Source: Tertiary Education Commission
Last updated 8 December 2025
Last updated 8 December 2025
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This page provides a summary of changes to the Delivery Classification Guide (DCG).
This page provides a summary of changes to the Delivery Classification Guide (DCG).
General changes
All of document
Change subject
Notes
Reason
Fund guidance
Expanded guidance on how to apply the DCG for each Fund (YG, DQ1–2, DQ3–7 and DQ7–10).
To provide clarity for users.
All classifications
Change subject
Notes
Reason
Classification headings
Minor updates made to ensure all classification titles align with those referenced in the DQ7–10 funding mechanism.
To align with policy.
Changes to individual classifications
#03: Arts; Advanced Studies for Teachers; Health Therapies; Humanities; Languages; Social Sciences
Change subject
Notes
Reason
Holistic nutrition
Added guidance to clarify that holistic nutrition/health courses should use this classification, unless they meet the criteria to use #18 Science.
To align with policy intent.
#11: Engineering; Technology
Change subject
Notes
Reason
Levels 1–4
Expanded guidance on how to classify engineering and technology courses at Levels 1–4, as they cannot use this classification.
To align with policy intent.
#13.1: Optometry
Change subject
Notes
Reason
New funding category
New funding category added to classification for Budget 2025 targeted funding rate increase.
To align with changes to the 2026 DQ7–10 funding mechanism.
#19.1: Teaching — Early Childhood Education and Kōhanga Reo Kaiako
Change subject
Notes
Reason
Guidance
Guidance updated to acknowledge the proposed Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Bill changes.
To align with policy intent, if enacted.
#19.2: Teaching — Primary
Change subject
Notes
Reason
Guidance
Guidance updated to acknowledge the proposed Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Bill changes.
To align with policy intent, if enacted.
#20: Teaching — Secondary and Specialist
Change subject
Notes
Reason
Guidance
Guidance updated to acknowledge the proposed Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Bill changes.
To align with policy intent, if enacted.
#22: Trades
Change subject
Notes
Reason
Guidance
Description updated to make it clearer what courses this classification can be used for.
To align with policy intent.
Outdoor education, adventure tourism, and outdoor leadership
Added outdoor education, adventure tourism, and outdoor leadership instruction to the types of courses this classification must be used for, if the course does not meet other criteria.
To align with policy intent.
Electrician and electrical trades
Added electrician and electrical trades to the types of courses this classification must be used for, if the course does not meet other criteria.
To provide clarity for users.
#24–#37 Clinical training classifications
Change subject
Notes
Reason
#24–#37 note
Note removed and guidance added under each individual clinical classification.
To provide clarity for users.
Clinical training
Description updated under each clinical classification to make clearer what courses they can be used for.
To align with policy intent.
#25: Medical imaging
Change subject
Notes
Reason
New funding category
New funding category added to classification for Budget 2025 targeted funding rate increase.
To align with changes to the 2026 DQ7–10 funding mechanism.
#27: Midwifery
Change subject
Notes
Reason
Undergraduate
Description updated to specify that this classification should be used for undergraduate programmes that lead to registration.
To align with policy intent.
#31: Pharmacy Professionals
Change subject
Notes
Reason
Undergraduate
Description updated to specify that this classification should be used for undergraduate programmes that lead to registration.
To align with policy intent.
#43: Mathematics
Change subject
Notes
Reason
New classification
New classification, funding category and guidance added for Budget 2025 targeted funding rate increase.
To align with changes to the 2026 DQ7–10 funding mechanism.
Definitions
Change subject
Notes
Reason
Definitions
Updated definitions to reflect the funding conditions and content in the DCG.
To ensure definitions are accurate and relevant.
