There are plenty of opportunities to connect teamwork to the DofE, for example: To become a (enter job aspiration associated with course applied for here) cooperating in a team is of the utmost importance. If you are still in education, you may be able to complete the award through your school, college or youth group, as long as they are a licensed DofE provider. In this case, the most recent qualification (and therefore the most relevant) is the one that gains you UCAS Points. BH19 2PX, Outdoor Adventure School Residential Trips in Dorset. Over the near sixty years until now, over a million young people have been involved in the programme, learning the skills it takes to run a business and proving to themselves that they have what it takes to be an entrepreneur. The flexibility that the number of subjects you take gives you is one of the real benefits of taking Highers, especially if you arent sure what exactly you would like to do in the future. Example aims include: create a piece of artwork inspired by the landscape, survey the landscape, create a nature guide. They are offered by Sixth Forms, and allow you to choose which subjects you want to study moving forward. What skills and experience from the DofE would you recommend mentioning? However, perhaps not to the degree that you might expect. No. What Is The Duke of Edinburgh Award UCAS Application Connection? A diploma requires you to have over 370 hours of training, a Certificate requires you to train for between 130 370 hours, and Awards require you to have up to 130 hours of training. Pre-U Qualifications can be taken in 24 different subjects, and you can do a combination of Pre-U Qualifications and A-Levels for your 3 subjects of choice. Along with the practical skills such qualifications instil, they also teach you the ability to work well with others a useful skill to be able to talk about in job applications and interviews. ), which details how you accomplished your aims. /h. When Did Stirling Stop Being The Capital Of Scotland? 112 points may sound like a lot, but actually, its not as bad as it seems and most students can achieve it with studying 3 A Levels. Would they be interested in the fact that you volunteered during senior school? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The DofE has most definitely built my self-esteem to be able to apply for things I would otherwise not have done. These courses are designed to be excellent preparation for university, and are now widely recognised by admissions tutors, including by the Ivy League universities in the USA. A Level 3 Free Standing Maths Qualification (FSMQ) is usually taken by GCSE students who excel at maths and want to be challenged. It comprises of 5 days of group activities and 4 consecutive nights sleeping away from home. Does Gold DofE get UCAS points? Sure, it matters that you did something outside of the mainstream school system. These are a good way of gaining more vocational qualifications that could benefit your future career plans, or simply to develop skills in something you find interesting whilst gaining UCAS points at the same time. . Usually, you pick 3 subjects to study, but there is often an option to do 4 (which will obviously earn you more UCAS Points!). However, some universities look at extracurricular activities favourably during the admission process. PQ. Alternatively, you can create a product (such as an app or an artistic object), or a production (such as a charity event or fashion show) and write a 1,000 word essay to accompany it. In your personal statement, saying that you have completed your DofE demonstrates commitment and motivation to succeed, which universities will look at, especially as at times it can be challenging and completing your DofE demonstrates you can cope and thrive. But well save that question for a little while later. school clubs that look good to universities, looks good on your university application. UCAS points are the most important piece of information for universities considering new students. Bronze is open to anyone aged 14 and above. There are lots of DofE residential providers across the UK offering a variety of activities. You may choose to serve others by undertaking a voluntary role supporting an organisation e.g., helping at a Scouts camp, or you could explore environmental or educational topics by signing up to a field studies trip. Did it teach you a new way of looking at the world? I would mention that you can succeed without outside help even in potentially harsh conditions, have the mental and physical power to overcome challenges and can work well as a team. Double check whether theyre on the list of approved DofE activity providers. If you are living in Wales, a great way to earn some more UCAS Points is by completing some Essential Skills courses, to develop your employability skills. Official University of Edinburgh 2023 Applicant Thread, Official LSE Undergraduate Applicants thread 2023, students going to University of Leeds 2023 September, Cambridge and international qualifications, Official UNIVERSITY of BATH 2023 entry thread, Oxford History Applicants 2023 - Undergraduate & Postgraduate, Official Oxford 2023 Postgraduate Applicants Thread. They also mean that you have the option, if it interested you, to go straight into the field of work that you have been studying, as you will have hands on experience alongside your qualification. How do I add my Duke of Edinburgh to my UCAS application? The residential provides participants with an opportunity to expand their horizons and pursue new and existing interests and passions. There are age restrictions for each level of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. With the UCAS application process now open for 2020 entry to universities and colleges, Kira Jarvis, one of our Gold Award holders, shares her personal experience and advice on using your DofE experience to enhance your submission. 