Scope of this manual
Summary of what this manual includes and where to find information not included in this manual.
This manual contains all the approval principles and processes we use to approve qualifications for funding through the following funded offers:
- 14 to 16 offer - qualifications up to and including level 3 for students aged 14 and over in key stage 4, as well as some performing arts graded examination qualifications at level 4 to level 6 (referred to as ‘14 to 16’)
- 16 to 19 offer[footnote 1] - qualifications up to and including level 6 for students aged at least 16 but who are not yet 19 (referred to as ‘16 to 19’)
- statutory entitlement to a first qualification at level 2 or level 3 for students aged 19 to 23 - students to be fully funded if they study for a first qualification at level 2 or level 3 (funded through the adult education budget (AEB), by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and devolved areas)
- statutory entitlement to English and maths for students aged 19 and over - students who have not previously attained a GCSE grade 4 (grade C) or higher, to be fully funded if they study for an English or maths qualification up to and including level 2 (funded through the AEB by ESFA and devolved areas)
- statutory entitlement for students aged 19 and over with no or low digital skills - students to be fully funded if they study for a digital functional skills qualification or essential digital skills qualification (EDSQ) at entry and level 1 (funded through the AEB, both by ESFA and devolved areas)
- ESFA funded AEB local flexibility offer - qualifications and components up to and including level 2 for students aged 19 and over to respond to local skills and community needs (referred to as ‘local flex’)
- advanced learner loans - qualifications at levels 3 to 6 for students aged 19 and over to undertake through an advanced learner loan
- level 3 free courses for jobs offer - qualifications at level 3 for adults aged 19 and over to improve wage outcomes and job prospects, and gain skills which employers value
We reserve the right to change the contents of this manual at any time.
This manual does not cover student eligibility and funding rules for:
- apprenticeships - read the apprenticeship funding rules
- study programmes for students aged 16 to 19, condition of funding, and core maths – read the funding guidance for young people and the study programmes guidance for providers
- ESFA funded adult education budget – read the adult education budget funding rules
- advanced learner loans – read the advanced learner loans funding rules
It also does not cover our funding rates and formula for ESFA funded AEB and for young people, and the maximum loan amounts for advanced learner loans designated qualifications.
It does not cover student eligibility and funding rules, or funding rates and formula where the AEB may be devolved or delegated to mayoral combined authorities (MCAs) or the Greater London Authority (GLA).
It does not cover the approval principles and processes we will use to approve alternative academic and technical qualifications at level 3 and technical qualifications at level 2 for funding in England. These will be taught from 1 August 2025. For information on this process, read the Qualifications funding approval manual: 2025 to 2026.
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The 16 to 19 offer also applies to students who are at least aged 19 but not yet aged 25, and who have an education, health and care (EHC) Plan. ↩