Guidance

Recognised further education teacher training courses eligible for student support: 2024 to 2025

Updated 25 January 2024

Applies to England

This guidance 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 which 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 which are, in their opinion, initial further education teacher training courses. The text in the list of recognised courses refers to ‘initial further education teacher training’, as this is how FE ITE is described in the relevant regulations.

List of recognised courses

In the academic year 2024 to 2025, the following courses are initial further education teacher training courses in the opinion of the Secretary of State. 

Qualifications developed by an English higher education provider which has been granted degree awarding powers, at the following levels:

  • level 5, a course leading to the Certificate in Education (CertEd)
  • level 6, a course leading to the Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PgCE)
  • level 7, a course leading to the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)

Only courses which allow a person to meet the occupational standard for a learning and skills teacher are recognised.

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 Student 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.