for first teaching from August 2026 (cycle 2) will open and it will close  at 11.59pm on 21 June 2024.

AAQs support progression to higher-level academic study and are typically taken alongside A levels.

There are 2 types of AAQs:

• small AAQs, which can be taken alongside A levels
• large AAQs, which can be taken instead of A levels

AAQs are reviewed by the Department for Education (DfE) and the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), and approved by DfE for funding by Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) post-16 offers in England.

Small AAQs to be first taught from 1 August 2026

In cycle 2, we expect to approve small AAQs at level 3 for funding in the following subject areas:

• crafts, creative arts and design
• early years and childcare
• human biology
• languages, literature and culture of the British Isles
• media and communication
• performing arts
• public services
• sport, leisure and recreation

We’re also considering approving for funding small AAQs in other specified sector subject areas (SSAs) aligned to the occupational routes in cycle 2, if there is both:

• no A level in that sector subject area
• a strong case that the qualification is on the academic pathway and progresses students to high-quality HE courses

The full list of subjects and SSAs aligned to these occupational routes is available in Qualification-type funding approval criteria: alternative academic qualifications.

Qualifications in scope from cycle 1 

In cycle 2 we will consider small AAQs which were in scope of cycle 1, where: 

• you did not submit, or chose to withdraw, the qualification from cycle 1
• the qualification was submitted in cycle 1, but was either not approved by IfATE or not approved by DfE for funding

If you submit qualifications in cycle 2, in subjects and routes which were in scope of cycle 1, they will receive funding approval for the academic year 2026 to 2027 - in line with the rest of cycle 2 qualifications.

Large AAQs to be first taught from 1 August 2026

In cycle 2 we will consider level 3 large AAQs technical qualifications aligned to occupational routes.

We expect these subjects to be in the following SSAs:

• performing arts
• sports, leisure and recreation
• crafts, creative arts and design

We do not expect to approve large AAQs in other SSAs. The only exceptions are confirmed in qualification type funding criteria: alternative academic qualifications.

Criteria and regulations

For an AAQ to be approved for funding, it needs to:

• be within your Ofqual scope of recognition
• be confirmed by DfE as being necessary
• meet the applicable Ofqual regulations, including the general conditions of recognition and the AAQ and technical qualifications level conditions, requirements and guidance
• have all the necessary information on Ofqual’s register of regulated qualifications
• meet DfE qualification funding approval criteria

Submitting your qualification

Information on how to submit an AAQ as part of the funding approval process can be found in the ‘Qualifications funding approval manual: from August 2025’.

Information submitted by you will be shared with Ofqual for regulation purposes and used by DfE for funding approval decisions.

Before submitting a qualification to IfATE for approval, you must ensure it falls within your current Ofqual scope of recognition. If not, you will need to apply to extend your scope of recognition to include level 3 qualifications in the associated sector subject area. DfE will not begin the process of reviewing a qualification for funding approval until it receives confirmation from Ofqual that this is within your scope of recognition.

Submit a level 3 technical occupational qualification for approval

Register your intention by 11.59pm on 26 January 2024.

In January 2024, we will contact you for a  proposal for level 3 additional specialist technical qualifications not on IfATE’s predefined list, level 3 occupational progression qualifications and level 3 employer proposed qualifications. Send your proposal by 11.59pm on 9 February 2024.

In June 2024, the application window for submitting level 3 technical qualifications for first teaching in August 2026 (cycle 2) will open and will close at 11.59pm on 21 June 2024.

Technical occupational qualifications

Technical occupational qualifications deliver the knowledge, skills and behaviours students need to progress into or within skilled employment, or to higher technical study.

Qualifications are approved by IfATE, regulated by Ofqual and approved for funding by DfE for ESFA post-16 offers.

Technical occupational qualifications to be first taught from 1 August 2026

As part of the 2026 to 2027 funding approval cycle, we are considering 3 categories of technical occupational qualifications:

• level 3 occupational entry - 16 to 19 and adults
• level 3 occupational entry - adults only
• level 3 additional specialist - 16 to 19 and adults

We will only consider level 3 technical occupational qualifications in the following routes:

• agriculture, environmental and animal care
• business administration

• care services

• creative and design
• legal, finance and accounting
• protective services
• sales, marketing and procurement
• transport and logistics

We will also consider level 3 occupational progression technical qualifications and level 3 employer proposed technical qualifications in all occupational routes.

Criteria and regulations

To get funding approval, a level 3 technical occupational qualification needs to:

• be within your Ofqual scope of recognition
• meet IfATE approval criteria within the relevant qualification category
• have all the necessary information on Ofqual’s register of regulated qualifications
• meet the applicable Ofqual regulations, including the general conditions of recognition and AAQ and technical qualifications level conditions, requirements and guidance
• meet DfE qualification funding approval criteria

Submitting your qualification

Information on how to submit a technical occupational qualification can be found on IfATE’s website.

Information submitted by you as part of this process will be shared by IfATE with Ofqual for regulation purposes and with DfE for funding approval decisions.

Before submitting the qualification to IfATE for approval, you must ensure the qualification falls within your current Ofqual scope of recognition. If not, you will need to apply to extend your scope of recognition to include level 3 qualifications in the associated sector subject area.

DfE will not begin the process of reviewing a qualification for funding approval until it receives confirmation from Ofqual that the qualification is within your scope of recognition.

Register to submit your registration of intent form for level 3, cycle 2 qualifications.

Qualifications out of scope for this funding approval process

Qualifications at entry level, level 1, level 1/2, level 2, and level 4 and above are out of scope for this application window, as are all qualifications designed for the 14 to 16 offer.

The following level 3 qualifications will continue to be automatically approved for funding where they meet the appropriate criteria:

• advanced supplementary (AS) and advanced (A) levels
• access to higher education (HE) diplomas regulated by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)
• advanced extension awards
• core maths qualifications
• extended project qualifications
• performing arts graded examinations
• the International Baccalaureate Diploma
• technical qualifications in T Levels