Guidance

Higher technical qualifications: provider toolkit

Steps providers should take to prepare to offer approved higher technical qualifications (HTQs).

From:
Department for Education
Published
13 October 2021
Last updated
27 July 2023 — See all updates

Applies to England

This guidance explains what you’ll need to do if you want to start offering higher technical qualifications (HTQs).

An overview of HTQs is available.

Develop your HTQ offer

You can currently offer HTQs in a variety of digital occupations. From September 2023, you’ll also be able to offer HTQs in:

  • construction
  • health and science

The ways you can offer HTQs include:

  • developing a level 4 or 5 qualification as an approved HTQ
  • partnering with an organisation on the Office for Students register to offer its approved HTQ
  • joining a franchise to offer another provider’s approved HTQ

Email HTQ.approvals@education.gov.uk for more information on the approval process for developing an HTQ.

Choose your qualification

If you’re not developing your own qualifications, check the list of approved HTQs. This list includes the awarding body for each approved qualification.

Once you’ve chosen the qualification you’d like to offer, contact the awarding body. It can provide the specification for that qualification. This will:

  • explain the skills the qualification will develop
  • suggest entry requirements
  • list the units for qualification
  • explain the assessment requirements

Read how Bolton College has developed its curriculum.

Prepare your staff and facilities

The ways you can prepare your staff and facilities to support HTQs include:

  • allocating a dedicated space for teaching HTQs
  • buying or upgrading software and systems
  • investing in continuing professional development for staff
  • buying specialist equipment to enhance classroom learning

Funding

There are funding options available to support your staff and students with providing and studying for HTQs. These include the following.

Funding for students

If you’re on the Office for Students register or in a partnership with a registered organisation, your students may be eligible for higher education student finance. This includes:

  • tuition fee loans
  • maintenance loans
  • support grants

If you’re not on the register, your students may be eligible for an advanced learner loan.

Funding for higher education providers

If you’re on the Office for Students register, you may be able to get strategic priorities grant funding.

Promote your HTQ offer to students

You can advertise your HTQ courses on the website of:

The Skills for Life communication campaign directs people to these sites.

To advertise your course, include ‘(HTQ)’ at the end of the qualification title when listing your approved qualification. You can also update listings you already have.

The UCAS website has an approved HTQ status checkbox you can tick. This will:

  • allow people to filter for it
  • display the HTQ branding on the course page

You’ll also need to advertise your offer through your own channels.

Using the quality mark

Remember to use the quality mark to promote approved HTQs and to follow the quality mark guidelines.

Email team.highertechnicaleducation@education.gov.uk to request the logo.

Communications resources

You can also request a variety of HTQ-branded resources. You can use these to promote your offer on your website, at events or on social media. These include:

  • a leaflet
  • a presentation for learners
  • social media examples
  • a video of a student talking about why they chose to do an HTQ

Email team.highertechnicaleducation@education.gov.uk to request:

  • HTQ communication materials
  • examples of how other providers are getting ready to offer HTQs

Further support

Email team.highertechnicaleducation@education.gov.uk if you have any questions about delivering HTQs or need further support and guidance. We may be able to help directly or connect you with other providers.

Updates to this page

Published 13 October 2021
Last updated 27 July 2023 + show all updates

  1. Applications for the second round of the higher technical education skills injection fund have now closed. We have updated the ‘funding’ and ‘prepare your staff and facilities’ sections to reflect this.

  2. Updated funding and communications resources information.

  3. Updated the guidance to remove out of date content.

  4. We have added the section 'Advertising your HTQs'.

  5. We have added information on the launch of the Higher Technical Education Skills Injection Fund.

  6. We've added a section titled 'Provider showcase' containing information for any provider that wishes to showcase materials.

  7. We have added additional communication resources to the toolkit.

  8. Revised list of successful applicants for the 2021 to 2022 Provider Growth Fund added to the page.

  9. First published.

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