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CARPENTRY (ONSITE CONSTRUCTION) T-LEVEL
Level 3 T-level Technical Qualification in Onsite Construction
Course Level
Level 3
Duration
2 years FT
Placement
315 hours
Entry
September
Fees
View Fees
Get an industry-recognised qualification equivalent to three A-levels
Clear route to progress into a skilled career or university study
Are you interested in working in carpentry and joinery? The construction industry needs you. With major building and regeneration projects happening throughout the UK, hundreds of thousands of skilled new workers are needed in the next few years. By completing our T-level Carpentry (Onsite Construction) course, you will gain both knowledge of the construction industry and specialist skills in carpentry and joinery, alongside achieving a nationally-recognised Level 3 qualification.
University College Birmingham is one of the first colleges in the UK to offer the new T-level qualification, which combines learning in the classroom with gaining vital ‘on-the-job’ experience. Designed for those who want to apply their skills to work on construction sites, our two-year carpentry course starts by giving you a foundation of construction industry knowledge, including health and safety, sustainability, technology and design. You will then learn specialist carpentry and joinery skills and topics, such as first and second fix carpentry, how to work with timber components, and producing and finishing joinery products.
Equivalent to three A-levels, this course will help you boost your employment prospects by gaining extensive experience on a work placement in a real-world environment, supported by experts in our Hired employability team. By completing this industry recognised qualification, you could go on to work as a carpenter, joiner, bench joiner or other construction careers, as well as further study on an apprenticeship or a course at university level.
Why choose this college course?
- BOOST YOUR SKILLS – Build key skills and knowledge related to carpentry, joinery and onsite construction, as well as enhancing your English, maths and digital skills
- WORK PLACEMENT – Get to know the world of work and gain essential industry experience through a work placement
- RECOGNISED QUALIFICATION – Our T-level course has been designed in collaboration with industry to ensure your skills meet employers’ needs and expectations
There are lots of reasons why we think you should study with us, but here are our top 5. View video.
Our facilities
Students on our construction and engineering courses will learn in brand new real-world training environments under development at University College Birmingham. Our brand new Sustainable Construction Centre at the iconic James Cond Building will offer state-of-the-art facilities specifically designed to develop skills that support employers and their supply chains, along with further new facilities at Camden House. These will include:
- Training rigs
- Glulam workshops
- Modular building workshop
- Bench joinery workshops
- BIM labs
- CAD studios
- Enhanced IT facilities
James Cond Building
Formerly a print works, this historic art deco building will become the home of our new Engineering and Sustainable Construction Centre.
Camden House
Our refurbishment of Camden House will create a bespoke STEM education and training facility.
Course breakdown
Topics you will study:
Year 1
Core Component
- Health and safety
- The science behind building design, surveying and planning
- Making accurate and appropriate measurements
- Construction methods
- Building regulations and standards
- Data management and information standards in construction
- Relationship management and customer service
- How the Internet of Things (IoT) impacts construction
- Digital engineering techniques
- Mathematical techniques to solve construction problems
- Construction design principles and processes
- The construction industry and its role in the economy
- Sustainability and the environmental impact of construction
- Business, commerce and corporate social responsibility
Year 2
Occupational Specialism (Carpentry)
- Knowledge of carpentry and joinery work undertaken
- Skills to plan carpentry and joinery work
- Setting out, marking out, cutting and fixing timber components for structural, first fix and second fix carpentry
- Setting out, marking out, producing, assembling and finishing joinery products
Please note: Units/topics of study are subject to change
You will also have an individual study programme to help you build the skills and experience you need to progress onto higher education or gain employment.
Tilbury Douglas is delighted to be working in partnership with University College Birmingham on the development of the new sustainable construction courses. As an employer, it is vital that our employees can access robust, fit-for-purpose qualifications that will address the skills shortage and provide our future and existing workforce with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to demonstrate competency in their roles. We are passionate about recruiting and developing our own talent for the future, while ensuring we remain committed to sustainably delivering vital infrastructure to communities across the UK. This collaboration will help us to achieve this.
Entry requirements
Our construction lecturers are looking for students who are enthusiastic and passionate about construction, together with a keen determination to succeed in the construction and building sector, so please contact Admissions if you do not have the specific requirements outlined below.
If you are unsure if your qualification is equivalent or if you wish to check if you meet the entry requirements for this course, please call 0121 214 2919, email feadmissions@ucb.ac.uk or use our live chat.
Academic requirements
4 GCSEs at grade 4 (grade C) including English Language and Maths, or equivalent.
English and maths
As applicants are required to achieve English and Maths at grade 4 (grade C) or above prior to entering this course, University College Birmingham will not offer English or maths alongside this course.
Supporting documents required
School applicants will be required to provide a good school report, which must include attendance. This will be assessed in conjunction with your qualifications and application during the confirmation of your place at University College Birmingham.
Applicant criteria
As this is a 2-year study programme, you will need to be aged 16 to 18 to apply for this course.
Currently, T-level courses are only funded for learners who are under the age of 19 at the point of enrolment. However, the government is currently reviewing a T-level pathway for mature learners, which we hope will be available in the future. If you would like to apply for a related course, please consider our BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Construction.
Placement
T-level courses require you to complete a minimum of 315 hours (approximately 45 days) on placement over the two years. You will be required to work with our Hired team to secure your placement.
Guaranteed progression
We are continuing to develop and enhance our portfolio of engineering and construction courses with the aim of delivering undergraduate courses in the next two years. This will provide an opportunity for students who successfully complete a Level 3 qualification in these subjects to progress here at University College Birmingham. Students will be guaranteed progression to one of our relevant degree-level courses.
Key information
Teaching and assessment
You will be assessed through a combination of externally-assessed exams, projects and practical assessments.
Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy 2021-2024.
70%
Work placements
Work placements offer a wealth of benefits alongside your studies, helping you put your learning into practice, develop your skills and understanding of the workplace, boost your CV for your chosen career or enhance your UCAS application for higher education. Our Hired team can help find the ideal placement for you.
Our onsite construction T-level course requires you to complete a minimum of 315 hours (approximately 45 days) on placement over the two years. Our employability tutors will visit you out on placement to ensure you gain the right practical skills.
Career opportunities
The example roles and salaries below are intended as a guide only.
Site carpenter
Average Salary: £40,000
Bench joiner
Average Salary: £36,000
Site manager
Average Salary: £45,000
Modular building fabricator
Average Salary: £32,000
Aspiring to a higher level career? Complete this course and you could progress onto our Construction and The Built Environment HND course.
Discover more about T-levels
Designed in direct collaboration with employers and businesses, T-levels are a great new route into skilled employment, further study or higher apprenticeships.
