What are V Levels? A parent’s guide

As England’s post-16 education system continues to evolve, students and parents are facing a changing qualifications landscape. Alongside familiar qualifications such as A Levels and the relatively new T Levels, a new vocational qualification – V Levels – is set to be introduced from 2027.

But what exactly are V Levels, and how do they differ from existing qualifications? Could they be the right choice for your child, and what opportunities might they lead to?

In this guide, we’ll explain everything we know so far, including how V Levels are expected to work, how they compare with A Levels and T Levels, and what they could mean for your child’s future education and career pathways.

---

What are V Levels?

V Levels (short for Vocational Levels) are a new type of Level 3 vocational qualification due to be introduced in England from 2027. Designed to sit alongside A Levels and T Levels, they will provide students with a broad vocational education while keeping a range of progression routes open.

Each V Level will be studied over two years and will be equivalent in size to one A Level. Students will be able to take multiple V Levels or combine them with qualifications such as A Levels, allowing them to build a personalised study programme that reflects their interests and future goals.

The content of each V Level will be linked to occupational standards and set nationally, ensuring that students develop skills relevant to the workplace. Unlike T Levels, however, which are designed to prepare students for a specific occupation, V Levels are intended to help students explore different employment sectors without specialising too early.

Why are V Levels being introduced

The government believes that the current post-16 qualifications system can be difficult for students and families to navigate, with a large number of overlapping vocational qualifications available.

V Levels form part of wider reforms designed to simplify the qualifications landscape and create three distinct Level 3 pathways: A Levels for academic study, T Levels for technical specialisation, and V Levels for broad vocational learning.

V Levels are intended to provide a broad introduction to employment sectors and to help students develop practical, transferable skills. They are designed to keep a range of routes open, supporting progression to higher education, apprenticeships, or employment with further training.

V Levels vs T Levels: What’s the difference?

V Levels and T Levels are designed for different purposes.

T Levels are large technical qualifications that focus on preparing students for a specific industry or occupation. Studied as a full-time programme over two years, they include a substantial industry placement and are equivalent in size to three A Levels.

V Levels, by contrast, are smaller qualifications equivalent to a single A Level. Rather than preparing students for a specific occupation, they are designed to help students explore different sectors. Students will be able to combine V Levels with other qualifications, creating a more flexible study programme.

For example, a student could study a V Level in Accounting and Finance alongside A Levels in Maths and Business.

In short:

• T Levels are designed for students who want a highly specialised technical route with significant workplace experience.
• V Levels are intended for students who prefer vocational learning but want the flexibility to combine subjects and explore sectors before specialising.

For a detailed explanation of T Levels, read our guide to T Levels.

V Levels, T Levels, and A Levels at a glance

Although A Levels, T Levels and V Levels are all Level 3 qualifications, they are designed to support different educational and career pathways. The table below compares their key features.

What V Level subjects will be available?

The government plans to introduce V Levels in phases, with the first subjects expected to be available from 2027, and additional qualifications to follow in subsequent years.

The initial V Level subjects planned are:

• Accounting and Finance
• Digital Systems and Data
• Education

A further 11 subjects are currently planned for 2028:

• Applied Research and Technology
• Construction Design
• Engineering Design
• Engineering and Manufacturing
• Health
• Healthcare and Clinical Technologies
• Legal Services
• Leisure, Exercise and Sports
• Management, Procurement and Supply Chains
• Marketing and Retail
• Social Care

The phased introduction means that the availability of V Level subjects will depend on when your child starts their post-16 studies and whether their chosen school or college offers the qualification.

How will V Levels be graded and assessed?

V Levels are designed to assess not only what students know, but also how well they can apply their knowledge and skills in practical, work-related contexts. As a result, they are expected to use a variety of assessment methods rather than relying solely on traditional written exams.

The current proposals suggest that assessment could include written examinations, practical or skills-based tests, projects, demonstrations, and other applied tasks. Some assessments will be externally set and marked by the awarding organisation, while others may be completed under specified conditions and marked by schools and colleges, with moderation to ensure consistency.

