How to get funding approval

The 9 stages of the funding approval process.

This section explains the 9 stages of the funding approval process. There is also an overview of the funding approval process.

This section, and the previous section on which qualifications we will approve, give information which was previously in sections on the funding approval process.  

This section contains information relevant to multiple cycles of the post-16 reforms.

Stage 1: awarding organisation identifies areas of interest to receive communications (new for cycle 2)

The Department for Education (DfE) contacted awarding organisations in November 2023 to:

  • understand which qualification types in scope of cycle 2 you are interested in
  • make sure you receive information about these qualifications

Stage 2: awarding organisation registers and submits qualification proposals

The window to register your qualification proposals has now closed for cycles 1 and 2.

Cycle 1 registrations

The window to inform us of your intention to submit qualifications as part of cycle 1 closed for:

  • level 3 alternative academic qualifications (AAQs) and level 3 technical qualifications on 10 February 2023
  • level 2 technical qualifications on 5 June 2023

Cycle 2 registrations

The window to tell us that you intend to submit qualifications as part of cycle 2 closed for:

  • level 3 technical qualifications on 12 January 2024
  • level 2 technical qualifications on 23 February 2024
  • level 3 and level 2 non-technical qualifications on 26 January 2024

You also needed to submit a proposal for:

  • level 2 and level 3 additional specialist technical qualifications which are not on IfATE’s predefined list
  • level 3 occupational progression qualifications
  • level 2 and level 3 employer proposed qualifications

If you have not registered an interest in an area in scope of cycle 2, you can still submit qualifications for funding approval before the submission windows close.

Having information about qualifications that you plan to submit in cycle 2 helps us to give you the best information, and to plan and process submissions.

Cycle 2 walk-through for T Level foundation qualifications

There was an opportunity to send us an outline of your high-level approach to meeting the qualification type funding approval criteria for T Level foundation qualifications, and talk through your approach with us, before you submit your qualification for funding approval in October 2024. T Level foundation qualifications are a new type of qualification, and this may mean they are quite different from existing or other qualifications.

We call this voluntary process the walk-through. The window for you to submit walk-through materials closed on 29 February 2024.

If you participated in the walk-through, we will provide feedback in April 2024 if there is a risk that you may not meet one or more of the funding approval criteria.

While the walk-through stage takes place, you should continue developing your qualifications, so you are ready to submit your full qualifications by the deadline of 4 October 2024.

Stage 3: awarding organisation submits qualification for funding approval

The windows to submit qualifications in scope of cycle 1 have now closed. Awarding organisations were able to submit level 3 AAQs and level 3 technical qualifications in scope for cycle 1 until 31 July 2023.

Awarding organisations were able to submit level 2 technical qualifications in scope of cycle 1 until 24 November 2023.

In cycle 2, there are several windows to submit qualifications for:

  • level 3 qualifications in scope of cycle 2
  • level 2 qualifications in scope of cycle 2, including T Level foundation qualifications

Cycle 2

You need to submit all your level 3 qualifications in scope of cycle 2 between 10 June 2024 and 5pm on 21 June 2024.

Level 3 qualifications include:

  • small and large AAQs
  • level 3 technical qualifications

You need to submit all your level 2 qualifications in scope of cycle 2 between 23 September 2024 and 5pm on 4 October 2024.

Level 2 qualifications include:

  • progression qualifications (technical and academic)
  • T Level foundation qualifications
  • level 2 technical qualifications

We will not accept submissions outside the submission windows listed above. If you think it is not reasonably practicable to meet the submission deadline due to:

  • technical failure (either with your systems or DfE systems)
  • exceptional circumstances (for example, a natural disaster)

you should communicate this at the time of the event, with evidence. We will review this evidence to consider if your submission will be accepted after the deadline.

Check your Ofqual scope of recognition

Before submitting your qualification for funding approval:

We will require confirmation from Ofqual that the qualification is within your scope of recognition to begin reviewing your qualification for funding approval.

If the qualification is not within your scope of recognition, it will not be considered for funding approval.    

Submission form

The submission form for all qualifications in scope of cycle 2 will be available from the single access point for awarding organisations submitting qualifications for approval once the submission window opens.

You will only need to submit information once for all 3 organisations to use, but we may need additional information during the process.

Within the form, you will be asked to provide information and supporting evidence that IfATE, Ofqual and DfE need to complete their respective reviews, such as qualification related materials. The single access point tells you everything you need to know about the approval process.

We will share the draft questions that are likely to be included in the submission form with you in advance to help you to prepare.

