Funding Round 1 — Deer Management

Last updated: 15 October 2026

Professional development in deer management

Effective deer management can play an important role in protecting biodiversity, supporting woodland regeneration and maintaining healthy habitats.

Funding Round 1 has been established to support the development of knowledge, skills and professional competence in deer management.

The round provides targeted financial support towards two distinct training routes, designed to support individuals at different stages of their professional development.

Two training routes

Route 1

Entry into Professional Deer Management

This route is intended for complete beginners and those with limited formal training in deer management who wish to establish a recognised foundation of knowledge, understanding and practical competence.

The route is particularly intended to support people entering or preparing to enter the countryside and deer management sector, including students, apprentices, trainees, recent graduates and early-career entrants with a clear educational, vocational or professional interest in deer management.

It is designed to help individuals begin their development in deer management and progress towards further recognised training, practical experience and professional opportunities.

Who is this route for?

People who:

are new to deer management or have limited formal training;
do not already hold a recognised Level 1 deer-stalking qualification;
are undertaking, or intend to undertake, a relevant educational, vocational or professional pathway in the countryside, wildlife, forestry, land or deer management sectors;
wish to develop a recognised foundation of knowledge and practical competence; and
meet the eligibility requirements for Funding Round 1.

This route is not intended primarily for recreational or sporting purposes.

Funding and candidate costs

Level 1 funding covers 50% of the approved online theory fee, including applicable VAT. The candidate pays the remaining 50%.

Practical assessment is paid separately and entirely by the candidate. The normal fee must be agreed in advance with the Approved Verifier. It may vary by area but must not exceed £100, plus applicable VAT only where the assessor is VAT registered. CSTF funding does not cover this practical assessment fee.

Route 2

Progression to Advanced Professional Competence

This route is intended for experienced deer stalkers and practitioners who already hold a recognised Level 2 deer-stalking qualification and wish to progress to an advanced Level 3 vocational qualification in deer management.

The route is designed for individuals who have already established their practical competence and are ready to develop their knowledge, skills and professional capability further.

Who is this route for?

People who:

already hold a recognised Level 2 deer-stalking qualification (PDS2 or DSC2);
have appropriate experience in deer management;
wish to progress to advanced vocational training in deer management;
have a clear educational, vocational or professional reason for undertaking advanced deer management training; and
meet the eligibility requirements for Funding Round 1.

Applicants applying on the basis of PDS2 or DSC2 must upload documentary proof of their qualification with their application.

Funding

Level 3 funding covers 100% of the approved qualification fee.

The current approved training, the participating training provider and the funding offered for your route are shown in the application form before you submit.

A pathway through professional development

Funding Round 1 is designed to support progression as well as individual stages of training. For someone beginning their development, the longer-term pathway may include Level 1 training, practical experience, Level 2 training and, where the relevant entry requirements are subsequently met, progression to Level 3.

Relevant university and college study can also contribute to this pathway. Relevant degrees and diplomas may contribute credits towards Unit 1 of the Level 3 qualification, subject to assessment. This means that students undertaking relevant degrees or diplomas may be able to build academic credits towards Level 3 alongside their practical and professional development.

Who is Funding Round 1 intended to support?

Funding Round 1 is intended to increase participation in recognised professional training by supporting individuals for whom financial assistance will make a meaningful difference to their ability to undertake that training.

The Fund is not intended to provide a general discount on training fees or to reimburse individuals who have already decided to undertake training.

The funding is particularly intended to support additional participation by people entering or progressing within the countryside and deer management sector, rather than primarily subsidising established recreational or sporting demand.

Applicants should therefore apply before committing to, enrolling on or paying for the relevant training.

Eligibility

Applicants must satisfy the eligibility requirements for the relevant training route and Funding Round 1.

Route 1 applicants

Applicants must:

be new to deer management or have limited formal training;
not already hold a recognised Level 1 deer-stalking qualification;
have a clear educational, vocational or professional reason for developing their deer management knowledge and competence;
demonstrate an intention to progress their knowledge, practical experience and professional development in the countryside or deer management sector;
not be applying primarily for recreational or sporting purposes; and
satisfy the general eligibility requirements for Funding Round 1.

