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The booming construction industry is an incredibly exciting option for a well-paid, rewarding career. There are so many different job roles we cannot list them all here. The T-Level, with its in-depth content and brilliant work placement scheme, can lead to a well-paid job with great prospects for progression as soon as you leave college. You will study topics that include drawing, surveying, sustainability, design, construction techniques and digital technology. If you wish, the UCAS points will allow you to go on to university and qualify in a profession such as Architecture, Surveying, Civil Engineering, Project Management or Town Planning. The Civil Engineering profession is currently a very good career move, as the larger national infrastructure projects, such as HS2 and Hinckley C Power Station have absorbed most of the skilled people, creating a high demand elsewhere for Civil Engineers
What will I study in Construction: Architecture, Surveying and Planning T-level?
The T-Level is a big subject with a large amount of theory content. It is the equivalent of doing 3 A-levels. The range of topics we cover is very wide, and no two days in college are the same. Construction employers have designed the content. See the specification for more detail. Please be aware, this is not a practical subject; you will not be learning a trade.
A small flavour of the areas we cover:
- Maths- especially trigonometry and areas/volumes/measuring/calculus
- Science- materials,forces,heat,light and sound
- Law- planning law, landlord and tenant and contract law
- Drawing- freehand sketching, 2D CAD, 3D CAD
- Surveying- using tapes, levels and a very high-tech "total station" with GPS
- Sustainability- low carbon buildings, alternative energy and heat sources, Passivehouse
- Construction techniques, modern methods of construction and project management
- Designing buildings to a client's specification
- Digital Technology
- Relationship management
Entry Requirements
Five GCSE's at Grade 4 or above, all from the Core Subjects and including English and Maths. Grade 5 recommended for English and Maths.
Students with a grade 4 in maths will be enrolled on Maths GCSE (Higher tier). This course will run from November to May of year 1, and will support progress on the Construction T level.
The T-Level is academically demanding and therefore we recommend you have a good range of GCSE passes. Good GCSE passes in Science and Art/Design will also be beneficial.
How will I learn?
The T-Level is very different to the average A-level course. It can be very academically demanding at times. An aptitude for independent study is essential. Some of the activities you would do are listed below:
- Classwork with regular written assignments to do as homework
- Case studies of recent or on-going construction and civil engineering projects such as HS2
- Group work and solo/group presentations to the class and wider audiences
- Surveying practice on the college fields
- Work experience is a key part of the course and you spend at least 20% of your time with an employer
- Careers talks from construction industry professionals
- Trips to visit finished buildings or site visits to see construction taking place
How will I be assessed?
Year 1
2 written papers in the summer. 2 1/2 hours each
An employer-set project of 15 hours duration which requires you to design and draw a building.
Year 2
You will study an Occupational Specialism, chosen from Design and Surveying, or Civil Engineering. You will complete an assessed project of 30 hours duration in year 2, based on your chosen specialism.
You also need to have to have passed your GCSE Maths and English and have completed at least 315 hours of work placement to complete the T-Level.
Any trips?
We aim to visit as many local buildings and construction sites of interest as we can. Most trips will be fairly short and local. We are considering trips abroad in the future.
Are there any costs involved?
- You will need to supply your own drawing equipment such as A4 sketch pads, pencils, fineliners, scale rulers etc
- PPE needs to be purchased from college reprographics or can be bought elsewhere. Safety boots, hard hat and hi-viz waistcoat or jacket are needed asap for site visits and work placements.Approx total cost: £50
- A small charge is usually made to cover fuel costs on local free trips and site visits. To simplify this, and avoid asking for regular small payments, we ask for a £30 "float" from each student at the start of the year.
- Whilst we provide comprehensive safety training on the course, some employers will also ask for a CSCS safety card for work placements. This costs approximately £58 and includes an additional exam (not in college).
- A laptop suitable for CAD work would be useful but not compulsory for this course. https://www.cirencester.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/filr/78325/LAPTOP REQUIREMENT FOR T LEVELS.pdf
- Contact the college if you are eligible for a student bursary and we will try to help with these costs.
FAQs
What type of career does this course lead to and can I use it to go to uni?
The T level is aimed at those who have a strong desire to work at management level in the construction industry. It can also lead to a degree course, in say, architecture, surveying or planning. It is NOT the right type of course if you wish to learn a trade such as carpentry, bricklaying or plumbing.
The T Level carries UCAS points that can be used to go to University. E.g. Cardiff uni will accept this T level to do architecture, as long as you get a distinction (equivalent of 3 x A at A' Level)
Do I have to find my own work placement?
Yes, we recommend you do. We cannot guarantee that we can find one for you.
Is the course practical?
No, the only practical work we do is using surveying instruments.
Can I do A levels alongside a T Level?
No, the T Level is the equivalent of 3 A Levels, so you would not have time to do even one A Level. For this reason, you need to be really sure it is the right choice for you.
Do I have to have some experience of construction?
No, but it helps if you know something about the industry as this is all you do!
Can I change my mind and change course if I don't like it?
Yes, of course, we are very flexible about this. You could move to a different T Level or even move to A Levels as long as you decide within a few weeks of starting. The official deadline is by half term, but for moving between T levels we would recommend changing within two weeks, because of the large amount of content that you would need to catch up on in your new course.
Awarding Body
Pearson
Available As
T Level
[168 UCAS pts. available]
[168 UCAS pts. available]
Add to Application
What can I do after I have taken this course?
Available As
T Level
[168 UCAS pts. available]
[168 UCAS pts. available]
Add to Application
DO NOT DELETE OR EDIT THIS ROW OR ITS CONTENTS
What the students say
”I chose a T-level mainly because of the work placement aspect of the course. It gives you the opportunity to think about the kind of job you might want to go into afterwards when you’re still studying. I did my placement with E G Carters, a local building firm who were working on building the new College buildings. It was really good to see the theory learnt in class put into practise in the workplace, and get experience of different roles in the industry.
Archie
