T Levels are two-year technical qualifications in England designed for 16- to 19-year-olds who want to move into skilled work or continue to university. Launched in September 2020, they combine classroom learning at a school or college with a substantial industry placement, and they carry UCAS points comparable to three A Levels. There are now over 20 T Level subjects available, spanning industries from construction and engineering to finance and healthcare.
How T Levels Are Structured
Each T Level runs for two years and splits your time between classroom study and hands-on work experience with an employer. The classroom component covers both core theory (the broad knowledge underpinning your chosen industry) and an occupational specialism, where you focus on a particular role or skill set within that industry. Assessments include exams, projects, and an employer-set project designed to test how well you can apply what you’ve learned to real workplace scenarios.
The industry placement is the defining feature. You spend a minimum of 315 hours working with an employer in your chosen field, which works out to roughly 45 days over the two-year course. Some specialisms require significantly more: the Early Years Educator pathway requires 750 placement hours, and Dental Nursing requires 600. These placements are unpaid, which is one of the key differences from an apprenticeship.
Available Subjects
T Levels cover a wide range of industries. As of the 2025-2026 academic year, 21 subjects are available, with more having been added each year since the initial launch. The current lineup includes:
- Construction: Design, Surveying and Planning; Building Services Engineering; Onsite Construction
- Digital: Software Development; Data Analytics; Support and Security
- Education and Early Years
- Health and Science: Health; Healthcare Science; Science
- Engineering and Manufacturing: Design and Development; Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control; Maintenance, Installation and Repair
- Business and Finance: Accounting; Finance; Management and Administration
- Legal Services
- Agriculture and Animal Care: Agriculture, Land Management and Production; Animal Care and Management
- Creative and Media: Craft and Design; Media, Broadcast and Production
- Marketing (launching September 2025)
Not every school or college offers every T Level, so your local options may be narrower than this full list. You can search by postcode on the official T Levels website to see which courses are available near you.
UCAS Points and University Entry
T Levels are graded on a scale from Pass to Distinction*, and each grade carries UCAS tariff points. A Distinction* is worth 168 UCAS points, which is the same as three A Levels at A*. Here’s the full breakdown:
- Distinction*: 168 UCAS points
- Distinction: 144 points
- Merit: 120 points
- Pass (C or above on the core): 96 points
- Pass (D or E on the core): 72 points
Universities increasingly accept T Levels for admission, though acceptance varies by institution and course. A T Level in Health, for instance, may meet the entry requirements for a nursing degree, but a medical school might still require traditional A Levels in chemistry and biology. If you’re planning to apply to university, check the specific entry requirements for your target courses before committing to a T Level over A Levels.
How T Levels Compare to Apprenticeships
Both routes lead to skilled careers, but they work quite differently in practice. An apprenticeship is a job. You’re employed, you earn a wage, and you spend most of your time in the workplace with a percentage of time studying off the job. You can start an apprenticeship at any age from 16 upward.
A T Level is primarily a study programme. You spend most of your time in a classroom and complete a structured placement rather than working as an employee. You don’t earn a wage during a T Level. The trade-off is that T Levels give you broader theoretical knowledge and UCAS points for university entry, while apprenticeships give you deeper practical experience and paid employment from the start. T Levels are aimed specifically at 16- to 19-year-olds, whereas apprenticeships are open to older learners too.
If you already know the specific job you want and would rather earn while you learn, an apprenticeship is likely the better fit. If you want to keep your options open between university and employment, or if you want a strong academic foundation alongside practical experience, a T Level gives you that flexibility.
Who T Levels Are Designed For
T Levels are built for students who have a clear interest in a particular industry but aren’t yet ready to commit to a single employer or occupation. They sit between A Levels (which are almost entirely academic) and apprenticeships (which are almost entirely work-based). The 315-hour placement gives you genuine workplace experience to put on your CV or personal statement, while the classroom component ensures you understand the wider principles behind the work.
You’ll typically need GCSEs at grade 4 or above in English and maths to start a T Level, though exact entry requirements vary by provider and subject. Some colleges offer a one-year transition programme for students who aren’t quite ready to jump straight into a T Level after GCSEs.
Because T Levels are still relatively new, it’s worth confirming that the employers or universities you’re interested in recognise and value the specific T Level you’re considering. Recognition has grown steadily since the 2020 launch, but it’s not yet as universal as the decades-old familiarity that A Levels and BTECs enjoy.