This update was first published on 4 July 2025. We can confirm that funding for the Level 3 Cambridge Technical Diploma in Applied Science (05849) is now expected to be removed 31 July 2028.

We would like to remind you that from 1 August 2025, public funding in England is being removed from the OCR qualifications below.

Funding will no longer be available for new cohorts starting in September 2025:

The Level 3 Diploma in Applied Science funding will be extended into 2027/28 and the qualification remains funded in England for new starts in September 2027. It is anticipated that the funding will be removed from August 2028: 

For centres in England, our new Cambridge Advanced Nationals are available for first teaching September 2025. Please see our Level 3 funding guide for England and our Cambridge Advanced Nationals pages for more information.

Students that require top-up entries

You may have students that you would normally top up from a smaller qualification to a larger qualification next year. If the larger qualification is being defunded after 31 July 2025, you must make the top-up entry as soon as possible and before 31 July 2025:

1. Change the estimated completion date in the Cambridge Technicals Progress Tracker to ‘Summer 2026’ now.
2. Make the top-up entry – Top-up entry codes are available in the Cambridge Technicals entry codes booklet.

If you have submitted your exam entries and moderation claims under the smaller qualification, students will still receive the smaller qualification.

Wales and Northern Ireland

Schools and colleges in Wales and Northern Ireland are not impacted by the changes in England to funding for 2025/26. Qualifications currently available in Wales and Northern Ireland continue to be available in September 2025 for new cohorts.

If you have any queries about this update, please call our Customer Support Centre on 01223 553998 or email [email protected].

Qualification

• Applied Science