Evidence to submit

For all qualifications that are in scope for cycle 2 you will need to submit:

  • a qualification specification
  • evidence of demand from education and training institutions
  • your assessment strategy (including any supporting evidence it refers to)
  • sample assessment materials
  • a list of any requests for exemptions from Ofqual’s qualification level conditions, where the regulations permit these

If you are submitting a technical qualification, you will also need to submit additional information as listed on IfATE’s website.

If you are submitting an AAQ, you will also need to submit:

  • a purpose statement
  • evidence of support from higher education providers
  • evidence demonstrating the qualification is necessary

If you are submitting a level 2 qualification that supports progression to a level 3 academic qualification or a level 3 technical qualification, you will also need to submit:

  • a purpose statement
  • letters of support from education and training institutions as evidence that the qualification is necessary

If you are submitting a T Level foundation qualification, you will also need to submit:  

  • an explanation of any changes made to the content
  • an explanation of how the qualification design was impacted by the T Level foundation year framework for delivery and the involvement of education and training institutions
  • how you involved education and training institutions in designing and developing the qualification
  • evidence demonstrating why education and training institutions support the qualification
  • letters of support from education and training institutions explaining why they support the qualification
  • a justification for the number of guided learning hours, including, where applicable, why it is larger or smaller than the guideline size

We will accept letters from education and training institutions that provide evidence for more than one funding approval criteria, such as evidence of demand and evidence that the institution supports the qualification.

Stage 4: DfE applies funding approval criteria

We review submissions against the criteria which are appropriate for the type of qualification.

Level 3 alternative academic qualifications

DfE reviews submissions to confirm the alternative academic qualification:

  • is necessary
  • supports progression to high-quality higher education courses that deliver strong outcomes

We will review AAQs against the:

Where DfE confirms the AAQ is necessary and supports progression to higher education, Ofqual will review submissions and provide feedback to DfE. We will take this into account when making our approval decisions.

We will use Ofqual’s feedback and the application of the offer-specific funding approval criteria to decide if the qualification will be approved for funding, and for which offers.

If we need further information, we will ask for it at the same time as Ofqual, where possible. We will let you know in advance so that you have time to prepare.

Level 2 and level 3 technical qualifications

IfATE will review submissions against the IfATE approval criteria for technical qualifications, with employer input as necessary, considering feedback from Ofqual.

Where IfATE approves a qualification as a technical qualification, we will consider the qualification for DfE funding approval.

Where IfATE has not approved a qualification as a technical qualification, DfE will not consider it for funding approval.

DfE will begin checking and assessing the evidence that you have provided against our funding approval criteria while IfATE reviews your qualification. This is so that:

  • we can ask you to clarify or provide missing or extra information
  • there are no delays to DfE making the funding approval decisions

If we need more information, we will ask for it at the same time as IfATE, where possible.

DfE will review technical qualifications against the following funding approval criteria:

We will use the outcomes of IfATE’s review to inform our funding approval decision, including which offers the qualification will be approved for. We will consider:

  • the category in which the technical qualification has been approved
  • how appropriate the qualification is for the 16 to 19 offer for the relevant age group, taking advice from IfATE into account

Level 2 T Level foundation qualifications 

T Level foundation qualifications will be reviewed against the:

Ofqual will review submissions and provide feedback to DfE. We will take this into account when making our approval decisions.

We will use Ofqual’s feedback and the application of the offer-specific funding approval criteria to decide whether the qualification will be approved for funding, and for which offer.

If we need further information, we will ask for it at the same time as Ofqual, where possible. We will let you know in advance, so you have time to prepare.

Level 2 progression qualifications (technical and academic)

Technical progression qualifications and academic progression qualifications will be reviewed against the:

Ofqual will review submissions and provide feedback to DfE. We will take this into account when making our approval decisions.

We will use Ofqual’s feedback and the application of the offer-specific funding approval criteria to decide whether the qualification will be approved for funding, and for which offer.

If we need further information, we will ask for it at the same time as Ofqual, where possible. We will let you know in advance, so you have time to prepare.

Regulatory action

Where Ofqual informs us of any relevant ongoing or impending regulatory action being taken with regard to a relevant qualification or awarding organisation, we will take account of this information when making our funding approval decisions.

We will consider the specific circumstances of the case. We may delay making a final funding approval decision until we are satisfied that any relevant ongoing or impending regulatory action has concluded.

Stage 5: awarding organisations add qualifications to the Ofqual register

You must add qualifications to Ofqual’s register of regulated qualifications, following the timings below.