Route 2 applicants

Applicants must:

hold a recognised Level 2 deer-stalking qualification (DSC2 or PDS2);
have appropriate experience in deer management;
have a clear educational, vocational or professional reason for progressing to advanced deer management training;
demonstrate an intention to develop a significant professional role, employment opportunity or career within deer management or a related countryside sector; and
satisfy the general eligibility requirements for Funding Round 1.

General requirements

All applicants must:

submit their application while Funding Round 1 is open for applications;
provide information about their existing qualifications, experience and intended professional or educational pathway;
explain how financial assistance would affect their ability to undertake the proposed training during the funding period;
not have already commenced, completed or paid for the training for which funding is being sought; and
agree to the Funding Round 1 Terms and Conditions.

Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee a funding award. Funding is limited and applications will be considered against the published criteria for Funding Round 1.

Progression and more than one stage of training

CSTF recognises that professional development in deer management may involve progression through more than one qualification or training stage.

An applicant who receives funding towards one stage may subsequently apply for funding towards a further stage where a relevant funding opportunity is available and the applicant satisfies the eligibility criteria applying to that stage.

Funding towards one stage does not create an entitlement to funding towards a later stage. Each award remains subject to the published eligibility criteria, assessment process and funding available at the relevant time.

How to apply

Choose your training route. Select the route that corresponds to your current level of knowledge, experience and qualification.
Check your eligibility. Review the Funding Round 1 eligibility criteria before submitting an application.
Complete the application. You will be asked to provide information relevant to your eligibility and application, including your experience, existing qualifications, educational or professional pathway, intended training route and how financial assistance would enable participation.
Submit your application. Applications close at midnight at the end of 13 December 2026 (UK time). Applications submitted after that point cannot be accepted. Applications are assessed after the round has closed.

Start your application

How applications are considered

Applications will be considered against the published eligibility and assessment criteria for Funding Round 1.

The assessment will consider:

whether the applicant satisfies the eligibility requirements;
whether the applicant is applying through the appropriate training route;
the applicant's existing experience and qualifications;
the applicant's educational, vocational or professional pathway;
the applicant's intended use of the training;
the extent to which financial assistance is required to enable participation; and
the contribution that the proposed training is expected to make to the applicant's future development within deer management and the wider countryside sector.

Funding is limited. Where the number of eligible applications exceeds the funding available, not every eligible applicant will receive an award.

What happens after submission?

Application received: When you submit, you will see an on-screen confirmation with a unique reference number. Please keep it: it identifies your application in any correspondence.
Eligibility review: Your application will be reviewed to establish whether you meet the published eligibility requirements.
Assessment: Applications will be considered against the published eligibility criteria.
Additional information: CSTF may request additional information or evidence where necessary to establish eligibility or assess an application.
Decision: Assessment takes place after the round closes. Applicants will be notified of the outcome once the assessment process is complete.
Successful applicants: Successful applicants will receive confirmation of their funding award together with instructions explaining how the award may be used towards the approved training.
Training: Successful applicants must enrol with the participating training provider within 30 calendar days of receiving their written award. CSTF may agree an extension in writing. Any course-completion deadline is set separately by the participating training provider. Do not enrol on, pay for or start the training before you receive your written award.

Important information

Funding Round 1 is a targeted funding programme. It is designed to support additional participation in recognised professional training rather than subsidise training that an applicant has already decided to undertake.
Funding cannot be claimed retrospectively for training that has already been paid for, commenced or completed.
Applicants should not assume that an intention to progress to a later qualification creates eligibility for that qualification before its own entry requirements have been met.
Funding towards one stage of professional development does not guarantee funding towards a later stage.
An award under Funding Round 1 does not create any entitlement to funding under future CSTF funding rounds.
Funding is limited and applications will be considered only against the published criteria applicable to this funding round.

See also the Funding Round 1 Terms and Conditions and the privacy notice.