Ofqual
Overview
Use this guide to submit level 3 alternative academic qualifications (AAQs) or technical qualifications for approval (including post 16 funding approval in England) for 2025 to 2026.
This process currently only applies to level 3 AAQs and technical qualifications in certain subjects, categories and routes. It will eventually apply to other qualifications currently out of scope of this process, where funding approval is not automatically confirmed.
This first cycle of approval is for level 3 small AAQs and technical qualifications (also referred to as technical occupational) which will be taught from 1 August 2025 (2025 to 2026 academic year).
A series of webinars are being held to introduce the new process. More events will be added as they are scheduled.
Timelines for the first cycle of approvals, and guidance and timelines for submitting qualifications for 2026 to 2027 (as part of the second cycle of approvals), can be found in awarding organisations: submitting qualifications for approval.
Small AAQs will need to meet DfEs necessity criteria to be approved. Technical qualifications will need to meet IfATEs criteria to be approved.
For both small AAQs and technical qualifications, Ofqual will review submissions and feedback to DfE. DfE will take account of this feedback when making final funding approval decisions.
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Submit a small alternative academic qualification (AAQ) for approval
The submission window for small AAQs (to be delivered from 1 August 2025) will open on 3 July 2023 and close 31 July 2023.
Small AAQs support progression to higher level academic study and are typically taken alongside A Levels.
There are 2 types of AAQs, small AAQs which can be taken alongside A Levels and large AAQs which can be taken instead of A Levels. The first approval window is only for small AAQs. Small AAQs are reviewed by DfE and Ofqual and approved for funding for Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) post 16 offers in England by DfE.
Small AAQs to be first taught from 1 August 2025
As part of the 2025 to 2026 funding approval cycle we are considering small AAQs in the following subject areas:
| Specified sector subject area (SSA) | Subjects where small alternative academic qualifications will be considered for funding |
|---|---|
| Science | Applied science |
| Science | Medical science |
| Engineering | Engineering |
| Engineering | Engineering principles or technology |
| Health and social care | Health and social care |
| ICT practitioners | ICT |
| ICT practitioners | Computing |
| Medicine and dentistry | Subjects which support progression to degrees in healthcare professions allied to medicine, dentistry, and nursing |
| Nursing and subjects and vocations allied to medicine | Subjects which support progression to degrees in healthcare professions allied to medicine, dentistry, and nursing |
Further information about the subject areas where we will consider small alternative academic qualifications is outlined in the qualifications funding approval manual 2025 to 2026.
Alternative academic qualifications that are aligned to other routes, or which do not align to an occupational route, will be considered in a future funding approval process for first teaching in 2026 to 2027.
Criteria and regulations
For a small AAQ to be approved for funding it needs to:
- be within your Ofqual scope of recognition
- be confirmed by DfE as being necessary
- meet the applicable Ofqual regulations, including the general conditions of recognition
- have all necessary information on Ofquals Register of Regulated Qualifications completed by 1 April 2024
- meet DfE qualification funding approval criteria
Registering your interest
If you are considering submitting a small AAQ, we strongly encourage you to register your interest by 10 February 2023.
Completing a registration form provides an early indication of the number and type of qualifications that will be submitted. This will help with planning and processing qualification submissions and allow DfE to provide any clarification, if needed.
Submitting your qualification
Information on how to submit a small AAQ as part of the funding approval process can be found in the qualifications funding approval manual 2025 to 2026. Information submitted by you will be shared with Ofqual (for regulation purposes) and used by DfE for funding approval decisions.
Before submitting the qualification to IfATE for approval, you must ensure that the qualification falls within your current Ofqual scope of recognition. If not, you will need to apply to extend your scope of recognition to include level 3 qualifications in the associated sector subject area. DfE will not begin the process of reviewing a qualification for funding approval until they receive confirmation from Ofqual that this is the within your scope of recognition.
Submit a technical occupational qualification for approval
The submission window for technical occupational qualifications (to be delivered from 1 August 2025) will open on 3 July 2023 and close 31 July 2023.