Engineering T-levels

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Do you have an eye for design and a curiosity about how things work? You might have the right skills to become an engineer. This course explores how materials, the environment, and practical engineering influence design and development. You'll learn to solve real-world problems and explore career opportunities, sustainable green engineering, and commercial applications. The Engineering T-level at Cirencester College offers specialisms in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, and Manufacturing Engineering, with each culminating in a relevant project-based exam. Additionally, Civil Engineering is offered under the Design, Surveying, and Planning for Construction T-level.

What will I study in Engineering T-levels?

You will study a range of core modules from typical Engineering modules such as:

Working within the Engineering and Manufacturing Sectors
Essential mathematics for engineering and manufacturing
Essential science for engineering and manufacturing
Materials and their properties
Mechanical principles
Electrical and electronic principles
Health and Safety
Engineering: Past, Present and Future

to more business focused modules, such as:

Recognised standards in engineering and manufacturing
Professional responsibilities, attitudes, and behaviours

The full list can be found at the website below:

Department for Education (instituteforapprenticeships.org)

Employer-set project (ESP)

The employer-set project ensures students have the opportunity to combine core knowledge and skills to develop a substantial piece of work in response to a set brief, this will be a scenario based assessment. The employer-set project forms part of the Technical Qualification and is a separate part of the T Level programme to the Industry Placement.

Occupational Specialist Content

Specialist content is structured into different occupational specialisms, which correspond to the standards listed on the relevant occupational map. Occupational specialisms ensure students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve a level of competence needed to enter employment in the occupational specialism, and are organised around ‘performance outcomes’ that indicate what the student will be able to do, as a result of learning and applying the specified knowledge and skills.

There are three different occupational specialisms offered at Cirencester College within the Engineering T Level, plus another Engineering course as part of a different T Level:

Mechanical Engineering
Electrical / Electronic Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering
Civil Engineering (delivered by the Design Surveying and Planning for Construction team)

Each specialism follows the same Core subjects and sits the same 2 Core exams, there are different Employer Set Projects for each pathway, either Design and Development or Manufacturing for Mechanical and Electrical/Electronic Engineering or Manufacturing, Processing and Control for Mechanical Engineering. Each of the Occupational Specialisms has its own Occupational Specialism exam at the end of the second year based on a project relevant to that specialism.

Entry Requirements

At least five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above from the core subjects, including Grade 5 in Maths and Grade 4 in English.

Students with a Grade 5 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 Engineering T-level.

How will I learn?

The core elements will obviously be a lot of classroom based activities, with lecture, debates and workshops occurring throught the two years. The Occupational Specialism will build on the core skills with a focus on the skills and attributes required for your chosen area. A key component of the T level is the work placement. This equates to 45 days (315 hours) of your course.

How will I be assessed?

2 Core exam papers taken in June of Year 1. Each paper is 2.5 hours long.
A 15-18.5 hour Employer Set Project in November of Year 2. This is sat within a 3 week exam window. (Length of project varies by specialism)
A 28-34 hour Occupational Specialism Assessment in April/May of Year 2. This will be conducted over a 5 week exam window. (Length of assessment varies by specialism)
Minimum 315 hours of work placement with one or two employers across the 2 years of the course

Any trips?

YES!!!

We will be organising a number of various trips to take advantage of the excellent situation within which Cirencester lies - at the heart of much of the best of British Engineering.

Companies such as:

Rolls Royce
Dyson
Machynlleth Centre for Alternative Technology
Renishaw

may be possible options to visit, but we will also visit a number of different sites, such as Cosford RAF Museum, the Ironbridge World Heritage Site in Shropshire and the Amazon Distribution Centre in Swindon.

Are there any costs involved?

There will be costs for transport to your work placement and you will have to pay a small amount for materials. There may be a requirement to purchase your own PPE for your placement. There will be costs associated with the trips but these will be kept to a minimum.

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

Cirencester College offers a generous Bursary Scheme, which may be able to assist with the cost of these items. All details can be found under Financial Support.

FAQs

Do I need to be good at Maths?

There is a lot of Maths involved in Engineering so the standard is quite high - you will need to be able to access a similar standard to A-level Maths.

Is there much practical work involved?

Yes, LOTS! You have 315 hours of work placement, at least. Some of your units in College will have a practical element to them as well. The Occupational Specialism will have practical elements.

What sort of progression is there from the T-level in Engineering?

A T-Level carries the same UCAS points as 3 A Levels.

Progression can range from a full apprenticeship (Levels 3, 4 or 6) to Higher Education Degree Courses in Engineering.

The T-level also offers you a useful route straight into employment or even self-employment.

How do students secure a work placement?

Students will be supported in searching for a work placement that is suitable for them. This will ensure that the placement is in a location students can get to, in a field that they are interested in, and enhance life skills in the application for these roles.