What are T Levels?: Our comprehensive introduction to a modern qualification

5 March 2025

If you’re curious about T Levels, let our clear and concise guide fill you in on all the essential details.

Are you familiar with T Level courses? Since they were introduced in 2020, T Levels have become increasingly popular for students continuing their studies post-GCSE. At Capital City College (CCC), we offer a number of T Level courses across a range of subject areas.

You may well have heard of these newly developed courses, or you may be scratching your head and asking ‘What on earth is a T Level?’ If you’re a post-16 student looking to take your next step, we’ve got you covered with our quick introduction to T Levels.

What are T Levels?: Our comprehensive introduction to a modern qualification

What are T Levels in the UK?

A T Level is a two-year course that combines classroom study and practical learning with industry experience via a T Level work placement to give you the skills required to succeed in a specific profession or sector. They are aimed at students who have finished their GCSEs and offer an alternative to A Levels, Vocational Courses and Apprenticeships.

T Levels are designed with direct input from employers so they help students develop relevant skills that industries need. They are ideal if you want to get hands-on experience and learn skills that will get you a job in a technical profession such as Accounting, Healthcare or Engineering, but they also include subjects such as Childcare, Marketing, and Team Leadership.

What do T Levels involve?

T Levels involve an 80/20 split between study and placement. Students spend 80% of their time in college learning about the skills they need, and the remaining 20% of their time is spent doing a relevant industry placement where they have the chance to put their skills into action.

Every T Level student spends 315 hours over the two years (around 45 days) doing an industry placement with an employer in their chosen sector. This is carried out either in a single day at a time or in blocks of days together. Being in the workplace provides students with the opportunity to refine practical and technical skills over a significant period of time, giving them greater confidence and relevant industry experience when entering the workforce.

How are T Levels assessed?

T Levels are assessed by examining core skills and through practical tests which show how you’ve developed your skills. This can include portfolio work, group work, practical projects, and on-the-job tasks set by the employer.

T Level courses are assessed across 3 main development areas:

Core component: Knowledge and understanding of relevant contexts, concepts, theories, and principles (Graded A* to E)
Core component: Knowledge and skills relating to the skills necessary for employment in your specialist area, often relating to performance outcomes. (Graded A* to E)
An employer-set project where you develop a substantial piece of work in response to an employer-set brief and to develop and apply core employability skills (Graded pass, merit or distinction)

At the end of your T Level you’ll get a nationally recognised certificate with your overall grade (pass, merit, distinction or distinction*) and a breakdown of what you’ve achieved.

Are T Levels as good as A Levels?

Firstly, it’s also to know that one T Level is the equivalent of three A Levels. However, comparing T Levels to A Levels is a bit like comparing iPhone to Android. Both are great in different ways but, in the end, it all comes down to how you learn and what your career aspirations are.

While A Level courses are designed to prepare people for university through academic study, T Levels have been developed to equip students with practical skills and industry-relevant knowledge that can support them into skilled employment. That said, T Levels are recognised by a growing number of universities and are included in their accepted entry requirements, particularly for courses related to the T Level subject area.

Are T Levels the same as BTEC?

Both T Levels and BTECs are vocational qualifications with a focus on practical skills, but there are some key differences between them.

BTECs cover a wide range of Level 1 to Level 7 qualifications across a broad range of subject areas and are aimed at learners of all ages and abilities. T Levels are much more specific as they are a 2-year Level 3 industry-focussed qualification designed for students aged 16-19 who have completed their GCSEs.

What GCSEs do you need for T Levels?

To be accepted onto a T Level course, you should be aged 16-18 and have GCSE Maths and English at Grade 4 or higher (or be working towards them). There may be further entry requirements depending on the subject but you can find out more about these by looking at our individual T Level courses.

Do universities accept T Levels?

A large number of higher education institutions across the UK currently accept T Level qualifications, which are the equivalent of three A Levels. In fact, 166 out of 288 UK Higher Education providers currently accept T Levels, including 17 of the 24 Russell Group Universities. The government maintains an updated list of higher education institutions that accept T Levels for entry onto their courses.

Just like A Levels, T Levels are allocated UCAS points meaning that you can apply to universities, but it’s worth noting that UCAS points are only allocated to the overall T Level grade – so you must achieve at least an overall pass grade to receive UCAS points.

Once you have achieved your T Level qualification, you have the option to apply and study at university, start a higher or degree-level apprenticeship, or move into relevant skilled employment.

What subjects can you study at T Level?

You might be surprised to learn that you can study a T Level in everything from Accounting to Content Creation. We currently offer courses across an exciting range of T Level subject areas:

At CCC, students on our T Level courses benefit from being part of our college community and have the opportunity to embrace college life. Our industry-standard facilities and equipment for T Level courses reflect our commitment to supporting T Level students and our strong employer partnerships enable us to offer a wide range of opportunities and placements to our students.

Interested in learning more? See our full list of T Level courses and come and meet us at one of our open days.

If you’re an employer looking to support your industry by supporting T Level students, why not learn more about providing T Level placements?

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