T Level courses
Endorsed by leading employers and involving an industrial placement, T Levels are school-leaver qualifications in England that give you the skills and experience required to enter a range of professions, or prepare you for a degree or apprenticeship
Key information about T levels
- A two-year Level 3 qualification, equivalent to three A-levels at A*.
- Developed in collaboration with employers to meet industry needs.
- Structure is divided into 80% classroom learning and 20% on an industry placement.
- Graded as Pass, Merit, Distinction, or Distinction*.
- Provide a route into popular sectors such as construction, digital, engineering, and healthcare.
What are T Levels?
T Levels (Technical Levels) are two-year technical qualifications designed for students aged 16 to 19 looking to develop vocational knowledge and skills for their chosen career. They are available at selected schools and colleges in England as an alternative to A-levels.
These career-focused qualifications combine classroom learning with a 45-day industry placement, preparing students for:
- apprenticeships
- further technical study
- skilled employment.
Created in partnership with industry, more than 250 leading firms have helped the government design the T Level qualification, which is available in more than 20 subjects - from health, early years and education to business, finance, and the digital industries.
Read more about what they are at GOV.UK - T Levels.
You can search for courses near you by visiting T Levels - Find your nearest T Level.
What are the benefits of T Levels?
If you're struggling to decide between T Levels, A-levels and apprenticeships, here are their main advantages compared with these other options:
- T Levels provide school leavers with another study choice after their GCSEs and more options afterwards than A-levels. For instance, after achieving your certificate, you could either go into skilled employment or pursue an apprenticeship. However, they can still help you get into university.
- As you'll be required to spend more time in the classroom than with an apprenticeship (about 80% compared to 20%), you can continue studying in a familiar environment while getting to experience the workplace through an industrial placement directly relevant to your course. You can still choose to do a higher or degree apprenticeship after completing the course.
- T Levels are perfect for students who have clear career goals and would benefit from hands-on learning and practical experience rather than pure academic study. This is different from Year 12 work experience, which is typically much shorter in length and more about observation than learning in the role.
- While the industry placement is part of a course and the employer is not legally obligated to offer a wage, the host company can still decide to pay you for the work.
What subjects are T Levels available in?
T Levels are a fairly new qualification (introduced in 2020), so they're not available in all sectors and subject areas, although they now cover ten major disciplines.
You can currently study T Levels in:
- accounting
- agriculture, land management and production
- animal care and management
- building services engineering for construction
- craft and design
- design and development for engineering and manufacturing
- design, surveying and planning for construction
- digital business services
- digital production, design and development
- digital support services
- education and early years
- engineering, manufacturing, processing and control
- finance
- health
- healthcare science (last enrolments in September 2025)
- legal services
- management and administration
- maintenance, installation and repair for engineering and manufacturing
- marketing
- media, broadcast and production
- science.
For the latest list of approved T Level courses, visit Skills England - Qualification finder.
How do T-levels compare with other qualifications?
As a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification, a distinction* at T Level is equivalent to three A* grades at A-level or a BTEC diploma.
How are T Levels graded?
On completing a T Level, you'll be awarded one of the following grades:
- pass
- merit
- distinction
- distinction*.
Do all colleges and sixth forms offer T Level courses?
No. While there are now over 400 providers of the T Level qualification across England, they're not available at all colleges and sixth forms.
Search institutions in your local area to discover whether T Levels are included in their course listings.
What are the entry requirements?
Schools and colleges set their own criteria, so check their websites or contact them directly to learn more about their entry requirements for T Level courses.
To give you an idea of what's typically required, for entry onto the T Level in Engineering and Manufacturing at Wiltshire College & University Centre, you'll be expected to have gained at least five GCSE passes at grade 5 (B) or above, including English, maths and science. You'll also need to successfully get through an interview.
On the other hand, to secure a place on the T Level in Accounting at University College Birmingham, you'll need five GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above, including English (language or literature), with maths at grade 5 or above.
If you haven't achieved the minimum requirements for your course, T Level foundation years are a post-GCSE study programme that can help you to develop your English and maths, while honing your study, practical and technical skills. They also provide relevant work experience in the subject, preparing you for a full T Level. You can also consider functional skills qualifications.
Contact your school or college to discuss whether this would be the right pathway for you.
Will universities accept T Levels for entry?
Yes, it's been revealed that 166 higher education institutions (as of November 2024) accept T Levels for entry onto at least one of their courses.
You can view the full list at GOV.UK - List of higher education providers that accept T Levels for entry.
Do Russell Group universities recognise T Levels?
Most do. About 15 of the 21 universities consider T Levels as a form of entry to their undergraduate programmes. These include:
- Cardiff University
- Durham University
- King's College London
- Newcastle University
- University of Birmingham
- University of Leeds
- University of Liverpool
- University of Sheffield
- University of Warwick
- University of York.
This shows that while A-levels are often held in higher regard due to their reputation as the traditional pathway to university, T Levels are becoming seen as a genuine alternative, especially for students who prefer this more vocational and hands-on approach.
How many UCAS points do you get for your T Levels?
If you had any aspirations to go to university, it's worth considering that a T Level distinction is worth the maximum 168 UCAS Tariff points (see the table below) - according to the model used by universities to assess qualifications in relation to their course entry requirements.
Read more about UCAS Tariff points and calculate what your qualifications are worth.
You can also explore applying for university.
| T Level | Tariff points |
|---|---|
| D* | 168 |
| D | 144 |
| M | 120 |
| P (C or above on the core) | 96 |
| P (D/E on the core) | 72 |
How long do industry placements last?
The work placement can vary in length according to the employer's needs and the area of specialism, but it must last for at least 315 hours (approximately 45 days), not including lunch breaks.
The majority of placements are expected to last around 50 days and typically take place during the normal working day, from 9am to 5pm.
However, if an employer cannot commit to the full 315 hours, the placement can be shared between two organisations. This would include sharing your learning goals to ensure your objectives are met.
As your industrial placement will account for about 20% of your course, it can be completed either as a:
- block
- series of blocks
- day release
- combination of these.
The T Level itself, your college, and the employer will determine this.
Hundreds of leading employers, including Yorkshire Water, Nestlé, and the Lloyds Banking Group, have hosted T Level students on industry placements. Some have led to permanent roles or apprenticeships upon completion of their courses.
What jobs can I get with T Levels?
You can enter a range of careers, such as:
- agriculture, environment and animal care
- business and administration
- construction, engineering and manufacturing
- digital, creative and design
- education and early years
- health and science
- legal, finance and accounting.
For instance, a digital business services T Level could help you secure a role as a:
Explore job profiles in your chosen sector and read about the skills employers want.
Find out more
- Consider other college courses.
- Get an overview of the UK's FE sector.
- Visit the official T Levels website.