Recognised further education teacher training courses eligible for student support
Updated 15 April 2026
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-education-initial-teacher-education/recognised-further-education-teacher-training-courses-eligible-for-student-support
This guidance applies to the following academic years:
- 2024 to 2025
- 2025 to 2026
- 2026 to 2027
It explains which further education (FE) initial teacher education (ITE) courses are eligible for student support funding. It covers courses offered by:
- higher education (HE) providers with degree-awarding powers
- other providers that have validation arrangements with HE providers with degree-awarding powers
FE ITE courses leading to Ofqual-regulated qualifications are not eligible for student support funding.
We have published this list under The Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011. Regulation 2B requires the Secretary of State to publish a list of courses that are, in their opinion, initial further education teacher training courses. We also publish this list for the purposes of the Lifelong Learning (Fee Limits) Regulations 2026, which set tuition fee limits on a credit basis for courses and modules commencing from 1 January 2027.
1. List of recognised courses
For courses commencing in the academic years specified above, the following are initial further education teacher training courses in the opinion of the Secretary of State.
Qualifications developed by an English higher education provider that have been granted degree-awarding powers, at the following levels:
- level 5, a course leading to the Certificate in Education (CertEd) (credit value for fee limit purposes: 120 credits)
- level 6, a course leading to the Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PgCE) (credit value for fee limit purposes: 120 credits)
- level 7, a course leading to the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) (credit value for fee limit purposes: 120 credits).
Only courses that allow a person to meet the occupational standard for a learning and skills teacher are recognised.
Note that the credit value limits apply to each course regardless of delivery mode (full time and part time courses).
2. Course titles
The full name of the courses should clearly identify that they are for the training of teachers to work in the FE sector. For example, by using the words ‘in further education and skills’, or similar. This information should be included when course titles are submitted to the Students Loans Company.
HE providers should try to align qualification titles with subjects at sector-subject area level. Providers should include this in the qualification title when they submit information to the Student Loans Company.