WHAT ARE T LEVELS?
T Levels are two-year, full-time technical qualifications for 16-18 year olds who have completed their GCSEs. Developed with employers, they are designed to give you the practical skills needed for your chosen career. Equivalent to three A Levels, T Levels offer a recognised alternative to A Levels, apprenticeships and other vocational courses.
 With a combination of classroom learning and an industry placement, T Levels let you gain both the knowledge and hands-on experience employers value. Around 80% of your time is spent in the classroom building essential theory and technical skills, while the remaining 20% is dedicated to a placement lasting at least 45 days (approximately 315 hours). This balance allows you to apply what you’ve learned in a real workplace and gain valuable insight into your chosen sector.
Nationally recognised by employers and universities, T Levels open doors to skilled employment, higher apprenticeships, or further study, including degree-level courses.
At The Bedford College Group, we offer a range of T Level courses across various subject areas. Explore your options below and find the course that suits your interests and career goals.
Our T Level courses
Assistant Accountant – this course is run at: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College
Management & Administration Business Support – this course is run at: Bedford College and Tresham College
Marketing – this course is run at: Bedford College and Tresham College
Ornamental Horticulture and Landscaping
These courses are run at Shuttleworth College.
Animal Management and Behaviour
These courses are run at Shuttleworth College.
Assisting Teaching – this course is run at: Bedford College and Tresham College
Early Years Education and Childcare – this course is run at: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College
Supporting the Adult Nursing Team – this course is run at: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College
Digital Production, Design and Development – this course is run at: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College
Digital Support Services (Cyber Security Pathway) – this course is run at: Bedford College
Engineering for Construction: Plumbing & Heating – this course is run at: Tresham College
Surveying & Design for Construction & the Built Environment – this course is run at: Bedford College
Electrotechnical Engineering – this course is run at: Tresham College
Electrical & Electronic Engineering – this course is run at: Bedford College and Tresham College
Engineering – this course is run at: Central Bedfordshire College
Mechanical Engineering – this course is run at: Bedford College and Tresham College
Healthcare Science – this course is run at: Tresham College
Laboratory Science – this course is run at: Bedford College
Why choose T Levels?
All T Levels have been designed in collaboration with leading businesses and employers to ensure the skills you learn reflect real industry needs. You’ll gain the knowledge, behaviours, and technical skills that will give you a head start after College.
Every T Level includes a substantial industry placement lasting at least 45 days. This allows you to experience what a real career is like, apply classroom learning in a professional setting, and build confidence in the workplace before you finish your course.
T Levels are nationally recognised qualifications that show what you’ve achieved. Your final certificate includes an overall grade as well as details of the technical skills and knowledge you’ve developed, helping employers and education providers understand what you’re qualified to do.
If you wish to move on to higher education, UCAS points will be awarded to T Levels and will be recognised by universities and other education providers.
T Levels offer a mix of classroom learning and practical experience. You will spend around 80% of your time in the classroom building the skills employers value, with the remaining 20% applying them during your placement.
This makes T Levels different to apprenticeships and ideal for students who want a strong technical qualification alongside real-world experience.
T Levels cover a wide range of subjects within each industry area, opening up numerous progression routes and potential career paths. While you focus on a specific technical area, the skills and experience you gain can support a variety of roles and opportunities after college.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, T Levels are designed to give you a strong foundation for your future. Combining technical classroom learning with a substantial work placement provides both knowledge and hands-on experience that employers value.
Whether your goal is skilled employment, a higher apprenticeship, or university study, T Levels give you practical skills, recognised qualifications, and clear pathways to your chosen career.
A T Level is a two-year, full-time course. This includes classroom learning, practical sessions, and an industry placement to give you the experience you need for your chosen career.
Students usually find out about their work placement once they have applied and been matched with a suitable employer. You can approach employers directly, and if they meet health and safety, insurance, and other requirements, the College will support the placement setup.
The College also works with employers to provide placements that are open to application. Most placements require students to submit a CV and attend an interview to ensure the role aligns with their skills and career goals.
An industry placement lasts around 45 days, undertaken as a block or as individual days.
The specific length of the placement and when it takes place will differ depending on your T Level. Typically, your placement will be across 1-2 days per week.
Yes. With T Levels, you can gain just as many UCAS points as you would with A levels. For example, gaining a Distinction* in your T Level is the equivalent of three A* grades at A level – both will get you 168 UCAS points.
T Levels are an alternative to A levels, BTECs, and apprenticeships. Unlike A levels, which are largely academic, T Levels combine classroom learning with practical industry placements, providing hands-on experience alongside theory.
Compared to apprenticeships, which are mostly workplace-based, T Levels offer more structured classroom learning while still giving you meaningful industry expertise.
I’m an employer and I’d like to offer industry placements, can I get involved?
Absolutely! T Levels include a 45-day industry placement at the heart of every course which will be with an external employer to help students develop technical skills and become more employable. Industry placements are not only beneficial for students but also for employers as you’ll have early access to the new talent in your market.
If you are interested in finding out more, visit our T Levels for Employers page or contact our Business Development team on 01234 291747 or email training@bedford.ac.uk