GovWire

The specified sector subject areas (SSAs) vary between small alternative academic qualifications (AAQs) and large AAQs.

Small AAQs in scope of cycle 1

Incycle 1, we will consider small AAQs in the subject areas listed below for funding approval:

• engineering
• health and social care
• ICT practitioner
• medicine and dentistry
• nursing and allied subjects and vocations
• science

We will use your submission form and other evidence such as the draft qualification specification to test this criterion.

In cycle 2 we will also consider:

• small AAQs or technical qualifications which were in scope of cycle 1
• small AAQs in human biology or early years and childcare

There is more detail in the qualifications which we will approve section.

Small AAQs in scope of cycle 2

In cycle 2, small AAQs in the subject areas listed in the table below will be considered for funding approval.

These subjects are specific and are not to be taken to mean broader subject areas.

We do not expect to approve multiple qualifications from the same awarding organisations in each subject. Awarding organisations may, however, submit 2 sizes of qualification in the same subject if they can demonstrate that each one has genuine progression to a higher level.

Wewill consider funding small AAQs in other subjects in exceptional circumstances, if all of the following are met:

• there is no A level in that SSA
• there is a strong case that the qualification is on the academic pathway and progresses students to high-quality higher education courses

Funding approval will not be given in 2025 to 2026 or subsequent years to other small AAQs in SSAs where there are A levels.

OtherSSAsaligned to the cycle 2 funding approval process

In cycle 2, we will not consider for funding approval qualifications in SSAs where there areAlevels.

These are:

• accounting and finance
• business management
• economics
• geography
• history
• languages, literature and culture of the British Isles(with the exception of British Sign Language)
• law and legal services
• manufacturing technologies
• mathematics and statistics
• other languages, literature and culture
• philosophy
• politics
• sociology and social policy
• theology and religious studies

Belowis a list of sector subject areas where there are no A levels. We do not expect to fund small AAQs in these SSAs, but we will consider them for funding in exceptional circumstances:

• administration
• agriculture
• animal care and veterinary science
• anthropology
• archaeology and archaeological science
• architecture
• environmental conservation
• foundations for learning and life
• horticulture and forestry
• marketing and sales
• publishing and information services
• retailing and wholesaling
• transportation operations and maintenance
• travel and tourism
• urban, rural and regional planning
• warehousing and distribution

When developing a qualification in the above subjects, awarding organisations should consider whether it aligns to a level 3 occupational standard. Where it does, it is more likely that the qualification would be suitable as a technical qualification. Such qualifications are less likely to be approved as AAQs unless there is a clear case that the content is academically focused and has a clear and direct link to related higher education courses.

Funding for components of the International Baccalaureate diploma

The International Baccalaureate diploma does not need to meet qualification-type funding approval criteria.

However, the component parts of the diploma will need to meet these criteria to be approved for funding separately from the diploma. These will be considered for funding in the range of subjects that made up the IB diploma in academic year 2021 and 2022.

This means we will consider giving approval for IB certificates to be funded separately from the IB Diploma in the following subjects and SSAs.

For cycle 1, we only considered giving funding approval forIBcertificates to be funded separately from theIBdiploma in the scienceSSA.

For cycle 2 subjects whereIBcertificates will be considered for funding approval separately from theIBdiploma in 2026

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