Overview of approval process

High-level overview of the approval process and the role of each organisation in the process.

Approvals process for non-technical qualifications

Non-technical qualifications include:

  • alternative academic qualifications
  • academic progression qualifications
  • technical progression qualifications
  • T Level foundation year qualifications
  1. The awarding organisation prepares the qualification for submission.
  2. The awarding organisation goes to the single access point for awarding organisations submitting qualifications for approval for information about the funding approvals process and how to submit the qualification.
  3. Once the qualification is submitted, DfE assesses if it is necessary and passes to Ofqual.
  4. Ofqual reviews the qualification and provides feedback to DfE.
  5. DfE completes the review of the qualification against the funding approval criteria, considering the Ofqual feedback, and makes a funding approval decision.
  6. DfE notifies the awarding organisation of the outcome of the funding approval decisions and provides the awarding organisation with the opportunity to request a procedural review.
  7. DfE publishes a list of qualifications that have been approved for funding.

Approvals process for technical qualifications

  1. The awarding organisation prepares the qualification for submission.
  2. The awarding organisation goes to single access point for awarding organisations submitting qualifications for approval for information about the funding approvals process and how to submit the qualification.
  3. Once the awarding organisation submits the qualification, IfATE reviews it against its approval criteria, with employer input where necessary.
  4. Ofqual reviews the qualification and provides feedback to IfATE.
  5. IfATE engages with employers to validate that the qualification meets their needs.
  6. While IfATE and Ofqual work on steps 3, 4 and 5, DfE checks the information provided in the submission and reviews the qualification against the funding approval criteria.
  7. IfATE decides whether to approve the qualification as a technical qualification and informs DfE.
  8. DfE completes the review of qualifications approved by IfATE as technical qualifications and makes funding approval decisions.
  9. DfE notifies the awarding organisation of the funding approval decisions and provides the awarding organisation with the opportunity to request a procedural review.
  10. DfE publishes a list of qualifications that have been approved for funding.