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Universities without a gold or silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) will have to prove their courses are aligned with employer needs in order to be eligible for the incoming Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), under a process that could take weeks to complete.?

?about the application process for education providers intending to deliver stand-alone modules funded by the LLE,?a plan for a more flexible post-16 education model?that will replace the current student finance system.?

Higher education providers with a gold or silver TEF rating can complete a streamlined application form, which takes about five minutes, according to the Department for Education (DfE).

Providers applying through this route will be able to access LLE modular funding across the eligible subject areas outlined by the government, which includes courses linked to skills needs like computing, nursing and mathematical sciences.?

Institutions that don¡¯t meet these criteria will have to undertake a more comprehensive application process that will ask them to ¡°demonstrate examples of strong provision on a course-by-course basis¡±. The DfE advises that this may take ¡°several days or weeks¡± to prepare.?

They will have to provide evidence of established course delivery as well as high-quality outcomes, including subject-level continuation and completion data, and employer and skills alignment.

Institutions will be asked to explain how they have engaged with employers or learners in the development of their modules, and prove it with evidence such as letters of support from employers.?

If approved, these providers will only be able to access funding for the specific subject areas they applied for.?

All English universities were required to take part in the last TEF process but some, including Birkbeck, 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of London ¨C one of the country¡¯s major adult learning providers ¨C achieved bronze.

The government has also provided a full list of subject areas in scope for modular funding. These are: computing; engineering; architecture, building and planning (excluding the landscape design subgroup); physics and astronomy; mathematical sciences; nursing and midwifery; allied health; chemistry; economics; and health and social care.?

Policymakers previously said these subjects were chosen as they address priority skills needs and align with the?government¡¯s industrial strategy, despite original hopes that the LLE would allow students flexibility to pick and choose subjects they are interested in.

To be eligible for funding, modules must be part of an existing full degree course. The government has confirmed that there is no stipulation on how many modules of a designated parent course must be offered, although?some have questioned?whether students will want to take only one module from a degree programme aligned to a specific career path, such as nursing.?

The DfE said providers applying via the streamlined entry route may receive a decision in under 14 days, while those applying through the second route will be notified of the outcome by the end of December 2025.

¡°The modular funding gateway is designed to ensure that only high-quality, well-prepared providers are approved to deliver modular provision under the LLE,¡± the guidance says.?

¡°It provides a proportionate and transparent process for assessing provider readiness while safeguarding public funding and learner outcomes.¡±

helen.packer@timeshighereducation.com