Policy paper

Introduction of T Levels

Updated 26 January 2026

Applies to England

T Levels: what they are

T Levels are 2-year courses which are taken after GCSEs and are broadly equivalent in size to 3 A Levels. Launched in September 2020, these courses have been developed in collaboration with employers and education providers so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for entry into skilled employment, an apprenticeship or related technical study through further or higher education.

T Levels offer students practical and knowledge-based learning at a school or college and on-the-job experience through an industry placement of at least 315 hours – approximately 45 days.

The courses are available at selected colleges, schools and other providers across England.

Starting dates

T Levels started in September 2020 and there are now 21 T Levels available.

We have published a list of the providers offering T Level courses from September 2025.

How T Levels will work with other qualifications

T Levels will be the main technical route for students who know which broad career area they want to pursue, and prefer a single, large qualification equivalent to 3 A levels.

T Levels are one of the main choices for students after GCSEs alongside:

• apprenticeships for students who wish to learn a specific occupation ‘on the job’
• A levels for students who wish to continue academic education

T Levels are based on the same standards as apprenticeships, designed by employers and approved by Skills England.

Skills England’s occupational maps show where technical education can lead.

We expect the typical time to be between 1100 and 1300 classroom hours across the 2 years plus the mandatory Industry Placement of at least 315 hours.

T Levels differ from apprenticeships. T Levels are predominantly classroom-based (with typically 20% of time spent on the industry placement) and prepare students for work, further training or further study. An apprenticeship is typically 80% on-the-job and 20% in the classroom and is more suited to those who want to earn a wage and learn at the same time and are ready to enter the workforce at age 16.

You can see a list of providers delivering T Levels.

How T Levels have been developed

Employers and providers work together to develop each T Level, with support from the Department for Education, Skills England and Ofqual. Groups of employers have defined the skills and requirements for each T Level course by participating in T Level panels. This ensures that students taking T Levels will develop the technical knowledge and skills required by employers in that industry.

The T Level panels have developed the content for the technical qualifications which are part of each T Level programme, based on the same standards as apprenticeships. These plans are then tested and reviewed with students, education providers and additional employers.

Structure of a T Level

T Levels require students to undertake both a technical qualification and an industry placement with an employer.

Students are also required to work towards the attainment of maths and English if they have not already achieved grade 4 at GCSE, as students do on other 16 to 19 programmes. However, T Level students are not required to achieve either a grade 4 in English and maths GCSE or level 2 in functional skills to pass their programme.

Industry placements

Every T Level includes an industry placement with an employer focused on developing the practical and technical skills required for the occupation. These will last a minimum of 315 hours (approximately 45 days) but can last longer.

Employers can offer industry placements as a block, day release or a mix of these, and can discuss sharing part of the placement with another employer if necessary.

Employers interested in finding out more about industry placements can visit T Levels and industry placement support for employers, where they can register interest in hosting placements, find information and case studies, register for events and webinars, or request tailored support.

Foundation year

The T Level foundation year is a 1-year post-GCSE level 2 study programme designed to support progression to, and success on, a T Level. It’s aimed at students who would like to do a T Level but would benefit from additional preparation and support before starting one.

The programme gives students the opportunity to study technical content aligned to T Levels and develop their English, maths and digital skills, alongside work experience and personal development.

You can see a list of providers delivering the foundation year.

The T Level foundation year framework for delivery has guidance on how the programme should be delivered.

Grading and certification

Students who complete their T Level get a nationally recognised certificate which shows their overall grade and a breakdown of what they have achieved.

The T Level certificate includes:

• an overall grade for the T Level, shown as pass, merit, distinction or distinction*
• a separate grade for the core component, using A* to E
• a separate grade for each occupational specialism, shown as pass, merit or distinction

It also confirms that the student has:

• completed the industry placement
• met any additional mandatory requirements

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

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

Entry to higher education and UCAS tariff points

T Levels provide several progression options for students, including:

• skilled employment
• an apprenticeship
• higher education

To help T Level students progress into higher education, UCAS tariff points are allocated to T Levels.

UCAS points are allocated to the overall T Level grade.

UCAS tariff points	T Level overall grade	A level
168	Distinction* (A* on the core and distinction in the occupational specialism)	A* A* A*
144	Distinction	AAA
120	Merit	BBB
96	Pass (C or above on the core)	CCC
72	Pass (D or E on the core)	DDD

To support students that partially achieve their T Level, UCAS tariff points are also available for both elements of the technical qualification where:

• students have passed the core component and completed the industry placement
• students have passed the occupational specialism component and completed the industry placement

As the relative weighting of the core and occupational specialism for each T Level varies, the UCAS points for partial achievement will also vary across T Levels. Tariff allocations for partial achievement of each T Level are available on the UCAS tariff calculator.