You must complete all the necessary information on Ofqual’s register, so we can complete our funding approval review and confirm the outcome.

You must also ensure the qualification meets the titling requirements for that type of qualification.

We will remind you to upload qualifications to Ofqual’s register of regulated qualifications closer to the time.

Further guidance on assigning information such as type and SSA will be provided.

Information needed in Ofqual’s register

The list below describes the information in the Ofqual register of regulated qualifications that DfE will need as part of its funding approval process, and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) will need to set a funding rate or maximum loan amount:

  • qualification reference number
  • qualification title
  • qualification level
  • awarding organisation name
  • offered in England
  • funded in England
  • age
  • qualification type
  • sector subject area tier 2
  • guided learning hours
  • total qualification time (TQT)
  • operational start date
  • operational end date
  • certification end date
  • link to qualification specification

You do not need to assign an operational end date or certification end date to a qualification when you upload it to the register. If you provide this information, it could impact the funding approval end date that we set for this qualification.

Cycle 1

You needed to add level 3 AAQs and technical qualifications submitted in cycle 1 to the Ofqual register of regulated qualifications by 31 March 2024 as new qualifications.

On 1 April 2024, we took a download of the information held on the register for our funding approval review.

You must add level 2 technical qualifications, submitted in cycle 1, to the Ofqual register of regulated qualifications between 27 May 2024 and 13 June 2024 as new qualifications.

On 14 June 2024, before we complete the funding approval review, we will take a download of the information held on the register.

Cycle 2

You must add level 3 AAQs and technical qualifications, submitted in cycle 2, to the Ofqual register of regulated qualifications between 17 March 2025 and 28 March 2025 as new qualifications.

On 31 March 2025, before we complete the funding approval review, we will take a download of the information held on the register.

You must add level 2 technical qualifications, technical progression qualifications, academic progression qualifications and T Level foundation qualifications to the Ofqual register of regulated qualifications between 21 May 2025 and 29 May 2025 as new qualifications.

On 2 June 2025, before we complete the funding approval review, we will take a download of the information held on the register.

Stage 6: DfE informs you of the funding approval outcomes

We will inform you by email if your qualification has been approved for funding, and for which offers, by the end of:

  • May 2024 for level 3 qualifications in scope of cycle 1
  • July 2024 for level 2 qualifications in scope of cycle 1
  • May 2025 for level 3 qualifications in scope of cycle 2
  • July 2025 for level 2 qualifications in scope of cycle 2

We will email the named contact in the submission form. If a qualification is not approved for funding for one or more offers, we will tell you which funding approval criteria the qualification did not meet.

We will tell you the outcome of funding approval decisions before we publish them, so you have time to prepare communications for providers. You must keep this confidential in your organisation until we publish the list of approved qualifications.

Stage 7: awarding organisation asks for a review of funding approval outcomes  

If a qualification is not approved for funding for one or more qualification offers, you can ask us to review that outcome on the basis that the funding approval criteria has not been applied correctly. This includes the qualification-type funding approval criteria for that qualification.

You will have 28 calendar days to request a procedural review, starting on the day following DfE notifying your organisation of their funding approval decision.

You must make all requests by emailing qualifications.approval@education.gov.uk with the relevant evidence.

We may consult other organisations, such as Ofqual and IfATE, where relevant, as part of the review.

Any request to review the funding approval outcome would need to be based on one or more of the following reasons. We:

  • failed to follow our published processes and such failure could have led to a different decision
  • made a factual error that could have led to a different decision
  • have not taken into account evidence provided by you in your submission and such failure could have led to a different decision

As part of your request to review the funding approval outcome, you must:

  • include the qualification’s full title and qualification number
  • say which offer you believe the qualification should be approved for
  • explain how the qualification meets the funding approval criteria, addressing the specific criteria that were outlined as having not been met
  • identify how the evidence you provided in your submission demonstrates that the qualification meets the funding approval criteria for the specific offer for which you would like the qualification to be considered

The review process is not an opportunity to submit additional or new evidence.

Parts of the process which are not subject to the review

The following aspects of the approval process will not be subject to review.

The list of SSAs and subjects specified as eligible for funding will not be subject to review.

We reserve the right to not approve a qualification for funding if we have concerns about it meeting any of the approval criteria in this manual, or if information about the qualification is not available to us when we review the qualification for funding approval.

This process is separate from IfATE’s procedural review for their approval decisions for technical qualifications. If you have asked IfATE for a procedural review, and the outcome is that IfATE approve the qualification, we will automatically consider the qualification against the funding approval criteria. You do not need to provide us with any additional information for this to happen.

