Financial education Schools and colleges qualifications

This qualification is designed to give your students a detailed introduction to the world of finance. They’ll learn about financial services, financial products and finance in business whilst developing transferable skills required for a successful career in the sector.

• This qualification is included within DfE performance tables for both 2024 and 2025.

• New registrations accepted until November 2023.

• No delivery of qualification in academic year 2025/26 and beyond.

AiFE is mainly designed for secondary school students aged 14-16. It introduces them to personal finance and the economy, financial management skills and enterprise.

New registrations for 1 year delivery accepted until May 2024. 2 year delivery accepted until July 2024. No new registrations will be accepted beyond this date. No delivery of qualification in academic year 2025/26 and beyond.

CeFE is a Level 2 qualification including units 1 and 2 from AiFE and an additional third unit based on a case study and written paper.

New registrations for 1 year delivery accepted until November 2023. 2 year delivery accepted until July 2024. Registrations for continuing students topping up from AiFE accepted until May 2024. No delivery of qualification in academic year 2025/26 and beyond.

For teaching in Wales only.

CeFCCD is for people who are, or will soon become financially independent.

New registrations accepted until July 2024. No delivery of qualification in academic year 2025/26 and beyond.

LiFE is a low-cost e-learning programme that educates students about money in an engaging and interactive way.

It is scalable education: helping to meet the restraints on a teacher's time and resources while providing education at all skill levels.

New registrations for 1 year delivery accepted until July 2024. Registrations for continuing students who have completed LiFE Award (LiFA) accepted until July 2025. No delivery of qualification in academic year 2025/26 and beyond.

CeFS covers the core disciplines of financial education. The qualification provides a foundation for continued study in the finance sector and a wide range of other business-related disciplines.

Many students go on to study subjects such as accounting, business, finance and banking at university or through further vocational training.

Adults and school-age learners can use the qualification as a stepping stone towards future employment in the finance sector, gaining valuable understanding to support their entry to employment in a range of roles.

New registrations for 1 year delivery or 2 year for those centres that take the qualifications over 2 year only accepted until November 2023. No delivery of qualification in academic year 2025/26 and beyond.

The DipFS is for students who have already achieved the Certificate in Financial Studies (CeFS).

Building on the knowledge gained in CeFS, this course enables students to develop and enhance their financial knowledge and skills by applying them to the wider financial environment.

DipFS instils further knowledge to support progression to university to study subjects such as accounting, business, finance and banking. It can also be the launchpad to an entry-level career in the financial sector, ensuring that learners have a broad financial understanding and knowledge, or be the first step towards a further professional qualification such as CeMAP or DipFA.

New registrations accepted until November 2023. Registrations for continuing students having achieved CeFS accepted until November 2024. No delivery of qualification in academic year 2025/26 and beyond.