16 to 19 funding: high value courses premium
Updated 10 March 2026
Applies to England
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1. Introduction
Education and skills are key components to addressing national and local productivity challenges, making sure individuals have the skills needed to meet the needs of the new economy.
High value courses premium (HVCP) is funding to encourage and support delivery of selected substantial level 3 study programmes and T Levels in selected A level subjects or sector subject areas (SSAs).
HVCP for construction is additional funding for academic year 2026 to 2027 to encourage and support delivery of selected substantial level 2 and level 3 study programmes and T Levels in sector subject area (SSA) 5.2 – Building and construction. This is to support an increase in skilled construction workers. Since HVCP for construction is available, we have removed SSA5.2 from the usual HVCP and instead it will be supported via this offer. Read our 16 to 19 high value courses premium for construction for full details.
Both premiums have a list of qualifications that attract this funding. Find the links to these in section 2 of each guidance document.
This guidance sets out the conditions under which we will pay HVCP.
2. Qualifications
Each year, we publish the qualifications we use to calculate HVCP. There is a file for each academic year. Eligibility for HVCP funding does not mean we will or will not include a qualification on our list approved for 16 to 19 funding in the future.
The qualifications attracting HVCP must be approved for 16 to 19 funding during at least part of the relevant academic year and be:
- an A level in one of the qualifying A level subjects, or
- a level 3 qualification (other than an A level) with recommended guided learning hours (GLH) of 360 or more in a qualifying SSA, or
- a T Level aligned to the qualifying SSA
| Qualifying A level subjects |
|---|
| Biology |
| Chemistry |
| Computer science |
| Design and technology |
| Electronics |
| Further mathematics |
| Mathematics |
| Physics |
| Statistics |
| Qualifying SSAs |
|---|
| SSA 2.2 – Mathematics and statistics |
| SSA 4.1 – Engineering |
| SSA 4.2 – Manufacturing technologies |
| SSA 4.3 – Transport operations and maintenance |
| SSA 6.1 – ICT for practitioners |
We selected these qualifying subjects and SSAs because they have higher earnings outcomes according to available data. We considered A level subjects and non-A level subject areas separately. This way of selecting programmes identifies those most likely to contribute to a more productive economy.
The HVCP does not pre-empt or anticipate the outcome of the Post-16 level 3 and below pathways consultation. Qualifications reform has the latest news on post-16 qualifications reform at level 3 and below.
3. Students eligible for HVCP
Students eligible for 16 to 19 funding, both full-time and part-time, can attract the premium. To attract the premium, students will also need to be enrolled on a qualifying level 3 programme, defined as follows:
- an academic study programme consisting of at least 2 of the selected A levels
- a study programme with a core aim of a qualifying level 3 qualification in the selected SSAs with recommended GLH of 360 or more
- a T Level aligned to a qualifying SSA
- qualification must be on our published list of qualifying qualifications
4. Calculation and payment
4.1 Funding rate
We will pay £600 for each student attracting HVCP.
4.2 Calculation
We will calculate HVCP as follows:
Step 1 – identify students eligible for HVCP
Step 2 – calculate the amount of HVCP per institution by:
- multiplying the total number of eligible HVCP students per institution by the funding rate
Read our HVCP student examples worksheet to find examples of students eligible or not for HVCP and how we calculate the allocation.
We base the HVCP payment for a year, on data from 2 years previously. For example, for 2025 to 2026 allocations, we use full year data from the individualised learner record (ILR) or census from 2023 to 2024. You can check the data sources for a particular year on our 16 to 19 allocations page.
5. HVCP student examples
5.1 Payment
We pay funding through 16 to 19 allocations for each academic year, through the usual monthly profile. We will take infrastructure changes such as mergers and demergers into account as far as practicable in calculating the eligible amounts.
6. HVCP and the advanced maths premium
HVCP operates in parallel to the advanced maths premium. Students may qualify for both if they meet the respective criteria for funding.
7. Funding guidance
Further information is in the 16 to 19 funding rules and the funding rates and formula funding guidance.
8. Contact us
If you have questions after reading our guidance, or if there’s anything else you need help with, you can find more support in our customer help centre.