Whether your goal is to progress to university or step straight into a skilled career, T Levels can help you achieve it.
T Levels are two year qualifications, equivalent to three A Levels, offering a balanced blend of academic learning and hands-on industry experience: 80% in the classroom and 20% through work placements.
These qualifications are designed to equip you with valuable, transferable skills, deep subject expertise, and real-world learning that will prepare you for both the workplace and further study. With industry recognition and over 200 local business placements in the Leeds City Region, T Levels provide you with a clear pathway to success.
1. Specialise in your chosen field with a nationally recognised qualification, equivalent to three A Levels, studied over two years.
2. Develop transferable technical skills and gain in-depth knowledge that’s directly relevant to your industry.
3. Spend 80% of your time in the classroom, studying your subject, and 20% in the workplace, where you’ll apply what you’ve learned in the real world.
4. Develop transferable technical skills and gain in-depth knowledge that’s directly relevant to your industry.
5. A combination of classroom learning and hands-on experience ensures you can apply your knowledge and develop relevant skills during your work placement.
6. T Levels are designed with input from employers to make sure your skills meet the needs of businesses, ensuring you’re career-ready.
7. With over 200 businesses in the Leeds City Region offering placements, our strong industry connections will help you secure the right opportunities.
8. Earn UCAS points that will support your application to university – for example, achieving a T Level Distinction* is equivalent to 3 x A*s at A Level.
9. Accepted by over 150 higher education providers for degree courses and higher apprenticeships. In 2023, 83% of T Level students who applied to university were successful; 97% of UCAS applicants received at least one offer of education or employment.
10. Recognised by 17 out of 24 Russell Group Universities, including prestigious institutions like Manchester, York, and Bristol.
T Levels are a great option after GCSEs as they blend classroom learning with workplace experience. If you already know what industry you want to work in, you can get a head start in your career by choosing a qualification that gets you work experience with an employer. The study element gives you the knowledge you need to succeed, and your work placement gives you the essential skills that you will use in your future career.
It depends! You will usually spend 4 days a week in college and the fifth day will be spent on your placement. Or your placement could take place all in one go, so you would spend 5 days in college for some of the school year and then 45 days (or 9 weeks) in the workplace. Or it could be a mix of both. Typically you will undertake your industry placement in the second year of your two year course, so that you have a good understanding before you enter into the workplace. Your first year will usually take place entirely in the classroom.
Usually T Levels are assessed by a combination of exams and coursework: whether you do more exams or more coursework depends on which T Level you take. The project you complete during your industry placement will also contribute to your final grade. The T Level course page on our website explains how the course is assessed.
T Levels are a nationally recognised qualification. On completion, you will receive a certificate with your overall grade, which is marked as pass, merit, distinction or distinction*. Your overall grade is made up of the core component, which covers the knowledge and understanding of your subject, and the occupational specialism, which covers the skills you need to succeed in your chosen career. The occupational specialism component is an employer-set project, designed by a group of national employers in your industry.
Absolutely. Employers will give you meaningful, real-life projects to work on during your placement. The placement will be designed to progress your practical skills and support your studies, and give you genuine experience of working in that industry. Your placement will last at least 315 hours, which is around 45 days – but some employers offer longer placements.
T Levels are designed with employers, so that you know your skills will be valued by businesses in the future. This practical exposure looks great on your CV, improves your employability and gives you valuable insight into how the industry works. You may also build a professional network and meet people that could help your career in the future. Some employers even hire their T Level placement students after they’ve completed their studies!
Pudsey Sixth Form College will help you every step of the way. You typically undertake your industry placement in the second year of your course, so we will organise an information session in your first year to talk you through the process.
We work with local businesses to understand their needs so that we can match you to a suitable placement. If you have found an employer that you would like to work with, and they’re already offering a placement, you can apply for it. Alternatively, we can support you to contact them directly and request a placement.
Employers want to hear from motivated students; they want to ensure that they are making an investment in the future of their business and industry, so we will help you demonstrate your value through your application. This is also a great opportunity to learn essential skills for the future, such as writing a CV and attending an interview – don’t worry, we will help you prepare for this!
Entry requirements for T Levels depend on the individual course, but most T Level options require students to have 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or 5, or above. Some T Levels require specific GCSEs, such as maths or science.
However, we will always consider individual circumstances, so if you are worried you will not get the grades required, speak to us and we can talk you through your options. There may be an option to retake your maths or English GCSEs while studying your T Level if you do not achieve Grade 4.
Yes! T Levels are designed to prepare you for employment, and they can also help you reach university. Your T Level grade can be converted into UCAS points (see table below). While not all universities accept T Levels, over 150 higher education providers do, including 17 out of 24 Russell Group universities. For a full list of universities currently accepting T Levels, please see here.
Whether a T Level is accepted depends on each university and the individual course you would be applying for. In 2023, 83% of T Level students who applied to university were accepted.
Yes, your T Level can be converted into UCAS points. One T Level is the equivalent to three A levels, and like A levels, your final grade reflects how many UCAS points you have earned. For example, a T Level Distinction* is equal to three A*s at A Level.
| 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 |
While T Levels are designed to prepare you for work, you can also go to university with a T Level. You may choose to go straight into employment, using the skills you’ve already developed in your studies. Or you may choose to pursue an apprenticeship, earning money while you continue to study – depending on your field of study, you could pursue a higher or degree level apprenticeship.