Guidance

Supporting higher education providers to understand T Levels

Updated 5 February 2025

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/t-level-resources-for-universities/supporting-higher-education-providers-to-understand-t-levels

T Levels are 2-year, level 3, technical study courses that follow GCSEs. There is a full list of T Level subjects available, with more being rolled out in colleges, schools and other post-16 providers.  

This guidance is for higher education providers, to help them understand more about T Levels and how they can support students to progress onto higher education qualifications.

T Levels are high-quality qualifications which provide young people with a firm foundation for their future, designed with employers to meet rigorous standards. They are substantial, with longer teaching hours, and include an industry placement element giving work experience. Students spend around 80% of their time in a learning environment and 20% on the placement.

One T Level is roughly equivalent in size to 3 A levels and UCAS points have been allocated to an overall T Level grade.  

There is more information on how T Levels work with UCAS points.

T Levels prepare students for several progression options including:

  • skilled employment
  • apprenticeships
  • higher education, including degree apprenticeships and higher technical qualifications

Potential routes for learner progression in all T Levels, are set out in progression profiles on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) website, underpinned by occupational maps.

T Level suitability for higher education

T Levels are designed to equip students for skilled employment, whilst also providing a high-quality route to further study, for example apprenticeships and higher education including Higher Technical Qualification (HTQs).

In the 2024 UCAS admissions cycle, 83% of T Level students who applied to higher education secured a place. They were placed at a range of institutions on a variety of courses.

The core content of a T Level assesses knowledge and skills to support adaptability. The occupational specialisms develop technical competence, and the industry placement builds attitudes and behaviours and takes technical competence further.

As part of their course, T Level learners develop a range of skills and knowledge which can support them to progress onto higher education, including:

  • subject expertise
  • applied knowledge
  • critical thinking
  • strong management
  • English and maths

We have received positive feedback from higher education providers about T Level learners who have progressed onto their courses. Read student stories to find out more about students and their experiences.  

You may also wish to offer Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) which are a suitable path for T Level students.

There is more information and case studies on student progression with T Levels.

Read the UCAS blog on progression for the second cohort of students with T Levels.

Entry requirements

It is essential that prospective students have the information about the entry requirements for courses, to allow them to make informed choices about what to study.  

We encourage higher education providers to ensure that their admissions policies are accessible to T Levels students and that their positions on T Levels are clear. 

Example

Keele University put T Level entry requirements front and centre alongside other level 3 qualifications. Their course pages outline what entry requirements students need to study and achieve.

The University of Sunderland features T Levels alongside A levels and BTECs, as mainstream level 3 qualifications, whenever possible, in the university’s student recruitment presentations and resources.

To support students, the Department for Education (DfE) has developed a list of higher education providers that accept T Levels.

Email routesreadiness.te@education.gov.uk if:

  • you are not on the list but do accept T Levels on to at least one course
  • you would like support on making your entry requirements for T Levels clear

UCAS points

The UCAS tariff for T Levels supports progression into higher education. The tariff is based on an alignment of the standards for T Levels with other level 3 qualifications, including A levels.

The top T Level grade is equal to achieving 3 A* at A level. Points have been allocated to the overall T Level grade, and students must achieve at least an overall pass grade to receive UCAS points.

More information can be found through the UCAS Tariff Calculator.

 T Level programme design

T Levels are made up of 3 separate components:

  • a core component (400 to 600 guided learning hours) that assesses underpinning knowledge, understanding and core skills relevant to the occupations covered by the T Level
  • one or more occupational specialist components (more than 600 guided learning hours) focussed on assessing occupationally specific knowledge, skills and behaviours relevant to an occupation within the relevant T Level pathway
  • a high-quality industry placement focussed on developing practical and technical skills required for the profession or trade that the student is studying for (minimum of 315 hours)

Core component

The core component which makes up 20% to 50% of the technical qualification is assessed:

  • externally through a 2-hour written examination, which is set and marked by the awarding organisation, to assess students’ core knowledge and understanding
  • through an employer project set by the awarding organisation in conjunction with relevant employers, to assess the applied knowledge and digital, maths, English and wider transferable skills needed for occupations

The core component is graded A* to E.

Occupational specialism

The occupational specialism forms 50% to 80% of the technical qualification. It is assessed by an externally set project style assessment, set and marked by the awarding organisation. This is to assess occupationally specific knowledge and skills. This is graded either pass, merit or distinction.

Awarding organisations often publish past examination papers on their websites.

Industry placement

The industry placement requires no formal assessment or grading, but students must meet the requirements set out by the provider in order to pass their overall T Level.

Assessment and grading

Each technical qualification is assessed differently.

To pass a T level, a student must:

  • achieve at least an E on the core component
  • pass the occupational specialism
  • meet the requirements of the industry placement

Students who meet all of the requirements of their T Level are awarded an overall grade of either:

  • pass
  • merit
  • distinction
  • distinction*

A student’s overall T Level grade is worked out from the grades they achieved on the core component and the occupational specialisms.

There is more information on how grades are calculated.

Students who do not pass all elements of their T Level receive a T Level statement of achievement which will show the elements they have completed.

We have agreed a separate tariff allocation with UCAS for students to achieve partial UCAS points when they have passed the core and completed the industry placement or have passed the occupational specialism and completed the industry placement.

More information can be found through the UCAS Tariff Calculator.

Course content

T Levels are rigorous qualifications that have occupationally relevant maths, English and digital content embedded in them. Awarding organisations have developed specifications for each T Level which can be used to support mapping of academic undergraduate courses.

Agriculture, environmental and animal care:

Business and administration:

Construction:

Creative and design:

Digital:

Health and science:

Engineering and manufacturing:

Education and early years:

Legal, finance and accounting:

Subject content in T Levels: guidance for higher education providers includes information on the content of maths and science embedded within T Levels.

Engaging with T Level providers

Building good relationships with T Level providers can help support the progression of students into higher education. Some T Level providers have developed partnerships with local higher education providers to facilitate their student’s progression to related courses.

We recommend reaching out to your local T Level providers to build relationships and support student progression into higher education. You can email routesreadiness.te@education.gov.uk if you are not sure who your local providers are.

Offering T Level industry placements

Higher education providers can host industry placements across all T Levels subjects.

Hosting T Level students for their industry placements has several benefits such as:

  • inspiring the next generation of technicians
  • access to individuals for recruitment of technical apprentice roles
  • boosting technical capability
  • improving capacity to meet future demand in key sectors such as health, science, engineering, manufacturing and digital

Example

Durham University have successfully facilitated 8 T Level student placements on the Digital Production, Design and Development pathway.

Read more examples of university employers hosting industry placements.

If you are interested in offering industry placements, support is available from the UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy.

Support from DfE

DfE regularly engages with the higher education sector on T Levels to ensure that students have the best progression options available following their T Level. DfE will continue to work with intermediaries such as UCAS and UUK.

If you have any other queries, contact routesreadiness.te@education.gov.uk.

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