Timeline for the approval of post-16 qualifications at level 3 for 2025
Updated 25 April 2024
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-post-16-qualifications-at-level-3-in-england--2/timeline-for-the-approval-of-post-16-qualifications-at-level-3-for-2025
This is the timeline for the approval process of qualifications submitted in cycle 1 of level 3 and below qualifications.
The information that follows is for awarding organisations. Use it alongside the guide to post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below.
Register your intention to submit a qualification
10 January to 10 February 2023
If you are considering submitting a level 3 qualification for funding approval, you need to:
- register your intention to submit
- confirm the qualification you intend to submit is within your Ofqual scope of recognition to be regulated
More information is available in the awarding organisations: submitting qualifications for approval guidance.
Submit your proposal for an additional specialist technical qualification
14 February to 24 March 2023
If you are considering submitting a level 3 additional specialist technical qualification that is not on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education’s (IfATE) predefined list, you first need to submit a qualification proposal to IfATE.
More information is available in the awarding organisations: submitting qualifications for approval guidance.
Submit your qualification for approval
3 July to 31 July 2023
Refer to the awarding organisations: submitting qualifications for approval guidance for more information. It contains:
- links to the DfE’s 2025 to 2026 qualifications funding approval manual
- IfATE’s published process and criteria for approval of level 3 technical qualifications
- Ofqual’s regulations covering both alternative academic and technical level 3 qualifications
Review of qualifications
Summer 2023 to spring 2024
Qualifications will be reviewed against the criteria in DfE’s 2025 to 2026 qualifications funding approval manual. Technical qualifications will also be reviewed against IfATE’s criteria. Ofqual will provide feedback to DfE and IfATE.
Update the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications
1 April 2024
As an awarding organisation, you must make sure you have completed all the information on Ofqual’s Register of Regulated Qualifications. On 1 April 2024, DfE will download the information held on this register. Make sure you have updated the register by this date.
Approval decisions on technical qualifications
Summer 2024
IfATE will decide whether your qualification is approved as a technical qualification.
You will be issued with an approval decision that determines the eligibility of your technical qualification to be considered for public funding.
If a qualification is not approved in one of IfATE’s technical qualification categories and you disagree with how the final decision was reached, IfATE may review its decision-making process in certain circumstances. This is known as a procedural review. Use the guidance on IfATE’s procedural review page if you want to seek a review.
Approval decisions on funding
31 May 2024
DfE will review qualifications against the funding approval criteria. The DfE funding approval decision is separate and independent from:
- Ofqual’s recognition of awarding organisations and regulation of qualifications
- IfATE’s decision to approve technical qualifications
If an academic or technical qualification is not approved for funding for one or more qualification offers, you may be able to ask DfE to review the outcome on the basis that the funding approval criteria have not been correctly applied. Refer to the 2025 to 2026 qualifications funding approval manual for more information.
Qualifications with funding approval
31 July 2024
Qualifications that are approved for 2025 to 2026 funding will be published on the list of qualifications approved for funding.
Funding approval starts and removals
1 August 2025
Delivery for qualifications approved for funding begins on 1 August 2025. Funding approval will be removed from qualifications not approved.
Level 3 qualifications will have their funding approval removed unless they have been approved through or exempted from this process. This applies to the following sector subject areas:
- ICT user
- ICT practitioner
- child development and well-being
- teaching and lecturing
- direct learning support
- health and social care
- science
- medicine and dentistry
- nursing, and subjects and vocations allied to medicine
- building and construction
Qualifications exempted include:
- A and AS levels
- technical qualifications in T Levels
- Access to HE diplomas
- advanced extension awards
- core maths qualifications
- Extended Project qualifications
- performing arts graded examinations
- the International Baccalaureate diploma
Find out more in the 2025 to 2026 qualifications funding approval manual.