T Level Guide for Careers Advisors

WHAT
ARE
T LEVELS?
A guide for careers advisers

There are lots of options
available for students after
their GCSEs including A
Levels, vocational courses and
apprenticeships. Helping them
decide what to study can be
difficult, especially when there
are new qualifications like T
Levels to consider. Take a look at
this simple guide which explains
everything your students need
to know about T Levels.
What are T Levels?
T Levels are practical career focused
qualifications for 16 to 19 year olds
which are studied over 2 years.
They’re equivalent to three A Levels
and combine classroom study with
a 45 day industry placement to
prepare students for the world of
work, or further study like a higherlevel
apprenticeship or university.
They offer students an ideal first
step into their future career and
as they’ve been designed by
employers they can be confident
that they are being taught the
skills and knowledge relevant
for their chosen industry.
A T Level is made up of:
● A technical qualification - They will
spend 80% of their time at college
studying for this qualification
●
An industry placement - 20% of a
T Level is an industry placement
with an employer, which will
last a minimum of 315 hours
(approximately 45 days)

What T Level subjects are there?
T Levels cover a wide range of
sectors and interests. We currently
offer T Levels in the following areas:
● Business
●
●
●
●
●
Construction
Digital Technologies
Early Years
Engineering
Health and Social Care
What’s the difference between T Levels
and A Levels?
The main difference between
T Levels and A Levels is that T Levels
focus on one subject while A Levels
are multiple subjects. T Levels are
more practical/vocational, whereas
A Levels are more theoretical.
What’s the different between T Levels
and a vocational course?
T Levels are the technical equivalent
to three A Levels. They cover:
● core theory
●
concepts and specialist skills
● knowledge for a specific
career or occupation.
The main difference between the
T Level and a Level 3 course is the
compulsory industry placement.
What grade will they get for studying
a T Level?
They will receive an overall grade of
pass, merit, distinction or distinction*.
Will students be able to go to University
after they’ve studied a 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. If they achieve
Distinction* in their T Level this is
the same as 3 x A* at A Levels.
Here’s a guide to the T Level
grades compared to the A Level
equivalent and UCAS Tariff points:
T Level Grade
A Level
Equivalent
UCAS
Tariff
points
Distinction* A* A* A* 168
Distinction A A A 144
Merit B B B 120
Pass
(C or above
on the core)
Pass
(D or E on
the core)
C C C 96
D D D 72
If they don’t want to continue
their studies after their T Level,
going straight into employment
is an option for them and, thanks
to their industry placement, they
will have a head start on the skills
they’ll need in the workplace.

What are the entry requirements for
a T Level?
To be able to study a T Level
with us, students will need to
achieve 5 GCSEs at grades 5 – 9
including English and maths.
Will students need to find their own
industry placement?
No, they won’t. We’ve got a
dedicated team who work with
employers from across the region
to secure placements for our
T Level students.
Will students get paid when they are on
their industry placement?
No, they won’t be paid when on
placement.
What are the benefits of studying
a T Level?
Studying a T Level helps your student
● find out more about the career
opportunities open to you
●
●
●
build essential skills, such as
teamwork and communication
put your skills and knowledge into
practice in the real world of work
build contacts with employers.
As well as helping them to make
more informed choices about
their career pathway, they will get
experience that employers are
looking for.
T Levels are a good option even
if your student only has a rough
idea of the career or field they’re
interested in. The study and industry
placement aren’t linked to a specific
role or job. Instead they will be given
broad exposure to an industry and
the many different roles it offers.
“We think it’s great that T Levels are courses designed
with employers. We actively get involved with Gateshead
College to feedback what skills should be covered to make
sure that they give students the skills employers like us are
are looking for. The placements give students a chance to
see what the working environment is like and apply their
learning in a real-world setting. Placements also allow
them to get a better understanding of the industry they’re
interested in and even open them up to new possibilities they
were not previously aware of.”
James Hanson, Managing Director, Layers Studio.

Chloe Perrin completed the T Level in
Education and Early Years and is now studying
for a degree in Social Work at Northumbria
University. Her favourite part of the course
was the industry placement as it gave her
a real insight into her chosen career.
“The T Level has given me so much
confidence and experience and
enabled me to get exactly where I
want to be - studying social work at
university. The blend of vocational
experience and classroom learning
has given me the tools I need to be
one step ahead in higher education.”

Hannah Carney also completed the
T Level in Education and Early Years and
has moved onto Northumbria University
to study a degree in Childhood and Early
Years Studies. Her favourite part of the
course was also the placement because it
helped her gain experience of working with
children and experienced early years staff.
“The T Level has given me the chance
to move onto higher education to
pursue my career. It’s helped me
get here by building my confidence
and giving me real life experience in
nurseries.“

@gatesheadcollege
@gatesheadcoll