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Course Overview

What are T Levels?

  • New 2-year, Level 3 qualifications equivalent to three A Levels
  • Designed by professional bodies, employers and universities so that they are relevant and up-to-date.
  • Include at least 315 hours of work experience and the opportunity to build transferable skills and knowledge related to the job area
  • Assessed through a combination of exams and assessments.

T Levels are new 2-year, Level 3 study programmes that will follow the study of GCSEs and Technical Awards at Key Stage 4 and offer an attractive alternative to A Levels and Apprenticeships. T Levels will combine classroom theory, practical learning and an industry placement with an employer to make sure students have real experience of the workplace.

The Technical Qualification (TQ) is the main classroom-based element of the T Level and will see students learning from a curriculum that has been shaped by industry experts. During the 2-year programme, students will learn the core knowledge that underpins each industry and they will also develop occupationally specific skills that will allow them to enter skilled employment within a specific occupation.

The T Level programmes have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so the content will meet the needs of industry and prepare students for work. They provide the knowledge and experience needed to open the door to highly skilled employment, an Apprenticeship or higher level study, including university.

This course will allow the college to offer students from a range of curriculum areas a viable progression route into Digital T Levels. It is intended for students who want to progress to a career in the Digital sector, with a focus on software design and development.
Students will learn about the following topics in each component: 

  • Problem solving 
  • Programming 
  • Emerging issues and impact of digital 
  • Legislation and regulatory requirements 
  • Business context / Business Environment
  • Data 
  • Digital environments 
  • Security

How are they graded, and what is on the certificate?

The overall grade for the T Level is pass, merit, distinction or distinction*
The certificate also shows:

  • A separate grade for the core component (A * to E)
  • A separate grade for each occupational specialism (pass , merit or distinction)
  • Confirmation that the industry placement has been completed
  • That the student has met any additional mandatory requirements

Core Component (year 1)- This component covers the underpinning knowledge, concepts and skills that support threshold competence in the digital industry.:

  • Core Paper 1: Digital Analysis, Legislation and Emerging Issues - Written examination
  • Core Paper 2: The Business Environment - Written examination
  • Employer Set Project - Externally set project

Occupational Specialist Component (year 2) - This component covers the occupational specialist knowledge and skills required to demonstrate threshold competence for the specialism and it will be assessed by a skills-related project that is associated to the underpinning knowledge.:

  • Pathway specific set project

This Technical Qualification is for T Level students who are undertaking the T Level in Digital Software Development. It is intended for students who want to progress to a career in the Digital sector, with a focus on Software Design and Development.
The purpose of the T Level Technical Qualification in Digital Software Development is to ensure students have the knowledge and skills needed to progress into highly-skilled employment, an Apprenticeship or higher level study, including university, within the specialist area of software design and development.

Students are likely to have:

  • A clear idea as to the industry sector they wish to pursue as a career
  • An idea of the type of job role they’d like to explore as a career

To enrol on this course, you must have the following:

5 GCSEs/international GCSEs at Grade 5 or above, including English, Maths and Science, and/or Vocational Tech Award qualification(s) at Level 2 at Pass and above in a relevant subject, e.g. BTEC Tech Award in Digital Information Technology.

Students may demonstrate the ability to succeed in various ways. For example, they may have relevant work experience or specific aptitude shown through diagnostic tests or non-educational experience.

How are they graded, and what is on the certificate?

The overall grade for the T Level is pass, merit, distinction or distinction*
The certificate also shows:

  • A separate grade for the core component (A* to E)
  • A separate grade for each occupational specialism (pass , merit or distinction)
  • Confirmation that the industry placement has been completed
  • That the student has met any additional mandatory requirements

Assessment Component - This component covers the underpinning knowledge, concepts and skills that support threshold competence in the digital industry.:

  • Core Paper 1: Digital Analysis, Legislation and Emerging Issues - Written examination
  • Core Paper 2: The Business Environment - Written examination
  • Employer Set Project - Externally set project

Occupational Specialist Component - This component covers the occupational specialist knowledge and skills required to demonstrate threshold competence for the specialism and it will be assessed by a skills-related project that is associated to the underpinning knowledge.:

  • Pathway specific set project 

All students will be expected to complete a mandatory minimum of 315 hours industry placement, during their study programme with us.

We encourage you to find an employer that is the right fit for you and will support you in securing your placement.

The qualification is intended to carry UCAS points and is recognised by HE providers as contributing to the admission requirements to many relevant courses.

At the end of the Technical Qualification, students are expected to demonstrate threshold competence, which means that they have gained the core knowledge and skills related to software design and development and are well placed to develop full occupational competence with additional development and support once in employment in the digital sector. Furthermore, will provide students with a route through education that has a clear progression pathway to further study such as Employment, University or an Apprenticeship. 

Students who complete a T Level Technical Qualification in Digital Software Development will be able to choose between moving into a skilled occupation or further study; for example, a higher or degree level Apprenticeship, or higher level technical study, including higher education.

This Technical Qualification aligns to the Software Development Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship and therefore supports progression to entry-level job opportunities in software design and development. Job roles could include:

Software Development Technician
Junior Developer
Junior Web Developer
Junior Application Developer
Junior Mobile App Developer
Junior Games Developer
Junior Software Developer
Junior Application Support Analyst
Junior Programmer
Assistant Programmer
Automated Test Developer.

The jobs available to the students will be based on their abilities in the digital sector and will be supported by their achievement of this qualification.
Alternatively, students could progress sideways to the Level 3 Software Technician Apprenticeship to develop and gain certification of their occupational competence, or they could progress to higher level Apprenticeships such as the Level 4 Software Developer, depending on their skills or experience.
Students could progress to relevant Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes or digital degree programmes such as Computer Games Programming BSc, Software Engineering BSc, Virtual Reality Design BA, Computing BSc, Digital Media Design and Development BSc or Computer Science BSc.

Here at The College, we have a reputation for excellent skills training. Our lecturers are professionals in their chosen fields, with sound experience, knowledge and expertise.

Useful links:

What are T Levels? video: https://youtu.be/7rua65bHjMw
T Level information for parents: https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/students/parents

Course information here

Awarding Body:
EDEXCEL

Qualification:
T Level

Curriculum Area:
Creative, Digital, Tech and Service Industries - Digital and Computing

Course Options

Start Date

Wed 3rd September 2025

Attendance

Full-time

Duration

2 Years

Location

Bournemouth Campus

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