Technical Education and T Levels
T levels are a new qualification after GCSEs. If you have a good idea which career you’d like to go into, and you want to learn the relevant technical skills for that career in a classroom, T levels could be a good choice for you.
What are T levels?
One T level equals three A levels and takes two years to complete.
T levels courses have all been written with the help of employers, so you get the knowledge and skills that you need in the workplace. T levels are designed to make sure you’ll be ready to get a job when you qualify.
T levels aren’t an easy option, and you’ll have to work hard. You’ll spend 80% of your time in the classroom learning theory and practical skills. Then, for the other 20% of your time (45 days minimum), you’ll put these skills into action on an industry placement with an employer.
You’ll learn core skills and knowledge as part of your T level course, and you can then choose to specialise for a specific job. For example, you could study for a Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction T Level. During the course, you could choose to specialise in civil engineering, building services design, hazardous materials and surveying or surveying and design for construction and the built environment – whichever suits you best. This makes T levels a flexible option for people looking to join a specific sector or industry but who aren’t sure on exactly what job they’d like yet.
Is a T Level right for me?
T levels can fast track your career – but you’ll need to have a good sense of the industry that you want to work in. If you’re thinking of doing A levels but you know what career you’d like to go into, there might be a T level that gets you closer to doing the job, or degree, you need.
Unlike an apprenticeship, you won’t get paid for doing a T level. You might need to think about getting a part time job to support your studies.
You must pass every assessment and exam to get your T level qualification.
T levels give you UCAS points so you can apply for university or a degree apprenticeship or go straight into work. You’ll be very busy if you take a T level, so ideally you’ll already have your maths and English GCSEs, as studying for resits with your T level workload will be hard.
You’ll also need to be:
- Organised
- Enthusiastic
- Sure about your career choice
- Happy to learn in a classroom
- Willing to show what you’ve learned to an employer
- Committed to pass every part of the course
What areas can I take a T level in?
Not all T level courses have launched yet, but once they have you will be able to take a T level in the following subject areas:
- accounting
- agriculture, land management and production
- animal care and management
- building services engineering
- catering
- craft and design
- cultural heritage and visitor attractions
- design and development
- design, surveying and planning for construction
- digital business services
- digital production, design and development
- digital support and services
- education and childcare
- finance
- hair, beauty and aesthetics
- health
- healthcare science
- human resources
- legal
- maintenance, installation and repair
- management and administration
- manufacturing, processing and control
- media, broadcast and production
- onsite construction
- science
What will I get if I pass a T level?
Students who complete their T level receive an overall grade of pass, merit, distinction, or distinction*. They get a nationally recognised certificate which shows their overall grade and a breakdown of what they have achieved.
The T level certificate includes:
- An overall grade for the T level, shown as pass, merit, distinction or distinction*
- A separate grade for the core component, graded A*-E
- A separate grade for each occupational specialism, shown as pass, merit or distinction.
It will also include confirmation that the student has:
- Met the minimum requirements for maths and English qualifications
- Completed the industry placement
- Met any additional mandatory requirements
A student’s overall T level grade will be worked out from the grades they achieved on the core component and the occupational specialism(s).
Students who do not pass all elements of their T level will get a T level statement of achievement which will show the elements they have completed.
What about progression into further study or skilled employment?
T levels have been designed by employers for progression into skilled employment. They provide the foundational knowledge you’ll need, as well as a range of technical skills. When you finish a T level, you’ll have experienced a substantial amount of time in the workplace developing a very employable skillset. This means you’ll be a great candidate for recruitment straight into industry.
If you’re thinking about further study, many T level students will be able to move on from their course to a relevant apprenticeship at level 4 or higher. You can even move on to an apprenticeship at the same or lower level than a qualification you already hold, so long as the apprenticeship allows you to acquire new skills and its content is different to your previous qualifications. T levels also give you UCAS tariff points, allowing you to progress on to higher education if you’d like to.
How many UCAS tariff points do you get for a T level?
T levels receive a tariff allocation roughly equal to 3 A levels. UCAS points are only allocated for the entire T level, not for the separate components.
|
UCAS tariff points |
T level overall grade |
Equivalent A level grades |
|
168 |
Distinction* (A* on the core and distinction in the occupational specialism) |
A*A*A |
|
144 |
Distinction |
AAA |
|
120 |
Merit |
BBB |
|
96 |
Pass (C or above on the core) |
CCC |
|
72 |
Pass (D or E on the core) |
DDD |
How do I choose between A levels, T levels or an apprenticeship?
Check out this short video from the Department of Education that shows the differences between the three types of qualification:
Some useful links for further information
Important information
Gov.uk document introducing T levels
Industrial placement videos from the Department for Education
Industry placements – Business and Administration, YMCA
Industry placements – Manufacturing, Warren Services
Industry placements – Science, University of Salford
Industry placements – Animal Care, Somerset Reindeer Ranch
Industry placements – Digital, Norfolk County Council
Industry placements – Catering & Maintenance, Marriott Hotels
Industry placements – Education, Ganton School
Industry placements – Construction, Galliford Try Partnerships
