03 March 2025

Importing Learning Aims

Import LARS (Learning aim reference service) files into ebs to add the latest learning aims to ebs.

Before importing learning aims note the following:

  • You can download the latest LARS file from the UK government website. For more information, go to Learning aim reference service (LARS).

  • If you are unable to import the LARS file you may need to install the Microsoft Access Database Engine Redistributable for your version of Microsoft Access. For more information, go to Microsoft Access Database Engine Redistributable.

  • Core LARS tables for Funding, Devolved Funding, Validity, Annual Value, and Learning Delivery are automatically imported. You can view the information contained within these tables in the ebs database. For example, to view different funding rates, devolved area funding rates, and so on.

  • Importing LARS data to an on-premise ebs should take around 90 minutes . However, for institutions using a cloud hosted version of ebs the import can take several hours.

Import the LARS data to ebs as follows:

  1. Select the Imports button on the Admin group of the System ribbon.

    Imports button

  2. Select the Open File on the Admin Commands ribbon.

    Open File button

  3. Search for the LARS MDB file using the navigation window, then select the file and select Open.

    Open File button

    The Imports window will display.

    Open File button

  4. Select the required data to import, such as Learning Aims, and then select the funding year from the drop-down list and select Import. Select the Insert new records only check box if you only want to import learning aims that have not been previously imported.

    Open File button

    Wait for the import to complete. The import progress bar will run six times for the initial learning aims import and then five times for the core LARS tables. Therefore, the progress window may close and re-open several times during the import.

    Open File button

  5. Once the import is complete, a window displays the status of the import for the learning aims data. Save Changes to complete the import of learning aims into ebs.

    Open File button

    that the success and failed counts are only for the learning aims data, not the data imported in the core LARS tables. That is, Funding, Devolved Funding, Validity, Annual Value, and Learning Delivery.