T Level in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control - Level 3
Overview
If you love designing and building things and learning how machines work, this T Level may be exactly what you need for a career in engineering.
Engineering continues to help tackle problems people face everyday, so engineers will increasingly be in demand to fix future problems. This T Level combines study with the opportunity to practice in our state-of-the-art facilities, alongside working with an employer for at least 45 days which means you’ll have a head start when it comes to starting a successful career in fitting and assembly technologies or machining and toolmaking technologies.
This course can lead to the following career opportunities:
- Aerospace engineering technician
- Electrical engineering technician
- Mechanical engineering technician
- Engineering construction craftworker
- Non-destructive testing technician
- Materials technician
- Blacksmith
- Welder
- Boat builder.
When you start the course, we will assign you a progress tutor who will support you throughout your time at college. Their role is to help you in setting academic and personal targets, creating a career plan, developing employability skills and monitoring your progress to make sure you realise your full potential.
What are T Levels?
If you’re academically minded but have a skilled career route in mind, a T Level will give you a head start into your chosen industry.
T Levels are two-year qualifications that have been designed in partnership with businesses and industry-leading employers so you can develop the skills and knowledge required to kick-start your career straight from college.
- 80/20 Learning - 80% college-based, 20% on a relevant work placement
- Employer endorsed - designed with employers to provide the skills that industry needs
- 1 T Level = 3 A Levels - T Levels are nationally-recognised qualifications, equivalent to 3 A Levels.
As an alternative next-step after GCSEs, a T Level also includes a mandatory 45-day (315 hours) work placement with a reputable employer within your chosen industry.
The qualification splits into core content and specialist content:
- Core content - develop your general understanding of the industry
- Specialist content - covers different topics depending on the pathway you choose to study during the second year of the course.
You can find out more about T Levels by watching the video below or visiting our T Level information page which includes details about the other courses available and FAQs.
Specialist content
Towards the end of year one, you will be supported to choose one of two specialist pathways to study during year two:
Fitting and Assembly Technologies
The purpose of this specialism pathway is to engage with the technical expertise, technology, methods and skills involved in producing items or assemblies, using specialist tools, equipment and machinery. You will examine a range of production processes, systems, and facilities, investigating factors such as scale, efficiency and demand, the application of quality management, and the analysis and optimisation of conditions, processes and practices when producing high-quality products for a variety of purposes.
Based on these skills, this pathway is ideal for anyone interested in becoming an aerospace engineer, a mechanical engineer or venture into a career in engineering management or production and manufacturing.
Machining and Toolmaking Technologies
The purpose of this specialism pathway is for learners to know and undertake a range of industrial processes and manufacturing techniques to manufacture and maintain the engineering tooling used to produce components, products and assemblies. This requires the application of a broad range of activities including the interpretation of engineering drawings and technical instructions and the use of hand, machine and automated computer-controlled machine tools and measuring equipment.
Based on these skills, this pathway is ideal for anyone interested in becoming a design engineer, manufacturing machinist, toolmaker or precision engineer. You could also progress in the world of quality and inspection or look at careers in CNC or CAD/CAM.
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FREE* Travel Pass
To enable you to attend your work placement, we’re pleased to offer all T Level students a West Notts Travel Pass for free! It's one pass for unlimited bus travel across much of Nottinghamshire and parts of Derbyshire. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Find out more
*Free for new and returning students for academic year 2025/2026. This is subject to change for academic year 2026/2027.
Attend our specialist open event
Discover the exciting opportunities in engineering at our specialist open event. Get a first-hand look at our courses and apprenticeships, explore our amazing facilities, and meet our expert instructors.
Start dates and fees
| Start Date | Code | Annual Fee | Actions |
| Sep 2025 | 2900C1656 | FREE | Apply |
What will I study?
Core units:
- Working within the engineering and manufacturing sectors
- Engineering drawings and representations
- Science for engineering and manufacturing
- Materials and their properties
- Electrical and electronic principles
- Mechatronics
- Quality management
- Business, commercial and financial awareness.
Specialist units:
- Projects and specifications
- Production machines
- Measurement techniques
- Engineering standards.
Industry placement:
Across the two years, you will need to complete an exciting 45-day (315 hours) industry placement with a reputable employer. Throughout the summer before your first year and your first term, a dedicated work placement advisor is available to support you with building links with suitable employers so you can secure your placement.
This is a great opportunity that will not only give you experience in an external business, but enhance your technical skills and create relationships that could result in an apprenticeship or employment once you've completed your T Level.
Entry requirements
This course is only available to 16-18 year olds.
- Five GCSEs at grade 5-9 including English Language and maths.
OR
- GCSE English Language and Maths grade 4-9 plus successful completion of the T Level Foundation Year – Engineering. A one-year study programme specifically designed to develop the skills, experience, knowledge and behaviours to support progression onto the relevant T Level. Ideal for those who are not ready to start a T Level but have the potential to progress onto one. Contact us for more details, 0808 100 3626.
How long is the course?
Two years.
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed through examinations, and practical assessments in class and a project set by employers.
Upon completion you will be awarded an overall grade (Pass, Merit, Distinction or Distinction*). A T Level is a nationally-recognised qualification and your certificate will reflect this and will display your overall grade.
The certificate will also explain your grade from A* to E for the core component and any occupational specialisms you will receive a Pass, Merit, Distinction or Distinction*.
It will also record whether you’ve achieved the minimum requirements for your maths and English qualifications, completed an industry placement and met any other additional mandatory requirements.
What can I progress onto?
- Skilled employment
- Higher level apprenticeships
- Higher education (university*).
*As we are a partner college of Nottingham Trent University (NTU), you may qualify for various benefits should you choose to apply to NTU after completing your college course. This could include a Progress NTU offer, where you would receive an offer one grade below their standard offer. For instance, a typical offer for one of their courses might require 128 UCAS tariff points. With Progress NTU, your requirements would be 120 UCAS tariff points. For further details, please call us on 0808 100 3626 or discover more about this benefit here.
Career opportunities