Section 5
5.CIF 2027-28 round timetable
The Condition Improvement Fund operates on an annual cycle. Indicative dates below are based on the structure of the past five published cycles; the live timetable will be published by ESFA in autumn 2026.[1]
5.1Indicative dates
| Milestone | Indicative date | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Round opens | Autumn 2026 (typically October) | Open the bid portal account and confirm institution eligibility. |
| Submission deadline | Mid-December 2026 | Lodge the full submission with supporting evidence pack. |
| Outcomes published | April to May 2027 | DfE publishes the outcomes register. |
| Appeals window | Approximately 10 working days from outcome | Lodge an appeal in writing if grounds are valid. |
| Delivery cut-off | By September 2028 | Project must reach practical completion by the September after award. |
Projects funded through CIF must complete by the end of the academic year following the round in which they are awarded.ESFA, Condition Improvement Fund guidance[1]
5.2Comparison with 2026-27
The 2026-27 round opened in October 2025, closed in December 2025 and published outcomes on 22 May 2026, with appeals concluding in June 2026. The 2027-28 round is expected to follow the same structure.[3]
5.3September delivery cut-off
Practical completion by the September following award is the single most common cause of deliverability mark loss in the published outcomes data. Bids that do not credibly evidence a finishable programme inside the cut-off generally lose Planning marks.[2]
Governor paper output
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