T Levels
A T Level is a nationally-recognised qualification for 16 to 19-year-olds that takes 2 years to complete. Leading businesses and employers helped design T Levels to give you the knowledge and skills you need. They're roughly equal to 3 A levels.
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I'm Bandhana. I'm 17 years old and I'm currently studying T Level Health, assisting the adult nursing team.
A normal day for me is I get up early, get ready. I normally, like, say bye to my parents and get on the bus.
At first I was just searching for a normal Health and Social BTEC and then I found the T Level course. It was all these amazing opportunities. I get to actually be in a hospital setting, practice what I'm learning and gain the practical knowledge and the theory behind it.
Okay so we're going to be going down and using our immersive patients. You're going to be taking heart rate.
I can't feel the pulse here so I'm gonna use a radial pulse. This person's blood pressure is 118 over 80 which is really healthy. I can demonstrate skills in the mock hospital ward first so if I make mistakes, I can fix it here.
I grew up in a country where it was, like, less developed in Nepal. Grew up watching my sister spending a lot of time in hospital.
She was a premature baby and my family couldn't afford basic food for babies and stuff so she grew up being really underweight and the nurses there didn't have the correct technology, the right resources but they still provided the best care and I just got inspired to be like them and provide that kind of care.
I'm currently applying to university for an adult nursing course and when I graduate, hopefully, I'll be a registered adult nurse. I can go to university, I can do an apprenticeship or I can go straight into work because I've gained the basic skills.
I value it a lot because I think now I've got friends, I've got a good educational life. It just makes me really proud because it's something that my parents don't have and it's that I'm fulfilling it for them.
You can watch more T Level student stories on YouTube.
What you'll do on a T Level course
You’ll spend 80% of your time in the classroom and 20% on a minimum 9-week placement with an employer. This means you’ll learn what a real career is like while you continue your studies.
Grades you need to take a T Level
Schools and colleges set their own entry requirements, so check their websites to find out what GCSE grades you need.
Subjects you can take
There are several subjects available now in England, including digital, science, construction and health.
More subjects are coming in September 2023 and in the next few years.
Eventually, there will be something for everyone, from agriculture to catering and engineering to legal services.
After your T Level
A T Level is worth the same UCAS points as 3 A levels. You can use UCAS points to apply to university or another type of higher education.
You can also use your T Level to do a related higher level apprenticeship or to get a job.
Careers with a T Level
These are some of the careers that a T Level can lead to:
- laboratory technician
- computer games developer
- dental nurse
- electrical engineering technician
- healthcare science assistant
- teaching assistant
Student stories
Hear directly from students who are taking their T Levels.
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I chose to do this T Level because it was a course that could offer me the most opportunities and experiences, to hopefully guide me into what I want to do when I'm older.
It's a really good qualification and you get a good all-round education in the subject you'll be working on.
So I chose this T Level because I liked the fact that they did work experience which not A Levels do and this will give you like a real insight into the world of work.
If someone's asked me if they should do the T Level, I'd say definitely, definitely go for it because the workplace is going to give you an extra boost when it comes to getting a job.
I would advise people to study T Levels because you're not just sat in a classroom. There will be times where you're outside so you get a mix.
For anyone who's considering T Levels I would say go for it.
Finding your nearest T Level
Nearly 70 schools and colleges already offer T Levels. More than 400 colleges are expected to start offering them by September 2024.
You can search for colleges and schools currently offering T Levels to find out where your nearest one is and how you can get there.
Explore your choices
Combine work and study
Apprenticeships
T Levels
Study
A levels
Higher education
Higher technical qualifications (HTQs)
Vocational technical qualifications (VTQs)
Work
Supported internships
School leaver schemes
Special educational needs (SEND) advice
You can get education advice if you're disabled or have special educational needs.
It may help you choose what you'd like to do next.