What is the T Level industry placement?
What the placement involves
The placement is what most clearly separates a T Level from an A Level. Students spend a substantial block of time with an employer — either in one stretch or spread across the two years — doing meaningful, relevant work rather than simply observing. The aim is that students finish with real workplace experience alongside their classroom knowledge.
| Roughly | |
|---|---|
| Typical minimum placement | 315 hours (~45 days) |
| Longer for some specialisms | Early Years Educator 750 hours |
| Share of the whole programme | ~20% |
| Classroom learning | ~80% |
Common questions
How are placements arranged?
The college or school sources placements by working with local and national employers. It can be with a single employer, or in some cases split across more than one.
Are students paid?
A placement is part of the course, not a job, so it isn't required to be paid — though some employers choose to help with expenses such as travel.
What if it can't be completed?
There's a "completed with special consideration" outcome for students affected by circumstances beyond their control. A placement that genuinely isn't completed counts as not completed and affects the overall result.
How completion feeds into the result
Completing the placement is one of the three things required for a full T Level, alongside passing the core and the occupational specialism. Nationally, 97.2% of students completed the placement in 2025/26 (including special consideration), though completion rates vary by pathway.
📊 Compare placement completion by pathway