Ofqual will be responsible for ongoing regulation of qualifications approved through this process. Ofqual’s regulatory responsibilities, including whether an awarding organisation has scope of recognition for a qualification, are not in scope of this procedural review process.

Stage 8: DfE publishes qualification funding approval information

We will publish funding approval information at different times for:

  • level 3 AAQs and technical qualifications in scope of cycle 1
  • level 2 technical qualifications in scope of cycle 1
  • level 3 AAQs and technical qualifications in scope of cycle 2
  • level 2 technical qualifications, technical progression qualifications, academic progression qualifications and T Level foundation qualifications in scope of cycle 2

When we publish the decision, you may tell providers about it, as explained in stage 6.

Cycle 1

In May 2024, we will update the DfE list of qualifications approved for funding to show which level 3 AAQs and technical qualifications have been approved for funding for 2025 to 2026.

We will update the list again in July 2024 to include any qualifications that have been approved for funding after the IfATE procedural review and the DfE review of funding approval outcomes.

In July 2024, we will update the list to show which level 2 technical qualifications have been approved for funding for 2025 to 2026.

We will update the list again in September 2024, to include any qualifications that have been approved for funding after the IfATE procedural review and the DfE review of funding approval outcomes.

Qualifications approved for funding in cycle 1 will have a funding approval start date from 1 August 2025.

If you have said the qualification will be operational after 1 August 2025, the funding approval start date will match the operational start date that you have set.

All qualifications approved for funding in cycle 1 will have a funding approval end date of 31 July 2028. A funding approval end date will be set before 31 July 2028 if an operational end date is set before this date.

We will continue to approve existing level 2 and 3 qualifications in SSAs or routes that will be considered in subsequent funding years for funding in 2025 to 2026. These qualifications will have an approval end date of 31 July 2026, as existing qualifications are only approved for one year.

We will update the DfE list of qualifications approved for funding in July 2024 to reflect this.

Existing level 3 qualifications in the following SSAs will not be approved for funding for 2025 to 2026 unless approved through the new approval process:

  • 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
  • engineering

Existing level 2 qualifications in the following SSAs will not be approved for funding for 2025 to 2026 unless approved through the new approval process, or they are level 2 qualifications with the purpose of supporting progression to higher levels of study:

  • child development and well being
  • health and social care
  • science
  • medicine and dentistry
  • nursing and subjects and vocations allied to medicine
  • building and construction
  • engineering

These existing level 2 and level 3 qualifications will have a funding approval end date of 31 July 2025.

Cycle 2

At the end of May 2025, we will update the DfE list of qualifications approved for funding to show which level 3 AAQs and technical qualifications have been approved for funding for 2026 to 2027.

We will update the list again in July 2025 to include any qualifications that have been approved for funding after the IfATE procedural review and the DfE review of funding approval outcomes.

At the end of July 2025, we will update the list to show which level 2 technical qualifications, technical progression qualifications, academic progression qualifications and T Level foundation qualifications have been approved for funding for 2026 to 2027.

We will update the list again in September 2025 to include any qualifications that have been approved for funding after the IfATE procedural review and the DfE review of funding approval outcomes.

Qualifications approved for funding in cycle 2 will have a funding approval start date from 1 August 2026. If you have stated that the qualification will be operational after 1 August 2026, the funding approval start date will match the operational start date you have set.

All qualifications approved for funding in cycle 2 will have a funding approval end date of 31 July 2029. A funding approval end date will be set before 31 July 2029 if an operational end date is set before this date.

Existing level 2 and 3 qualifications in SSAs or routes that will be considered in subsequent funding years will continue to be approved for funding in 2026 to 2027. These qualifications will have an approval end date of 31 July 2027, as existing qualifications are only approved for one year.

Existing level 2 and 3 qualifications will not be approved for funding for 2026 to 2027 if they either:

  • are in one of the SSAs listed in the transition to the funding approval process and align with the routes and qualification categories being considered in cycle 2
  • are cross cutting and are more than 359 hours of total qualification time

These existing level 2 and level 3 qualifications will have a funding approval end date of 31 July 2026.

We will update the DfE list of qualifications approved for funding in July 2025 to reflect this.

Stage 9: ESFA updates find a learning aim

ESFA will update find a learning aim to add funding validity, and funding rates or maximum loan amounts, for qualifications that been approved for funding.

This will happen after DfE publishes the list of qualifications approved for funding.