The MoD Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme

The MOD's Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELC) promotes lifelong learning amongst members of the Armed Forces.

The scheme provides financial support in the form of a single upfront payment in each of a maximum of three separate financial years. You are reminded that ELC funding is only available for pursuit of higher level learning i.e. for courses that result in a nationally recognised qualification at Level three or above on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (England, Northern Ireland and Wales), a Level six or above on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) or, if pursued overseas, an approved international equivalent qualification with an approved learning provider.

Getting Started: How does it work?

1. There are several stages to the ELC process. Full information is set out in Joint Service Publications (JSP) 822.

Background

The Publicly Funded Further Education/Higher Education scheme provides Service Leavers and Service Personnel in their qualifying resettlement phase with access to a first full Level three (GCE A level or vocational equivalent), or a first higher education qualification (a foundation degree or a first undergraduate degree or equivalent) free from tuition fees.

If a Service Personnel has obtained 120 credits this would result in a Higher Education qualification and makes them not applicable for this scheme. MOD and the relevant national education authority in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland pay for the tuition fees in full rather than the individual making a contribution towards the cost.

Before making an application, Service Leavers are advised to first check the national position on existing support with the relevant national education authority (e.g. in England BIS or SFA). There may already be existing ‘free’ provision by another route e.g. those aged 25 years or under are already entitled to a first level 3 in England; free entitlement for all who fulfil the residency requirements on degree/HND level courses in Scotland; Welsh residents also attract some support for FE and HE provision. It makes sense for SL to explore alternative routes before considering support and access through the ELC ‘top up’ scheme, but there are safety measures in place to prevent any possibility of double funding.

CLAIMANTS PLEASE NOTE: YOU ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A CLAIM FOR EACH ACADEMIC YEAR OF THE COURSE. ONLY ONE YEAR OF STUDY SHOULD BE ENTERED ONTO EACH CLAIM FORM.

2 First you must have already been registered to become a Scheme Member and have accrued a sufficient amount of service before you can submit a claim. If you are still serving speak to your local Education Staff as they will be able to check your entitlement for you. If you have left the forces contact ELCAS as they can make the appropriate checks.

3. Have a look at Service Personnel Claiming ELC or Service Leaver Claiming ELC respectively as these pages will tell you how to make your claim.

4. Finally you must complete your Course Evaluation via the Member's Area. Please note that further claims cannot be processed until the evaluation has been completed.

If claim is regected in step three (return to step one) or five (return to step three).

for unauthorised claims and/or missing the required information returned to the learning provider.

Claim Process to be Followed by Learners and Learning Providers

ONE. Learner identifies course of learning in liaison with Approved Learning Provider

TWO Learner completes ELC Claim Form (form ELC 005.01)

THREE. Learner submits Claim Form (form ELC 005.01) to Commanding Officer and Education Staff for approval

FOUR. All ELCAS Submissions must be sent online. Offline forms are only for personnel submitted to MBOS who have not qualified for 6 year’s service but have been granted access to ELCAS due to level of injuries sustained.

FIVE. ELCAS checks eligibility of Learner to claim an ELC via ELCAS database or Education Officer checks via online system

SIX. ELCAS or Education Officer process and approve Claim and sends Learner a CLAIM AUTHORISATION NOTE (CAN form ELC 005.02)

SEVEN. Learner books course of learning with the Learner Provider, pays 20% personal contribution/deposit and passes the CAN (form ELC 005.02) to the Learning Provider as authority to proceed

EIGHT Learning Provider sends invoice addressed to Director General Financial Management Shared Service Centre to ELCAS (after course start date)

NINE. Within 15 working days of receiving an invoice ELCAS checks invoice against approved Claim record and passes to relevant MoD Budget Manager. The Budget Manager authorises the data and then passes on to the Director General Financial Management Shared Service Centre for Payment.

TEN. MoD Director General Financial Management Shared Service Centre makes payment to Learning Provider and issues a remittance. (Please note that once DGFM SSC received payment instruction it may take 30 days for payment to be made).