Post-16 level 3 qualifications from 2025: early indication for providers
Published 11 July 2023
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2023
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/expected-post-16-level-3-qualifications-for-2025/post-16-level-3-qualifications-from-2025-early-indication-for-providers
All level 3 alternative academic and technical qualifications must get new approval for funding from 2025.
The following data gives an early indication of how many of these qualifications awarding organisations intend to submit for approval for the 2025 to 2026 academic year.
It applies to the first of two approval cycles. In this cycle, we will approve academic and technical qualifications in subjects in these occupational routes:
- Construction and the built environment
- Digital
- Education and early years
- Engineering and manufacturing
- Health and science
We asked awarding organisations to register their intent to submit qualifications. The results indicate the number and type of qualifications that will be submitted for approval.
A registration of intent only indicates that an awarding organisation intends to submit an application. It does not represent a submission. Submission is also not a guarantee of approval.
Awarding organisations can submit these qualifications for approval from 3 July 2023 to 31 July 2023. We have advised awarding organisations to continue to engage, and share information, with providers to ensure qualification demand and coverage is reflected in their submissions.
We will provide a further update in September with the number of qualifications submitted for approval.
Total numbers
This table summarises the small alternative academic qualifications and technical qualifications that awarding organisations intend to submit.
Small alternative academic qualifications are up to the size of an A level, to be taken alongside A levels as part of mixed study programmes.
Technical qualifications assess the skills needed to enter or progress in the workplace. These can be delivered in a classroom environment. Some will also include workplace learning and assessment.
| Expected sector subject area classification | Aligned occupational route | Small alternative academic qualifications | Technical qualifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building and construction | Construction and the built environment | 5 or fewer | 27 |
| Child development and wellbeing | Education and early years | 5 or fewer | 30 |
| Engineering | Engineering and manufacturing | 9 | 48 |
| Health and social care | Health and science | 14 | 0 |
| ICT practitioners | Digital | 15 | 23 |
| Medicine and dentistry or nursing, and subjects and vocations allied to medicine | Health and science | 5 or fewer | 0 |
| Science | Health and science | 22 | 123 |
| Teaching and lecturing | Education and early years | 5 or fewer | 0 |
Breakdown of technical qualifications
This table separates the technical qualifications which awarding organisations intend to submit into 3 categories.
Occupational entry qualifications for 16 to 19 and adults aim to support students to enter, or progress within, a role. They will only be funded at 16 to 19 where they do not overlap with a T Level.
Occupational entry qualifications for adults only will support entry to occupations, including those that are served by T Levels and those that are not.
They may include qualifications where:
- there is no current standard for the aligned occupation
- it may not be appropriate to develop an occupational standard
Additional specialist qualifications for 16 to 19 and adults allow a student to develop additional knowledge and competencies and specialise within a sector.
They will build on knowledge covered by a T Level or other occupational entry qualification. For example low-carbon construction design may build on the Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction T Level.
| Expected sector subject area classification | Aligned occupational route | Occupational entry - 16 to 19 and adults | Occupational entry - adults only | Additional specialist - 16 to 19 and adults |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building and construction | Construction and the built environment | 8 | 13 | 6 |
| Child development and wellbeing | Education and early years | 5 or fewer | 12 | 17 |
| Engineering | Engineering and manufacturing | 18 | 10 | 20 |
| ICT practitioners | Digital | 5 or fewer | 13 | 8 |
| Science | Health and science | 41 | 12 | 70 |