The balance between observation and activity will depend upon individual circumstances, and will be agreed by the employer, the education provider and the learner before, and on a rolling basis throughout, the placement.
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers from employers about T Levels.
What is a T Level?
T Levels are two-year technical qualifications for 16–19-year-olds, equivalent to three A Levels, that have been designed with employers to give young people the skills that industries need for the future. A key component of the T Level is a 45-day industry placement, giving students hands-on experience of the workplace.
Where can I find a T Level Science education provider?
Employers can use the Gov.Uk website to search for providers offering relevant T Levels in their area. You can search by town or postcode, and filter by T Level subject, in this case Science. This page also contains a full list of providers if you wanted to look at all providers in your area. Alternatively, you can also register your details on the Gov.UK website, so providers can reach out to you directly.
What are the benefits to our organisation of offering T Level placements?
Offering a T Level placement gives you early access to the brightest young people entering the market and the opportunity to develop your workforce of the future. T Level students support you to grow your workforce in the short term at little or no cost, and scout future talent in the area.
It also serves as an opportunity for students to understand the wide range of career opportunities in science and will support them to reinforce their future career direction.
What is the format of the industry placement?
An industry placement is for a minimum of 315 hours, which can include up to 35 hours of work taster activities. Students can have an industry placement with up to two employers, so your organisation may offer less than 315 hours per student. The industry placement can be comprised of a block of time, a certain day or days each week, or a combination of the two. The specific time of the placement should be in line with the normal requirements of the industry, with consideration to working time regulations. The industry placement is likely to take place towards the end of the first and into the second year of study to allow the student time to develop core learning.
Is there any guidance for when students can be on placement?
Employers should consider when students have their classroom-based study time, and the independent study linked to this learning. There are also limits of when students can be on placement:
Students should be given a 30-minute break after working for more than four and a half hours.
Students cannot work more than eight hours a day, up to a maximum of 40 hours per week which includes two days of rest.
They cannot work between 10pm and 6am, which can be changed to 11pm and 7am with provider and student agreement.
There must be a 12-hour rest period between each working day.
What happens if a student is unwell during placement time?
Up to 35 hours of sickness, over the 315 hours of placement can be included in the placement hours. Should this exceed 35 hours, students are expected make up this extra time before the end of July of their second year.
Students should be made aware of the absence process whilst on placement and reminded to also inform their further education institution.
Will there be any impact on hosting students who are under 18?
There is no legal reason for an organisation not to host under 18s students on placement, with organisations free to decide their own localised policies. We have created a guide that may be helpful for employers to decide what considerations need to be made for students under the age of 18 and this is hosted here: Securing Technical Talent – Technical Education.
Do organisations need to interview students prior to them starting their placement?
To ensure a successful placement for both student and employer, it is recommended that the student is interviewed prior to starting to determine whether they are a good fit for your organisation and if the student has any future ambitions that can be factored into the placement. As this may be the first time that a student has a formal interview it is recommended that students are offered feedback after their interview.
How do we support the whole organisation to understand the value of T Level placements?
Whilst the student is on the industry placement to learn important technical skills, they can be considered as a member of staff who are able to support their colleagues with appropriate tasks. Managers should be reminded of the value of having further support in their areas and ensure that they have a strong understanding of the tasks the student is able to support with, and those tasks which T Level students are not able to undertake independently. It’s recommended that managers working with T Level students should have prior experience in hosting and mentoring individuals on placements. The T Level Pharmacy Placement Guide provides an overview of suggested activities for students – https://sciencecouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/T-Level-Pharmacy-guidance-leaflet-v5.pdf
Want to find out more?
Contact the Technical Pathways Team here.