T Levels

What are T Levels? 

Designed to give you a head start towards the future you want, T Levels are a brand new qualification that will take your education to the next level. They will combine classroom theory, practical learning and an industry placement to make sure learners have real experience of the workplace. 

T levels will provide the knowledge and experience needed to open the door into skilled employment, further study or a higher apprenticeship. 

They’ll offer learners a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during an industry placement of at least 45 days. You will spend 80% of your time in the classroom and 20% of your time on a 45-day placement to equip you with the knowledge and skills companies are looking for. 

You can study the following T Levels at Dudley College:

• Automotive
• Business and Administration
• Childcare and Education 
• Construction Design, Surveying and Planning
• Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing
• Digital Infrastructure
• Digital Production, Design and Development
• Digital Support Services
• Electrotechnical Engineering
• Fabrication and Welding
• Hairdressing, Barbering and Beauty Therapy (from September 2024)
• Healthcare
• Legal Services
• Media, Broadcast and Production (from September 2024)
• Onsite Construction – Brickwork
• Onsite Construction – Carpentry and Joinery
• Onsite Construction – Plastering
• Plumbing and Heating Engineering
• Science (Laboratory Sciences)
• Supporting Teaching and Learning
• Textiles and Fashion (from September 2024)

FAQs 

Can I go to university after studying a T Level?

Yes, you can. T Levels prepare you to progress into a skilled job, but you can also choose to take further technical training, such as a higher apprenticeship or degree, if you don’t want to move straight into a job. 

Your T Level will be worth UCAS points and will be recognised by universities and other education providers. View the table below to find out more about the UCAS tariff allocation for T Levels and how they compare to A levels: 

UCAS Tariff points	T Level overall grade	A Level
168	Distinction* (A* on the core and distinction in the occupational specialism)	AAA*
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 T Levels will work with other post-16 choices? 

T Levels are a new choice following GCSEs that will take your education to the next level. They are offered alongside the following qualifications: 

• Apprenticeships for learners who wish to learn a specific occupation ‘on the job’ 
• A levels for learners who wish to continue academic education 
• Vocational qualifications for learners who wish to learn in a practical way about a specific career path 

Why would I choose an unpaid T Level over a paid Apprenticeship? 

T Levels give you the opportunity to experience an industry while you continue your studies, with the opportunity to specialise later. While gaining practical experience, you also achieve the qualifications needed to move into a higher level of study, if you choose to later. Apprenticeships are paid, work-based training for those who know what occupation they want to pursue.

How long is the industry placement? 

An industry placement lasts around 45 days, undertaken as a block or as individual days. The specific length of the placement and when it will take place will differ depending on your T Level. 

How long does a T Level take? 

Two years of full-time study.

How are T Levels graded?

Students who successfully complete a T Level will receive an overall grade of pass, merit, distinction or distinction*, along with a nationally recognised certificate to show their overall grade and a breakdown of their results. 

A T Level entails the following, which students must complete to achieve a grade: 

• A technical qualification, which will cover: 
• Core theory, concepts and skills for the student’s chosen industry area 
• A specialist skills and knowledge for an occupation or career relevant to the student’s interest 
• Direct, hands-on experience in an industry placement with an employer in a relevant field 
• A minimum standard in maths and English (if students have not already achieved them) 

Are T Levels recognised by employers? 

T Levels have been designed with leading businesses and employers to give you the knowledge and skills you need. When you pass your T Level, you will get a nationally recognised certificate showing the overall grade you achieved – pass, merit, distinction or distinction*. It will also give details of what you learned on the course to help you move into skilled employment or a higher apprenticeship. 

Information for Parents & Carers

As parents or carers of teenagers at secondary school, you may have already heard about T Levels. The government has developed this new qualification to deliver world-class technical education and give your child a new choice when they leave school. These two-year courses have been developed in collaboration with leading employers, so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares young people for work.

T Levels will give your child the chance to learn what a real career is like. Each programme has been designed to give them the skills, qualifications and experience they need to work in a specific industry. They will help to boost their CV, give them a competitive advantage when it comes to finding a job and will enable them to succeed in the workplace.

Here are five useful things you need to know about T Levels:

1. Following GCSEs, your child will study one T Level over two years
2. One T Level is equivalent to three A Levels, so has the same UCAS points value
3. Your child will spend 80% of their time in the classroom and 20% of their time on a 45-day industry placement
4. T Levels will help young people progress into skilled employment, further study or a higher Apprenticeship
5. Each programme has been developed in collaboration with sector experts and leading employers.

To find out what T Levels are available to study, or to apply, check out our T Level list above.

Useful Resources

For more information on T-Levels, please visit:

T Levels – The Next Level Qualification

T Levels – Information for Parents