Resettlement funding
Military resettlement funding for training in the UK
ELC is not the only money available, and it is not always the right one to spend first. Here is what exists, what each fund covers and the order that usually makes sense.
Most service leavers know about Enhanced Learning Credits and stop there. There are at least five other routes, and using them in the wrong order costs people money they did not need to spend.
The single most common mistake: spending an ELC claim on a qualification the Publicly Funded FE and HE scheme would have covered outright. You only get three ELC claims, and you cannot get one back.
What is available
Values and rules as published. Confirm your own position with your Education Staff if serving, or your Single Service Representative if you have left.
| Scheme | Value | How it works | Best used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) | Up to £1,000 or £2,000 per claim | Three claims, one per financial year. 80% of the fee, Level 3 or above, approved providers only. Six years of eligible service for lower tier, eight for higher. | The main fund for certification training. Full detail and calculator. |
| Standard Learning Credits (SLC) | Up to £175 per year | Available to serving personnel for a much broader range of learning, at 80% of cost. Lower value but far fewer restrictions than ELC. | Useful for smaller courses, exam resits or topping up while still serving. |
| Publicly Funded FE and HE (PF FE/HE) | Full tuition for a first qualification | Covers a first Level 3 qualification or first higher education qualification for eligible Service leavers, separate from your ELC claims. | Worth checking before spending an ELC claim, because it does not use one. |
| Resettlement Grant | Lump sum on discharge | Paid on discharge subject to length of service. Not restricted to training and commonly used towards the 20% personal contribution on an ELC claim. | The usual way people cover their ELC contribution. |
| Career Transition Partnership (CTP) | Workshops, advice and some funded training | MOD resettlement provision including career advice, workshops and job fairs, alongside the funded routes above. | Start here for advice, then use ELC for the certification itself. |
| Service charities | Varies | Organisations including the Royal British Legion, SSAFA and Forces Employment Charity sometimes contribute to retraining costs, particularly where ELC eligibility has been missed. | Worth approaching if you do not qualify for ELC. |
This is a summary and not official guidance. Scheme rules change and individual circumstances vary. Official ELC guidance is at enhancedlearningcredits.com, and where anything here differs from theirs, theirs is correct.
The order that usually makes sense
- Start with CTP advice, before you spend anythingCareer Transition Partnership workshops and advice cost you nothing and stop you buying training that does not lead anywhere. The most expensive mistake in resettlement is a well funded course aimed at the wrong job.
- Check the Publicly Funded FE and HE scheme firstIf it covers a first Level 3 or first higher education qualification you want, use it, because it does not consume an ELC claim.
- Use Standard Learning Credits while you are still servingUp to £175 a year at 80 per cent, with far fewer restrictions. Good for smaller courses and for testing whether you actually enjoy a subject before committing an ELC claim to it.
- Then spend ELC claims, cheapest firstA claim is a claim regardless of course price. CompTIA Network+ at £449 costs you £89.80 and uses one claim. The £1,857 Cyber Security Career Programme uses the same single claim and costs you £857 on lower tier.
- Put your resettlement grant towards the 20 per centThis is the normal way people cover the personal contribution ELC requires.
- Ask a service charity if you fall through the gapsRoyal British Legion, SSAFA and Forces Employment Charity all sometimes help with retraining, particularly where ELC eligibility was missed.
Common questions
Can I combine ELC with other resettlement funding?
In practice most service leavers use the resettlement grant or other resettlement funding towards the 20 per cent personal contribution that ELC requires. What you cannot do is use ELC itself to cover that 20 per cent, because the scheme requires a genuine personal contribution. Confirm the rules of any other fund with your Education Staff or Single Service Representative before relying on it.
What is the difference between ELC and SLC?
Standard Learning Credits are for serving personnel, worth up to 175 pounds a year at 80 per cent of cost, and cover a much broader range of learning. Enhanced Learning Credits are worth up to 1000 or 2000 pounds per claim, are restricted to nationally recognised qualifications at Level 3 or above with approved providers, and can be used for up to five years after discharge.
Should I use the Publicly Funded FE and HE scheme before ELC?
If you are eligible for it and it covers what you want to study, yes, because it does not consume one of your three ELC claims. It covers a first Level 3 qualification or first higher education qualification for eligible Service leavers. Check your eligibility with your resettlement staff before spending an ELC claim on something the PF FE/HE scheme would have paid for outright.
What if I do not qualify for ELC at all?
If you were wounded, injured or sick and medically discharged before reaching the service threshold you may still be eligible, so ask rather than assume. Beyond that, service charities including the Royal British Legion, SSAFA and Forces Employment Charity sometimes contribute to retraining, and Standard Learning Credits remain available while you are still serving.
How much ELCAS funding can I get?
ELC pays 80 per cent of the course fee, up to your tier cap. Lower tier is capped at £1,000 per claim and higher tier at £2,000 per claim. You must pay a minimum of 20 per cent of the fee yourself, and you cannot use ELC to cover that 20 per cent.
How many years of service do I need?
Lower tier requires at least six years of eligible service. Higher tier requires at least eight years. The six year rule came in under the 2016 Order: if you had already completed four years of eligible service before 1 April 2017, you qualify for lower tier on the old four year threshold. Only service accumulated since 1 April 2000 counts.
Do I need to register for ELC before I leave?
No, not any more, and a lot of provider websites are still out of date on this. The Armed Forces (Enhanced Learning Credit Scheme and Further and Higher Education Commitment Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2016 removed the registration requirement. Members of the armed forces are automatically enrolled in the ELC Scheme once they have completed Phase 1 training.
How many claims do I get?
Three in total, and only one per financial year, which runs from 1 April to 31 March. Plan the order you use them in, because you cannot get a claim back once it is spent.
Can I still claim after I have left the forces?
Yes, within five years of your discharge date. If you left before 1 April 2016 you have ten years. Check your own date against this rather than assuming, because the window changed.
Not sure which tier you are on, or how many claims you have left?
Tell us your service dates and what you want to end up doing. We will tell you which tier you qualify for, what a claim would actually cover on each course, and whether ELC is even the right fund for your situation. No obligation, and if a different provider or route suits you better we will say so.
Course2Career is a trading name of Course Correct Ltd, ELCAS approved provider 14012. Full accreditations, registrations and terms are on our credentials and evidence page. Official scheme guidance is published at enhancedlearningcredits.com, and where anything on this page differs from theirs, theirs is correct.