ELCAS Funding

Funding available to service leavers and those still serving.

Funding Guide

Getting support for your training with ELCAS

The MOD’s Enchanced Learning Credits scheme provides forces leavers with financial support to help you get training and qualifications.

If you are eligible, you can get support for 80% of the cost of a training course or certifications through an approved Learning Provider like Portland Training.

There is additional funding available for your first Level 3 (A Level equivalent) or first higher education qualification (Undergraduate degree)

This funding is available to people that have left the forces and also to people still serving in their qualifying resettlement phase.

We will be happy to help guide you through the process of applying for a course and applying for ELCAS funding. Below you’ll find some more information about ELCAS funding and how you can use it to support learning with us.

How much support can I get?

If this training is your first Level 3 qualification, or your first higher education qualification, you can claim for this to be fully funded, providing you meet the eligibility requirements. This funding will cover the cost of the entire course and so you won’t need to make a personal contribution.

The other type of funding you can apply for is ELC credits which covers 80% of the cost towards any Level 3 or above training or certifications up to a threshold amount, with a personal contribution from you making up the other 20%. There are two tiers of support that depend on the amount of qualifying service years you have.

For the lower tier threshold, you can claim up to £1000 of support with ELCAS. If you fall into the higher tier of support, you can claim £2000 of support through ELCAS. That means that someone on the lower tier could apply for training costing £1200 and would only need to pay £200.

Which tier am I in?

Whether you are in the lower or higher tier is dependant on how many years qualifying service you have and when that service was completed.

For the lower tier, you must have completed a minimum of four years qualifying service prior to 1st April 2017 or not less than six years eligible service if you enlisted on/after the 1st April 2013.

For higher tier claims you are required to complete a minimum of eight years eligible service.

Only service that has been carried out since 1st April 2000 will count towards your ELC Scheme eligibility.

Important:You'll need to give us your Claim Authorisation Note (CAN) before the course start date.

How many claims can I make?

For the fully-funded higher education and further education support, you can only make a claim on either your first Level 3 (A-level equivalent) or your first further education qualification (Undergraduate degree equivalent).

You can make one ELC funding claim per financial year (1st April – 31st March) and up to three claims in total.