Bishop Grosseteste with update their entry requirements to certain courses for the 2022 application process to allow the first students qualifying with T Levels to apply for an undergraduate degree level qualification to further their education.
T Levels were introduced in 2020 as an alternative to A Levels or apprenticeships that provide a technical option for post-16 students that meets the needs of employers and gives students a genuine head-start in their careers by offering a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during an industry placement.
Since their launch in September 2020 with 43 providers delivering the first three T Levels in Digital, Education & Childcare and Construction, the offering has now expanded to with than 100 providers now offer the courses with a further seven subjects added to include Health, Healthcare Science and Science.
The content for each course has been developed by more than 250 employers working with education experts to ensure the programme meets the needs of industry. There is a significant increase in teaching hours compared with many current Level 3 vocational qualifications, which combined with a 45-day industry placement allows students to develop the skills and knowledge needed to pursue careers in their chosen field.
The university will align T Levels’ UCAS points with A levels, meaning the top T Level grade will be equal to achieving 3 A* at A Level.
Rob Boast, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students), said: “While there are many routes into employment, we want to remain relevant by adapting to ensure there are also many routes into higher education for capable students who want the opportunity to do so.”
“Elements of T Levels are designed to set students up for employment in a variety of industries, but the scope and demand of the taught curriculum combined with the skills and behaviours developed through placements also provides a strong steppingstone to higher education in related areas.
“We have always prided ourselves on being a supportive community, so much so that we were ranked 2nd for social inclusion in The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022, so accepting T Levels feels like a natural reflection to the further education curriculum that is changing to recognised technical skills as well as academic.
“Many secondary school students will be considering their study options post-GCSE and we want to make it clear that we understand T Levels are a challenging qualification look forward to welcoming those that have completed them into our community.”
Andrew Carr, Admissions Manager, said: “T Levels will become one of the main choices for students after GCSE alongside apprenticeships and A Levels so as a university and it’s important we change our admission requirements to reflect the routes available to students leaving post-16 education.
“We currently accept a range of qualifications including BTECs and have consistently remained high for employability or higher education post-graduation so we know from experience that students choosing technical or vocational qualifications can still thrive alongside those who completed A Levels.
“We would encourage anyone currently completing their T Levels that is considering higher education to see the courses we currently have to offer or speak to our admission team if they have any questions about applying to BGU in for the 2022 academic year or beyond.”