What are accelerated courses?

To widen participation and offer more flexible study patterns from AY 2019/20, higher education providers in England can offer accelerated degrees with higher fee amounts per academic year. Most students on these courses will be able to access the higher fee funding.

The most important points about accelerated degrees are:

• the higher fee cap is available to English providers only
• only students starting a course in AY 2019/20 or later are eligible for the higher fee funding
• the maximum fee rates for accelerated courses are 1.2 times the maximum standard fee rate per academic year (rounded to the nearest whole £5)
• the maximum fee chargeable per academic year is £11,100
• postgraduate initial teacher training (PG ITT) courses are not eligible
• the maintenance support available to students on accelerated degrees will remain 'as is' (loan for living costs and long course loans for additional weeks of study where applicable)
• previous study rules remain 'as is'
• the maximum values for Disabled Students Allowances (DSAs) remain the same
• accelerated courses can be studied by attendance or distance learning
• accelerated course funding is allowed for placement and study abroad years, as long as the required conditions are met (the course must be at least one year shorter than an equivalent standard-length course, at least 50% must be studied in the UK and the degree must be awarded in the UK)

The Welsh Government has confirmed it will not provide additional funding up to the higher fee cap for its students. However, it will fund up to a standard course fee cap.  Welsh students will need to self-fund the difference.

English, Scottish and Northern Irish students can access funding up to the higher fee rate. However, Northern Irish students studying at an Approved provider will continue to be subject to a maximum fee cap of £4,275 for both standard and accelerated degree courses.