What are T Levels - and how will they help my teen go to university or get a job?
- The Parents' Guide to
- Aug 8
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 25
This is just a snippet from The Parents' Guide to T Levels. If you’d like the full version, with clear, up-to-date advice, practical tips and actions you can take at home, click below.
T Levels are a sixth form qualification introduced in 2020, so we’re digging deep and finding out what they’re all about and what kind of students they might suit. T Levels offer lots of flexibility, whether your teen plans to stop studies after sixth form and get a job or head to university to take a degree. Read on to see whether T Levels could be the best choice for your teen.
What are T Levels?
T Levels, or Technical Level Qualifications, are a government backed qualification introduced as of September 2020 equivalent to 3 A Levels. These 2-year courses have been developed in collaboration with businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for working life.
T Levels involve a mix of classroom learning (about 80% of the course time) and practical experience (about 20% of the course time). They also include a 45 day work placement in a real business. Afterwards, students may go on to university, alternative higher education, another job, an apprenticeship or they may be offered an opportunity with the company where they were placed.
T Levels differ from apprenticeships because the study and working time is reversed. Unlike BTECs, T Level courses were developed with businesses and offer work experience as part of the course.
T Levels are a level 3 qualification and provide an alternative to A levels, apprenticeships, IB, BTEC and other courses aimed at 16-19 year olds. Check out the table below!
Can T Levels help my teen get to university?
There are lots of different ways students can get degree level education. The academic route (often A level) is the one most parents think of when considering going on to university. If your teen doesn't enjoy classroom learning or isn't good at sitting exams, they could choose the work route (apprenticeships) or a vocational route - which includes T Levels - instead.
Can T Levels help my teen get a job?
Not everyone wants to continue to higher education. T Level students can go straight to the workplace after their course, often with the advantage of plenty of work experience when looking for a job.
There's plenty of choice when choosing what to study. Many of the courses will open doors to lots of different careers. As of September 2025, your teen could take:
Agriculture, Environmental and Animal Care
Agriculture, Land Management and Production
Animal care and Management
Business, Administration and Construction
Business Management and Administration
Building Services Engineering for Construction
Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction
Creative and Design
Craft and Design
Media, Broadcast and Production
Digital
Digital Business Services
Digital Production, Design and Development
Digital Support Services
Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing
Education and Early Years
Education and Early Years
Engineering and Manufacturing
Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing
Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing
Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control
Health and Science
Health
Healthcare Science
Science
Legal, Finance, Accounting, Sales and Marketing
Accounting
Finance
Legal Services
Sales, Marketing and Procurement
Your teen can find out what T Level courses are available in schools and colleges near to where they live by entering their postcode on the government search engine.
Career opportunities with T Levels
The wide range of subject choices shows how varied career paths can be. Depending on whether your teen wants to go straight into the workplace after qualifying or go on to further education, they can enter the world of work at any number of levels, just as they can if taking A level or BTec. Many surprising careers paths can be unlocked with a T Level and studying in a business driven environment may open their eyes to possibilities they wouldn't have seen in more traditional learning settings.
What's involved in taking a T Level?
T Level courses consist of the following:
an approved technical qualification specific to the chosen industry area with compulsory elements and, in some cases, optional specialisms;
an industry placement in their chosen industry area (approximately 45 days), which might be offered as day release or as a concentrated block;
a minimum standard in English and maths (if this had not already been achieved).
Students receive a nationally recognised grade and a breakdown of their achievements on the course, including how they did on their work placement. If they don’t pass all elements of their T Level, they’ll receive a T Level statement of achievement outlining what has been completed.
How will my child be graded?
Your child will need to pass all the elements of their T Level to receive a nationally recognised certificate displaying their overall grade and a breakdown of what they have achieved on the course.
The T Level certificate will display:
an overall grade for the T Level (pass, merit, distinction, distinction*);
a grade for each occupational specialism (pass, merit or distinction);
a grade for the core component (A*-E);
grades / details showing that the minimum requirements for maths and English have been met (level 2 minimum); and
confirmation that the industry placement has been completed to a minimum standard
If your teen does not pass all elements of their T Level, a T Level statement of achievement outlining the elements that have been completed will be provided instead.
Can my child apply to university after completing their T Level?
Yes! T Levels have been designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills and experience needed to progress onto a range of options including work, higher education or apprenticeships. UCAS tariff points have been allocated to T Levels for those wanting to go on to university. Even if your teen doesn't pass all aspects of their T Level, they may still gain enough UCAS points to head to university, if that's what they want to do.
UCAS Tariff points T Level grade ( A level equivalent)
168 - Distinction* (equivalent to A*A*A* at A level)
144 - Distinction (equivalent to AAA at A level)
120 - Merit (equivalent to BBB at A level)
96 - Pass - C or above on the core (equivalent to CCC at A level)
72 - Pass - D or E grade on the core (equivalent to DDD at A level)
How could taking a T Level help my teen?
T Levels broaden the study choices for 16 years olds. They can offer a clear path to employment although, should your teen start the course and realise that industry or specialism it is not for them, there are still plenty of options for them to continue higher education or get work in a different industry once the T Level is complete. T Levels are ideal for students who enjoy learning through practical experience and real-life situations.
Qualifications needed to take T Levels
Individual courses need to be checked, but generally students need 5 GCSEs (graded 9-4) including English and maths.
For teens that don’t have the necessary skills to go straight to T Level, they can take the T Level Foundation Year – a one year course after GCSE to prepare them for the subject they would like to study.
Where can my teen study T Levels?
T Levels are currently only available in England. They are mostly offered by colleges because of the technical nature of the studies and extra equipment needed. It’s worth remembering that whilst colleges are specialists in providing education tailored to sixth formers, students do needs to be comfortable with independent study to benefit from what’s on offer (unlike schools, where guided learning is more usual, even in sixth form).
Summary
T Levels are an exciting option for sixth form education that provide a recognised qualification tailored to industry needs and skills. It’s a great choice for students that want to learn practical skills relevant to certain jobs, regardless of whether they want to go on to study for a degree, take alternative further education or go straight into the workplace after sixth form.
For more information, check out the following:
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