What are T Levels? Everything you need to know

T Levels are qualifications designed to give learners in England a start in their specialist subject area, and develop skills towards further specialist study or employment.

These qualifications are a post-16 option developed in conjunction with employers and businesses to meet industry skill requirements. Introduced by the Department for Education (DfE) in 2020, schools and colleges deliver T Levels as full-time, two-year technical education courses.

With a wide range of qualifications across several key industries, and specialist occupations including construction, childcare, and digital, learners can take their first steps towards the career they want with a T Level.

Who are T Levels for?

T Levels are suitable for learners who have finished their GCSEs, that want to work on developing job-specific skills and progressing towards a role in their chosen field. Each qualification is made up of a mix of classroom-based learning and a work experience placement.

Other qualifications such as A Levels are generally entirely based on classroom learning, whereas T Levels offer the chance to put learners’ skills to the test. We’ll be looking more closely at the differences between T Levels and other qualifications in a separate article.

How T Levels work

The time students spend on studying towards a T Level is split into two different areas.

For about 80% of the time, students spend time in their school or college classroom, learning about the industry and building knowledge of the skills they need to succeed.

Learners spend the remaining 20% of the time, around 45 days, on a work placement with an employer, putting their skills to use and settling into life in a real workplace.

What are T Levels worth?

One T Level is the equivalent of three A Levels. T Levels count towards UCAS tariff points, which students can use to access further learning opportunities at college and university. Because of the full-time schedule and the in-depth learning it offers, learners can only take one T Level at a time.

How are T Levels assessed?

Students who pass their T Level are awarded an overall grade of Pass, Merit, Distinction, or Distinction*.

Instructors award these grades based on the results of these assessments:

• An externally set exam and an employer-set project at the end of the academic year
• A practical skills assessment (occupational specialism)
• Successful completion of the work placement.

When do T Level results come out?

T Level results in 2026 were released on 13 August. Training providers make grades available on a day in August, similar to A Levels and GCSE results.

What T Levels are there?

There are currently 21 different T Levels available for study, with more to follow in the coming years.

The range of qualifications falls under each of these distinct categories:

• Agriculture, Environmental and Animal Care
• Business and Administration
• Construction
• Creative and Design
• Digital
• Education and Early Years
• Engineering and Manufacturing
• Health and Science
• Legal, Finance and Accounting
• Sales, Marketing and Procurement
• Social Care (coming September 2028)
• Sport (coming September 2028).

Each category contains a choice of specific qualifications, so learners can focus in even further on training for the role they’re interested in.

What T Levels do EAL offer?

EAL works with City & Guilds as the delivery partner for T Levels within the Engineering & Manufacturing, and Construction & Building Services Engineering categories.

WJEC Eduqas, in partnership with EAL, has been awarded the contract to develop and deliver the next generation of T Levels in Building Services Engineering for Construction, and Onsite Construction.

Read more: WJEC Eduqas and EAL awarded contract to deliver next generation of T Levels

Construction & Building Services Engineering

• T Level in Building Services Engineering for Construction
• T Level in Onsite Construction.

Engineering & Manufacturing 

• T Level in Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing
• T Level in Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing
• T Level in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control.

We work with our Employer Industry Board to design our Engineering & Manufacturing T Levels, ensuring they meet sector needs and are aligned with apprenticeship standards.

Find out more about the EAL offering of T Levels.

EAL T Levels