Technical Education Information for Young People

What are T-levels?

T levels are new two-year courses which you can take after your GCSEs and are equivalent to 3 A levels. They focus on vocational skills and can help you into skilled employment, higher study, or apprenticeships.

They have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses. This makes sure that the content meets the needs of the industry and prepares you for work, further training, or study.

What do they involve?

T levels offer a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience. You will spend 80% of the course in the classroom, learning the skills that you need. The other 20% is your industry placement, where you put your skills into action. The industry placement is at least 315 hours which is approximately 45 days.

What and where can I study?

To find out more about the different subjects on offer, head to the T level webpages.

What are the entry requirements?

Entry requirements for each course are set by the individual college or school. Check with your local T level college or school to find out more.

How are they graded?

On completion of a T Level, you will get a nationally recognised certification with your overall grade.

This will be either:

  • Pass
  • Merit
  • Distinction
  • Distinction *

It will also provide details of what you learnt during the course.

Can they provide UCAS tariff points?

T Levels will be worth UCAS points. A T Level Distinction * is worth the same as 3 A levels at A*. They should be recognised by universities and other education providers, but it is worth checking this on the entry requirements of different institutions.

T Levels on Offer in Dorset

This academic year has seen the start of T Level delivery locally. You can search to find a T Level school or college here.

Courses currently on offer:

Provider T Level Courses
Bournemouth & Poole College
  • Business: Management and Administration - Business Support

  • Business (Foundation)

  • Digital Production, Design and Development

  • Digital Support Services

  • Digital (Foundation)

  • Maintenance Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing

  • Engineering (Foundation)

  • Education and Early Years

  • Health

    From September 2025 onwards:

  • Craft and Design

  • Media, Broadcast and Production

Brockenhurst College
  • Education and Early Years 
  • Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing
  • Digital Production, Design and Development
  • Digital Support Services
  • Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control
  • Management and Administration
Ferndown Upper School
  • Digital Production, Design and Development (Software Developer)
  • Digital Support Services
  • Education and Early Years
Kingston Maurward College
  • Animal Care and Management
  • Agriculture (Crop Production)
  • Agriculture (Livestock Production)
  • Management and Administration
  • Technical Qualification in Onsite Construction
The Blandford School
  • Digital Business Services
  • Health
Weymouth College
  • Education and Early Years
  • Digital Support Services
  • Health
  • Building Services Engineering for Construction
  • Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing
  • Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction
  • Digital Business Services
  • Digital Support Services
  • Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control
  • Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing
  • Management and Administration
  • Media, Broadcast and Production
  • Onsite Construction

Where can I find out more?

For an overview of T Levels, the subjects and to hear current student stories, head to the T Levels website.