Level 4 and 5 qualifications to be reviewed and renamed

Level 4 and 5 qualifications, such as CertHE, DipHE and foundation degrees – will be renamed as Higher Technical Qualifications and quality approved, to get more students to study them.

Despite research showing Higher Technical Qualifications can lead to better wages and provide the skills in demand in the future job market, only around 1 in 10 adults in England hold them - one of the lowest rates in the OECD. Of the 4,000 qualifications offered, research shows that over 40% of these only have 5 students or even fewer on them.

Recent research has also revealed that students who gain these qualifications in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects can earn up to £5,000 more a year than people with degrees from many universities.

The government will review Level 4 and 5 Qualifications – ensuring they are of a high-quality and lead to well-paid jobs. There are also proposals to award a new quality mark for all approved Higher Technical Qualifications so students and employers can be confident courses provide the skills they need.

The government also wants to ensure that approved Higher Technical Qualifications are only available with access to student finance at high-quality further and higher education providers - so that students know the qualifications they get from these institutions are prestigious and highly valued by employers.

There will also be a new public campaign working alongside employers and careers advisers to showcase the benefits and the wide range of career opportunities that studying a Higher Technical Qualification can open up.