Funding and Applications
Take the next step in your professional development
We want to make it as straightforward as possible for teachers and leaders to access the right National Professional Qualification.
Funding may be available for eligible participants, but the criteria and availability of funded places can vary between qualifications and programme cohorts. It is important to check the latest guidance before applying.
Funding your NPQ
Department for Education (DfE) scholarship funding is available for eligible teachers and leaders undertaking NPQs.
Funding eligibility depends on the qualification you choose and the school or educational setting in which you work. Some NPQs are funded for eligible participants across publicly funded settings, while others have additional eligibility criteria linked to levels of disadvantage.
You can find more information about funding and eligibility further down this page, or visit the Department for Education's NPQ funding guidance.
Ready to apply?
Applications are made through the Department for Education's NPQ registration portal.
How to apply
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Explore our NPQs - visit our Leadership and Specialist NPQ pages to find the qualification that best matches your role and professional development goals.
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Check your eligibility - review the funding guidance to understand whether you may be eligible for a funded place.
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Register your application - use the DfE's NPQ registration service, selecting your chosen qualification and UCL as your delivery partner.
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Look out for confirmation - follow the application instructions and watch for communications about your place and next steps.
Please be aware that there is only one recruitment window per academic year.
Applications for 2026 are still open.
Understanding NPQ funding and eligibility
Funding arrangements vary depending on the NPQ you choose and the school or educational setting in which you work. The information below explains how scholarship funding is allocated and which eligibility criteria apply.
NPQs funded for eligible publicly funded schools and settings
Scholarship funding is available for eligible teachers and leaders in publicly funded schools and settings undertaking the NPQ for SENCOs, NPQ in Headship or NPQ in Senior Leadership.
NPQs with additional disadvantage eligibility criteria
For other NPQs, scholarship funding is targeted at eligible teachers and leaders working in settings with higher levels of disadvantage. For schools, this means being within the 50% with the highest proportion of pupils attracting pupil premium funding. Comparative disadvantage measures apply to Early Years and 16–19 settings.
What if I'm not eligible for funding?
If you are not eligible for a funded place, you may still be able to undertake an NPQ through a self-funded or school-funded place.
Need some help?
If you have questions about choosing a qualification, funding eligibility or the application process, our team will be happy to help.
Email: NPQ@rklt.co.uk
You can also visit our NPQ Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to common questions.
For 2026 programmes, the costs for those not able to access a funded place are as follows:
|
Programme |
Price |
|
Specialist |
£902 |
|
NPQSL |
£1,149 |
|
NPQEYL |
£1,149 |
|
NPQSENCO |
£1,265 |
|
NPQH |
£1,985 |
|
NPQEL |
£4,099 |