V Levels are also expected to have a modular structure, allowing students to complete different components at various points during the course before receiving an overall grade.

Details of the grading system are still under consultation. However, the aim is for V Levels to use a clear, nationally standardised grading approach that is easy for students, employers and universities to understand.

As V Levels are still in development, all assessment and grading arrangements remain subject to change ahead of their introduction from 2027.

Can students go to university with V Levels?

One of the main questions students and parents have is whether universities will accept V Levels.

The government intends for V Levels to support progression to higher education, as well as higher technical study, apprenticeships, and employment. Universities are expected to determine how the qualifications will be recognised for entry to specific courses as they are introduced.

As V Levels have not yet launched, details of whether and how individual universities will accept them are not yet available.

As with any qualification, students will need to check the entry requirements of individual courses and institutions when planning their future study pathways.

Will V Levels replace BTECs?

This is another one of the most common questions surrounding the new qualifications.

V Levels are being introduced as part of wider reforms to post-16 education in England. They are expected to replace many of the Level 3 applied general and vocational qualifications currently available to 16–19-year-olds, including some BTECs.

However, the transition will happen gradually, and students currently studying existing qualifications will not be affected.

Are V Levels right for your child?

Because V Levels are still in development, it is too early to know exactly how they will be received by universities, employers, and colleges.

What we do know is that they are being designed for students who:

• Prefer practical and applied learning
• Want a vocational route without committing to a highly specialised technical programme
• Would like the flexibility to combine vocational and academic subjects
• Want to keep multiple progression options open after age 18

For students and parents navigating post-16 choices, V Levels are likely to become an increasingly important part of the conversation as their introduction approaches in 2027.

---

V Levels represent an important new addition to England’s post-16 qualifications landscape, offering students a broad vocational route that combines flexibility with career-focused learning.

While many details are still being finalised, the overall aim is straightforward: to provide students with practical, career-relevant learning that can sit alongside academic study and support progression to university, apprenticeships, or employment.

---

FAQs

How do V Levels work?

V Levels are a new type of Level 3 qualification due to be introduced in England from 2027. They are designed to provide a vocational route that combines practical, career-focused learning with the flexibility to study alongside other qualifications, such as A Levels.

Each V Level will be equivalent in size to one A Level and will be studied over two years.

What does the “V” stand for in V Levels?

The “V” stands for vocational. V Levels are designed to provide students with practical, applied learning linked to broad employment sectors, helping them develop workplace-relevant knowledge and transferable skills while keeping a range of progression options open.

What grades do you need to study V Levels?

Entry requirements for V Levels will be set by individual schools, sixth forms, and colleges. As the qualifications have not yet been introduced, there is currently no nationally agreed set of entry criteria.

In most cases, providers are expected to consider a student’s GCSE results, particularly in subjects relevant to the V Level they wish to study.

How many V Levels can you take?

Because each V Level is equivalent in size to one A Level, students are expected to be able to combine multiple V Levels or mix them with other Level 3 qualifications, such as A Levels.

The exact number a student can take will depend on their study programme and the courses offered by their school or college.

Do universities accept V Levels?

The government intends for V Levels to support progression to higher education, apprenticeships and employment. However, because the qualifications have not yet been introduced, universities have not yet developed an admissions framework for them.

Students considering university should always check the entry requirements for individual courses and institutions once V Levels become available.

Which universities accept V Levels?

At present, no universities have published admissions policies specifically for V Levels because the qualifications are still being developed.

As V Levels are rolled out, universities are expected to provide more detailed guidance on how they will be considered during the admissions process.

Are V Levels better than A Levels?

Neither qualification is inherently better than the other. They are designed for different purposes and suit different students.

A Levels are primarily academic qualifications that allow students to study individual subjects in depth, while V Levels are intended to provide a more vocational and career-focused approach. The best choice will depend on a student’s interests, strengths and future aspirations.

When will V Levels be introduced?

The first V Levels are expected to be introduced in 2027, with additional subjects planned to follow from 2028 onwards. The rollout will take place in phases, so the qualifications available will depend on when a student begins their post-16 studies and what courses are offered by their chosen school or college.

• Copy URL
• Share Article