Version 1.0 - Last Updated: 25 Oct 2023

Equivalent or lower qualification (ELQ) exceptions

Welsh domiciled students


Part-time courses

According to the student support regulations, courses in the below subject categories under version 1.2 of the Common Aggregation Hierarchy (CAH) are eligible from AY 2019/20 as a part-time exception:

  • Subjects Allied to Medicine (CAH02)
  • Biological and Sport Science (CAH03)
  • Psychology (CAH04)
  • Veterinary Sciences (CAH05)
  • Agriculture, food and related sciences (CAH06)
  • Physical Sciences (CAH07)
  • Mathematical Sciences (CAH09)
  • Engineering and Technology (CAH10)
  • Computing (CAH11)

Welsh language courses which relate to the history, grammar and use of Welsh and have the HECoS codes 100333, 101163 and 100335 also apply. Eligible HECoS codes in addition to the subject categories above are:

  • Applied Environmental Sciences – 101078
  • Biogeography – 101352
  • Childhood Studies – 100456
  • Climate Change – 101070
  • Cultural Studies – 101233
  • Environmental Geography – 100408
  • Environmental Sciences – 100381
  • Ergonomics – 100052
  • Gender Studies – 100621
  • Geographical Information Systems – 100369
  • Geomorphology – 101064
  • Glaciology and Cryospheric Systems – 101394
  • Hair and Make-up – 100706
  • Hair Services – 101374
  • Heritage Management – 100807
  • History – 100302
  • Hydrology – 101079
  • Mapping Science – 101058
  • Maritime Geography – 101065
  • Philosophy – 100337
  • Physical Geography – 100410
  • Pollution Control – 101072
  • Psychology – 100497
  • Quaternary Studies – 101091
  • Radiology – 100131
  • Remote Sensing – 101056
  • Soil Science – 101067
  • Water Resource Management – 100986

From AY 2020/21, version 1.3 of the Common Aggregation Hierarchy (CAH) was implemented. In addition to the above, the following HECoS codes which have moved to CAH26 (Geography, Earth and Environmental Studies) remain eligible:

  • Applied Geology (101104)
  • Atmosphere-ocean Interactions (101351)
  • Climate Science (100379)
  • Earth Sciences (100394)
  • Engineering Geology (101106)
  • Environmental Geoscience (100380)
  • Exploration Geology (101093)
  • Exploration Geophysics (101084)
  • Geochemistry (101083)
  • Geological Hazards (101082)
  • Geological Oceanography (101086)
  • Geology (100395)
  • Geophysics (100396)
  • Hydrogeology (101089)
  • Hydrography (101073)
  • Marine Sciences (100418)
  • Meteorology (100382)
  • Ocean Sciences (100421)
  • Palaeontology (100398)
  • Petroleum Geology (101105)
  • Volcanology (101081)
  • Materials Science (100225)
  • Archaeological Sciences (100384)
  • Crime Scene Investigation (101222)
  • Forensic Archaeology (101219)
  • Forensic Biology (100386)
  • Forensic Science (100388)

The following 3 HECoS codes will continue to be ineligible despite their move to CAH07 in version 1.3 of CAH:

  • Applied Science (100392)
  • General Science (100390)
  • Natural Sciences (100391)

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