As part of T Levels Week (19-23 October) Nottingham College is highlighting how the two-year qualification is helping students develop the skills, knowledge and industry experience needed to progress into exciting careers, higher education and apprenticeships.
Introduced to provide a high-quality technical alternative to A Levels, T Levels combine classroom learning with a substantial industry placement, giving students valuable real-world experience alongside their studies.
At Nottingham College, students across a range of subject areas, including Health, Digital, Education and Childcare, Engineering, Construction and Business, are benefiting from the opportunity to learn from both industry-experienced tutors and employer partners.
The qualification has already helped many students progress into employment, apprenticeships and university, including degree-level study in highly competitive fields.
What is a T level?
First announced by the government in 2020 and introduced at Nottingham College in 2022, these courses are growing in size, range, and popularity.
T levels are courses for students aged 16-18 that aim to get young people ready for employment in their preferred sector. With over 300 hours of work experience included as part of each T level curriculum, these courses provide a fantastic opportunity for learners to put their feet through the doors of their dream industry.
For 18-year-old Katie Jordan, her experience studying a T level exceeded her expectations, particularly in furthering her career and giving her the qualifications she needed to reach a goal she no longer thought possible.
Katie, who studied the Health T Level at Nottingham College, is one of the first students in the region to progress from a T Level onto Medical School. “My T-level was a massive part of helping me secure my place at medical school. When I left school after my GCSEs, I wasn’t in the right headspace to continue the traditional path with A levels, to be honest I had given up on my old dream of being a doctor.
“I decided to do the T-level because I always knew healthcare was where I wanted to end up, and when Anglia Ruskin University decided to accept T-level students for medicine, I felt that old dream reignite instantly.”
Since September 2026, Katie has been studying Medicine (MBChB) at Anglia Ruskin University. “I don’t think it can be explained in words how I felt when I got accepted. To say I was beyond thrilled is still an understatement.
"I would absolutely recommend studying a T Level. They can open doors that you can't even imagine, and whilst the biggest one for me was the opportunity to study medicine, there were plenty of experiences I had that I couldn't have gotten any other way. For example, I got to go into operating theatres and talk to staff about their experiences, as well as watch parts of procedures; I met so many lovely staff members across my placements who were rooting for me from the start; I got to make genuine connections with patients in the short time I knew them; and I got to develop a wide variety of skills in my classes that are so important to what I'm doing now and my future."
As T Levels continue to grow in popularity, more students are discovering the benefits of this innovative qualification. Combining academic learning with real-world experience, they provide a valuable alternative to traditional study routes and help learners build the skills, confidence and connections needed for future success.