Guidance for alternative higher education providers on how to apply for specific course designation

Specific course designation is the process for alternative providers to access the following for eligible students:

• undergraduate student support
• postgraduate master’s loans
• disabled students’ allowances (DSA)

DfE grants specific course designation on an annual basis.

This guidance explains:

• who is eligible to apply for designation
• the criteria DfE uses to grant designation
• how to apply for designation
• the assessment process
• the conditions designated providers must meet
• the process for seeking annual re-designation
• how DfE applies student number controls
• the sanctions DfE may take if a provider no longer meets the criteria and conditions of designation

An alternative higher education provider is a provider of higher education courses that doesn’t receive recurrent funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) or any other public body, and isn’t a further education college.