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.