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BTEC Nationals
Find a BTEC Nationals subject
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A
AgricultureAgriculture
Animal ManagementAnimal Management
Applied LawApplied Law
Applied PsychologyApplied Psychology
Art and DesignArt and Design
Art and Design PracticeArt and Design Practice
Art, Design and Media sector - view all Art, Design and Media sector - view allArt, Design and Media sector - view all
Aviation OperationsAviation Operations
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B
Blacksmithing and MetalworkingBlacksmithing and Metalworking
BusinessBusiness
Business, Administration and Law sector - view all Business, Administration and Law sector - view allBusiness, Administration and Law sector - view all
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C
Child Development and Well Being sector - view all Child Development and Well Being sector - view allChild Development and Well Being sector - view all
Children's Play, Learning and DevelopmentChildren's Play, Learning and Development
Computer Science and ICT sector - view all Computer Science and ICT sector - view allComputer Science and ICT sector - view all
Construction and the Built Environment Construction and the Built EnvironmentConstruction and the Built Environment
Construction, Planning and the Built Environment sector - view all Construction, Planning and the Built Environment sector - view allConstruction, Planning and the Built Environment sector - view all
Countryside ManagementCountryside Management
Creative Digital Media ProductionCreative Digital Media Production
Creative Media PracticeCreative Media Practice
Creative Media ProductionCreative Media Production
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D
Dental TechnologyDental Technology
Drama, Theatre Studies and Performing Arts sector - view all Drama, Theatre Studies and Performing Arts sector - view allDrama, Theatre Studies and Performing Arts sector - view all
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E
Early Childhood DevelopmentEarly Childhood Development
Engineering (2016)Engineering (2016)
Enterprise and EntrepreneurshipEnterprise and Entrepreneurship
Environmental SustainabilityEnvironmental Sustainability
Equine ManagementEquine Management
EsportsEsports
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F
Forensics and Criminal InvestigationForensics and Criminal Investigation
Forestry and ArboricultureForestry and Arboriculture
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G
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H
Health and Social Care sector - view all Health and Social Care sector - view allHealth and Social Care sector - view all
HorticultureHorticulture
HospitalityHospitality
Hospitality and Catering sector - view all Hospitality and Catering sector - view allHospitality and Catering sector - view all
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I
Information and Communication Technology sector - view all Information and Communication Technology sector - view allInformation and Communication Technology sector - view all
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L
Leisure, Travel and Tourism sector - view all Leisure, Travel and Tourism sector - view allLeisure, Travel and Tourism sector - view all
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M
Manufacturing Technologies sector - view all Manufacturing Technologies sector - view allManufacturing Technologies sector - view all
MarketingMarketing
Medical ScienceMedical Science
Medicine and Dentistry sector - view all Medicine and Dentistry sector - view allMedicine and Dentistry sector - view all
MusicMusic
Music PerformanceMusic Performance
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P
Performing ArtsPerforming Arts
Performing Arts PracticePerforming Arts Practice
Production ArtsProduction Arts
Production Arts PracticeProduction Arts Practice
Public Services sector - view all Public Services sector - view allPublic Services sector - view all
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S
SportSport
Sport and Exercise ScienceSport and Exercise Science
Sport and Outdoor ActivitiesSport and Outdoor Activities
Sport, Fitness and Personal TrainingSport, Fitness and Personal Training
Sporting Excellence and PerformanceSporting Excellence and Performance
Sports Coaching and DevelopmentSports Coaching and Development
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T
Transportation, Operations and Maintenance sector - view all Transportation, Operations and Maintenance sector - view allTransportation, Operations and Maintenance sector - view all
Travel and TourismTravel and Tourism
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U
Uniformed Protective ServicesUniformed Protective Services
Alongside A levels, BTEC Nationals are the most widely-recognised qualification for admission to higher education. They are level 3 vocational qualifications that provide specialist, work-related learning across a range of sectors. BTEC Nationals are designed to equip students with the specialist knowledge, practical skills and understanding they need to progress along their chosen learning and career paths.
Why choose BTEC Nationals
BTEC Nationals are career-based qualifications designed to give students the skills they need to move on to higher education or go straight into employment.
More employers and higher education institutions than ever before are choosing BTEC-qualified candidates for their academic and practical knowledge and skills.
- We offer the broadest Level 3 curriculum choice across 14 subject areas.
- 1 in 4 learners enter higher education with a BTEC - that's over 100,000 learners a year.
- 72% of UK employers believe BTEC candidates have advantage over non-BTEC candidates - (Perspectus Global, 2021)
- 1 in 5 of the UK adult working population has a BTEC, so they are qualifications that all employers recognise -(Pearson 2022)
- 2,295 schools and colleges taught Level 3 BTEC in the 2021/22 academic year - (Pearson 2022)
- In 2015, over 25% of the students entering university in England did so with a BTEC qualification.
- 90% of BTEC students are employed full time after graduation – (Progression Pathways, 2016)
- A Level 3 BTEC qualification can boost life time earnings by £92,000 – (London Economics, 2013)
Along with A levels, BTEC Nationals are the most widely-recognised qualification to get into university. In 2015, 95% of UK universities and colleges accepted students with a BTEC qualifications, including universities from the Russell Group.
- Guide for BTEC Level 3 Students on Progression to Higher Education.
- Guide for Tutors in UK Schools and Colleges on the Progression of BTEC Level 3 Students to UK Higher Education.
This gives guidance on how you can support your learners in their application to HE. Again it contains links to helpful pages on websites of other organisations such as UCAS.
> View Guide for Tutors in UK Schools and Colleges (PDF|485.2 KB)
It is important that students fill out their UCAS Apply form accurately and completely in order to maximise their chances of getting the right offer. To help with this, we have produced the following presentation with commentary that you can use with your students to guide them through the process of completing the Apply form.
The presentation runs through one example for students who have taken a QCF BTEC National and one for students who have taken a reformed RQF BTEC National.
Watch 'Guidance for BTEC Students on completing their UCAS Apply form'
Career
BTEC has earned a worldwide reputation as a premier applied learning qualification because it provides learners with a clear route into their career. Today’s employers are looking for a confident, work ready employees who have practical knowledge and technical skills that are taught when studying a BTEC.
Getting started with BTEC Nationals
View our Getting Started: Ways to Teach and Assess training videos for the BTEC Level 3 Nationals qualifications. The training pre-records include the links to resources that the trainer will be going through in the recorded session.
Stay in the loop
BTEC Level 3 qualifications
Following the DfE announcement on 12 December 2024 please check current funding status for individual qualifications.
Review the BTEC Level 3 Funding Checklist for England (PDF|2.0 MB)
Post 16 L3 qualifications Review
Updated 12 December 2024
For the latest informaton about the future of post-16 level 3 vocational qualifications in England, please see our dedicated web page.
Resources for teaching BTEC Nationals
BTEC services
BTEC support
New to teaching BTEC?
We offer face-to-face and online training events for educators who are teaching or interested in teaching BTEC qualifications.
Discover the range of support services we offer to help you learn about, teach or administer BTECs.
BTEC Nationals employer engagement
BTEC Nationals internal assessment
BTEC Nationals external assessment
From planning to assessment, our step-by-step guide to BTEC will help you to get set up and ensure you have everything you need to help your BTEC team and learners succeed.