What Are T-Levels? A Parent's Guide

T-Levels are two-year technical qualifications for 16–18-year-olds, introduced in England from 2020. Equivalent in size to three A-Levels, each T-Level combines classroom study with a substantial 45-day industry placement and leads to skilled employment, further training, or university — including degree apprenticeships.

What problem do T-Levels solve?

Before T-Levels, the post-16 technical landscape was fragmented — dozens of BTEC qualifications, NVQs, City & Guilds and other vocational awards, often with unclear links to higher education or employment. The government created T-Levels to offer a single, prestigious technical alternative to A-Levels: fewer, better-defined pathways with employer involvement built into the design from the start.

T-Levels are designed with industry groups, which means the content reflects what employers in each sector actually need. Every T-Level includes a mandatory industry placement of at least 315 hours (roughly nine weeks full-time), giving students genuine workplace experience before they leave full-time education.

What subjects (routes) are available?

T-Levels are grouped into occupational routes. As of 2025, the available routes in England include:

Route | Example T-Level titles
Digital | Digital Production, Design and Development; Digital Support Services
Construction & the Built Environment | Design, Surveying and Planning; Onsite Construction; Building Services Engineering
Education & Early Years | Education and Early Years
Engineering & Manufacturing | Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control; Maintenance, Installation and Repair
Health & Science | Health; Healthcare Science; Science
Business & Administration | Management and Administration; Accounting; Finance
Legal, Finance & Accounting | Legal Services
Creative & Design | Craft and Design; Media, Broadcast and Production
Hair & Beauty | Hairdressing, Barbering and Beauty Therapy
Agriculture, Land Management & Production | Agriculture, Land Management and Production

New routes are being added each academic year. Check the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) website or your local college for the current full list.

England only: T-Levels are a qualification in England. Scotland uses a different system of vocational qualifications; Wales and Northern Ireland have their own post-16 technical frameworks.

How are T-Levels structured?

Each T-Level has two core components:

Technical qualification (classroom-based) — covers the core theory, knowledge and skills for the occupational route. Assessed through written exams and employer-set projects.

Industry placement — a minimum of 315 hours (45 days) with an approved employer in the relevant sector. This is a mandatory, assessed component, not optional work experience.

The technical qualification also includes an occupational specialism — a more focused practical project or assessment in a specific area of the route (for example, within the Digital route, a student might specialise in software development or cybersecurity).

How do T-Levels compare to A-Levels?

Feature | T-Level | A-Level
Duration | 2 years (Years 12–13) | 2 years (Years 12–13)
Level (RQF) | Level 3 | Level 3
UCAS Tariff equivalent | Up to 168 points (Distinction*) | Up to 56 points per subject
Number of qualifications | One T-Level per route | Usually 3 separate subjects
Industry placement | Mandatory (315 hours) | None
Assessment | Exams + employer-set projects | Mainly final exams
Primary focus | Technical/vocational pathway | Academic pathway
University entry | Yes — directly recognised | Yes — primary route

A T-Level at Distinction* is worth 168 UCAS Tariff Points — equivalent to three A-Levels at grade A*. Many universities, including Russell Group institutions, now accept T-Levels for relevant courses.

What are the entry requirements for a T-Level?

T-Level entry requirements are set by individual colleges and schools, not centrally. Typically, providers ask for:

Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English Language and Mathematics

A grade 4 or above in a subject related to the chosen route (for example, grade 4 in Science for a Health T-Level)

Some providers accept grade 3 in certain subjects if the student can demonstrate strong commitment to the sector. FE colleges, which deliver the majority of T-Levels, often have slightly more flexible admissions than school sixth forms.

What can a T-Level lead to?

T-Levels are designed as a progression route to:

Skilled employment directly in the relevant sector

Higher apprenticeships (Level 4–5) or Degree apprenticeships (Level 6)

University — T-Levels are recognised in UCAS applications; many universities list T-Level grade requirements alongside A-Level requirements for relevant courses

Higher National Certificates (HNCs) or Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) at college

The mandatory industry placement also provides a ready-made professional network and, for many students, a job offer before they finish Year 13.

Is a T-Level right for my child?

T-Levels suit students who:

Know the sector they want to work in (or want to find out through a real placement)

Learn well through practical and project-based work, not solely exams

Want a direct route to employment or a vocational higher education pathway

Are motivated by real-world application rather than purely academic study

A-Levels remain the more flexible choice if your child is undecided about a career direction or is aiming for degree courses where subject depth (such as Further Maths for Engineering) is essential. Some students combine a T-Level with one A-Level — check with individual providers whether this is possible.

Frequently asked questions

Can T-Level students go to university?

Yes. T-Levels are accepted by many UK universities as direct entry qualifications. UCAS lists T-Level grade equivalencies alongside A-Level grades, so a student applying to study Nursing, Computing or Construction Management, for example, can include their T-Level result in the UCAS application. Always check the entry requirements for the specific university and course.

How is the industry placement arranged?

The college or school typically works with a network of employer partners to arrange placements for T-Level students. Students may have some input into which employer they are placed with. If your child has a preference for a particular company or organisation, it is worth contacting the provider early — some students approach employers themselves with the support of their tutor.

Can a student switch from T-Levels to A-Levels mid-course?

It is possible but not straightforward. Switching after Year 12 means starting A-Levels in Year 13, which is only one year — most colleges will not enter pupils for full A-Levels in a single year. If a T-Level is clearly not the right fit, the earlier the switch is flagged (ideally in the first term), the better the options available.

Are T-Levels available at all colleges and schools?

No — not yet. Rollout is ongoing and not all providers offer every T-Level route. Use the DfE's online T-Level provider finder (gov.uk/find-a-t-level) to check which routes are available in your area. Transport and geography matter: if your child's nearest college is 40 minutes away and the industry placement employer is elsewhere, logistics are worth factoring into the decision.

AI Tutors can support your child through the core knowledge and exam preparation elements of a T-Level course — see aitutors.me to find out how.