Review of Post-16 Level 3 Qualifications: Provisional list of qualifications released for wave 3
On 25 May 2023, the DfE published the provisional list of qualifications that will no longer be funded from 2025/26 for 16-19 learners in England due to an overlap with T levels, in wave 3 of the reforms.
The list is provisional as awarding organisations can appeal qualifications they think should not be on the list. The final list will be published by the DfE in summer 2023.
The list covers qualifications in the following subjects:
- Business and administration
- Engineering and manufacturing
- Finance and accounting.
BTEC qualifications affected
The BTEC Nationals in Business and in Enterprise are not affected and you can continue to teach these qualifications in 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26.
Of the 92 qualifications on the provisional list, 18 are Pearson qualifications. Of these:
- 17 are engineering qualifications
- 1 is a business administration qualification
We will not be appealing any of these qualifications.
Any qualifications on this list that are taken as part of apprenticeships will not be affected by the funding withdrawal and will continue to be funded as part of apprenticeships.
Wales and Northern Ireland are also unaffected by the reforms.
The following qualifications will continue to be funded for 16–19 learners starting their qualifications in 2023/23, 2024/25 and 2025/26.
- 601/7155/8 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate in Business
- 601/7159/5 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Business
- 601/7161/3 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Business
- 601/7157/1 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Business
- 601/7160/1 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Business
- 601/7413/4 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
- 601/7414/6 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
- 603/0301/3 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
- 601/7528/X Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
- 603/0303/7 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
The following qualifications will continue to be funded for 16-19 learners starting their qualifications in the academic years 2023/24 and 2024/25. They will not be funded in 2025/26. We have marked on the list where we can and are developing new qualifications in Engineering for new starts in 2025/26.
- 603/1197/6 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate in Engineering (new TBC)
- 601/7584/9 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Engineering (new TBC)
- 601/7591/6 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Engineering
- 601/7577/1 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering
- 601/7579/5 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- 601/7580/1 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Engineering
- 601/7582/5 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering
- 601/7583/7 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
- 601/7585/0 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering
- 601/7587/4 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- 601/7588/6 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Engineering
- 601/7589/8 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering
- 601/7590/4 Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
- 603/5840/3 Pearson BTEC Level 3 Foundation Award in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Technical Knowledge)
- 601/9053/X Pearson BTEC Level 3 Award in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Technical Knowledge)
- 601/9049/8 Pearson BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Technical Knowledge)
- 601/9054/1 Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Technical Knowledge)
- 601/9060/7 Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Technical Knowledge)
Provisional list of qualifications overlapping with T Levels in wave 4
The DfE has not published the provisional list of qualifications overlapping with T Levels in wave 4 as expected. This list is now due to be published in autumn 2023. The list will cover the following sectors:
- Agriculture, environmental and animal care
- Catering and hospitality
- Creative and design
- Hair and beauty
- Legal
- Marketing
Further information
You can find the full list of qualifications that are affected by the reforms in the BTEC Level 3 funding checklist for Nationals and BTEC Level 3 funding checklist for other Level 3 qualifications.
If you have any questions, or would like help in understanding Level 3 reform, contact us and we can support you. You can also now book your live webinar place to find out more about what Level 3 reforms mean for BTEC.