You can find a list of higher education institutions who accept T Levels for entry onto one of their courses.

Register to deliver T Levels

The T Level registration process for academic year 2026 to 2027 closed in March 2025. This enabled providers to apply to receive upfront funding and support. Institutions can still deliver T Levels in the 2026 to 2027 academic year, provided they have a 16 to19 funding agreement and receive approval from the awarding organisation(s). Funding will be adjusted to reflect T Level delivery, as part of the 2026 to 2027 academic year in-year reconciliation process in Spring 2027. This is subject to institutions completing their ILR and Census returns accurately and on time. 

If you do not have a 16 to 19 funding agreement or contract but have previously delivered 16 to 19 provision and temporarily paused, you may still be able to deliver T Levels, please contact us via Home-Customer Help Portal. If you have not previously delivered 16 to 19 provision, please refer to 16 to 19 education (non-apprenticeship): market entry. 

There will be no T Level registration process for institutions planning to introduce T Levels from academic year 2027 to 2028, this aligns with changes to the T Level funding methodology from 2027. 

From this year forward, we will base your funding allocations solely on student numbers from the start of the previous academic year as returned in your ILR (R04) or School census (Autumn on roll pupils) data return – regardless of whether T Level students are in their first or second year of delivery. We will maintain an in-year reconciliation process to account for over- or under-delivery. We will communicate further details regarding the funding approach for that year at a later date.

Funding for providers

We recognise that significant additional funding is needed for the successful introduction and delivery of T Levels.

T Levels involve more hours than most current technical qualifications at level 3 and providers are funded for the extra hours involved and for organising industry placements.

More information is available on how T Levels are funded.

We are boosting the expansion of T Levels through £28 million capital funding in 2025 so that students have access to industry-standard equipment. This takes our total capital investment for T Levels to over £500 million.

Support for professional development

To be sure that T Levels deliver great outcomes for learners, we are giving teachers and leaders the support they need to deliver them. T Level professional development is available from the Education and Training Foundation (ETF), at no charge to all providers delivering and planning to deliver T Levels .

The offer is shaped around the needs of providers and their workforce alongside relevant regional, employer and curriculum needs. It includes:

• understanding T Levels to help staff in different roles understand T Levels and the T Level Foundation Year and how they can support their successful introduction
• T Level role and route-specific training – pedagogical and subject-specific courses structured to meet an individual’s professional development needs (this also includes courses aimed specifically at those delivering, or preparing to deliver, T Levels in schools and sixth forms)
• professional development for leaders – support for staff in leadership roles to help with T Level planning and implementation
• networks – route-specific and regional networks to facilitate collaboration and support
• T Level resource improvement projects (TRIPs) providing opportunities to produce resources to support the planning and delivery of T Levels

• industry insights – opportunities for staff to increase and update their knowledge by:

  • undertaking placements within industry
  • accessing industry-relevant mentoring
  • participating in group industry collaboration
  • engaging in industry-led workshops

Timeline

September 2020

The first T Level courses started in:

• design, surveying and planning for construction
• digital software development
• education and early years

September 2021

T Level courses started in:

• building services engineering for construction
• digital data analytics
• digital support and security
• health
• healthcare science (final enrolments September 2025)
• onsite construction (final enrolments September 2024)
• science

September 2022

T Level courses started in:

• accounting
• design and development for engineering and manufacturing
• engineering, manufacturing, processing and control
• finance
• maintenance, installation and repair for engineering and manufacturing
• management and administration

September 2023

T Level courses started in:

• agriculture, land management and production
• legal services

September 2024

T Level courses started in:

• animal care and management
• craft and design
• media, broadcast and production

September 2025

T Level courses started in:

• marketing

Find out more

Students

Visit our T Levels website where you can add your postcode to find colleges, schools or other providers who are offering T Levels. You can also find guidance at the Skills for Careers hub.

Watch our industry placement videos to hear from students and employers who have benefited from industry placements.

Employers

To find out more about industry placements, contact 0800 0150 600, email tlevel.placement@education.gov.uk or visit T Levels and industry placement support for employers.

Providers

T Level support for schools and colleges is a dedicated website for providers which provides a wealth of information on delivering T Levels and industry placements, curriculum guidance and how to support students.