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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聽guide to post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below.

Register your intention to submit a qualification

10 January聽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聽awarding organisations: submitting qualifications for approval guidance.

Submit your proposal for an additional specialist technical qualification

14 February聽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鈥檚 (IfATE) predefined list, you first need to submit a qualification proposal to聽IfATE.

More information is available in the聽awarding organisations: submitting qualifications for approval guidance.

Submit your qualification for approval

3 July聽to 31 July 2023

Refer to the聽awarding organisations: submitting qualifications for approval聽guidance for more information. It contains:

• links to the聽DfE鈥檚听2025 to 2026 qualifications funding approval manual
• IfATE鈥檚 published process and criteria for approval of level 3 technical qualifications
• Ofqual鈥檚 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聽DfE鈥檚听2025 to 2026 qualifications funding approval manual. Technical qualifications will also be reviewed against聽IfATE鈥檚 criteria. Ofqual will provide feedback to聽DfE听补苍诲听IfATE.

Update the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications

1 April聽2024

As an awarding organisation, you must make sure you have completed all the information on Ofqual鈥檚 Register of Regulated Qualifications. On 1 April 2024,聽DfE聽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聽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聽IfATE鈥檚 technical qualification categories and you disagree with how the final decision was reached,聽IfATE聽may review its decision-making process in certain circumstances. This is known as a procedural review. Use the guidance on聽聽if you want to seek a review.

Approval decisions on funding

31 May聽2024

DfE聽will review qualifications against the funding approval criteria. The聽DfE聽funding approval decision is separate and independent from:

• Ofqual鈥檚 recognition of awarding organisations and regulation of qualifications
• IfATE鈥檚 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聽DfE聽to review the outcome on the basis that the funding approval criteria have not been correctly applied. Refer to the聽2025 to 2026 qualifications funding approval manual聽for more information.

Qualifications with funding approval

31 July聽2024

Qualifications that are approved for 2025 to 2026 funding will be published on the聽.

Funding approval starts and removals

1 August聽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聽2025 to 2026 qualifications funding approval manual.