3 Is gold DofE good for Is Gold Dofe Worth Ucas Points? The distance you walk per day on DofE varies between awards. As weve seen, accumulating extra UCAS points can involve saddling yourself with even more academic work, but it doesnt have to: you can have fun with more vocational qualifications and pick up UCAS points in the process. The maximum age to complete the DofE Awards is 25 years old. This site is owned and operated by Think Student Ltd. In order to earn UCAS Points for volunteering, you could complete either a NOCN Diploma or Award in International Volunteering. At the time of applying for university, I had achieved a Scouting equivalent to the DofE Silver Award and was working towards my Gold DofE and Queens Scout Award, so I covered everything I had done so far in these. These are designed to take the stress out of planning, training and equipping teams. Some apprenticeships will require you to have a certain number of GCSEs at a minimum grade or higher, and some higher-level apprenticeships will require you to have further qualification (such as A Levels) in subjects which relate to the apprenticeship. Does Gold DofE get UCAS points? 10 Brilliant Ways to Get More UCAS Points. Has anybody accepted university offers so far in 2023? You can gain up to 50 extra UCAS points and help out a good cause by taking an ASDAN Community Volunteering Qualification. This article will help you understand the variety of ways which you can earn UCAS Points. But lets just say that the Duke of Edinburgh Award or DofE, as it is known perhaps doesnt help in the way that you think it does. What Are Some Easy GCSE Subjects and How to Make the Right Choices? How far can I backdate DofE? Official: University of Sheffield A100 2023 entry, UCL postgraduate applicants thread 2023/2024, Barts and The London (QMUL) Dentistry 2023 Entry, hsbc work experience early careers programme stimulate assessment, Border Force Officer - Core and Mobile teams recruitment campaign September 2022. On the other hand, law related courses will usually ask for ABB at A-Level which amounts to 128 UCAS points. An EPQ gives you the opportunity to develop your skills in a subject of your choice. It helped me to be confident and go for things I would have only dreamed of before doing the DofE. This is known as the Residential element, and it involves you staying and working away for five days. If youre thinking of doing this, talk to the teachers at your school to find out what subjects would fit into your timetable. Post-16 Qualifications A-levels, AS-levels, Advanced Highers, Certificates, Diplomas and Awards are all converted into UCAS points. Study for a Level 3 Diploma, Certificate or Award in your spare time. 0. Students can earn UCAS points by doing AS- Level, A-Level exams and IB diplomas, as well as through a few smaller independent qualifications. Achieving my DofE Award has helped me to have more courage to apply for jobs and be more confident in interviews, which I would not have done so easily before doing my DofE. It is a very flexible way of achieving qualifications because of the ability that it gives you to combine A-Level and Pre-U courses. Are you still using the skills you gained during your DofE programme? The only place to mention it (if you must) is in your PS or reference. Plus, a DofE can also provide a good talking point in the interview, especially for a young person without much other work experience. However, unfortunately the last year that the Pre-U Qualification exams can be sat is 2023, so your course would need to have started by September 2021. Expedition participants must be unaccompanied and it needs to be completed without motorised transport. As well as benefiting local charities, these skills will be invaluable for your CV and will make you more attractive to potential employers, whether you want to end up working in the charity sector or not. Should You Avoid or Embrace Them? Gold demands four days and three nights, with eight hours. The International Baccalaureate is available to students aged 16-19 across the world. I've just applied and was able to write in my bronze, sliver and gold. It is also a qualification which is really valued by Universities as it demonstrates your individual study skills. It does not serve any purpose on your UCAS form beyond the personal statement, where you are entitled to push it hard. These include an incredibly popular watersports week, first aid week and festive Halloween and Christmas specials. If so, youll be pleased to learn that the exams you do will give you extra UCAS points from Grade 6 upwards. Just as you can earn UCAS points for graded musical instrument exams, so you can accumulate them by taking exams in speech and drama. For example, if you did photography as your skill and are now looking to enrol on a photography degree, or if your volunteering involved . The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a fun and educational programme for young people aged 14-24. Swanage Meanwhile, for Gold, you need to be 16 or above (i.e. It has already helped me in applying for work experience and taking part in reception duties, talking to clients and assisting in consultations at veterinary surgeries. Regardless, the skills which you learn from some of the ways that you can gain UCAS Points will aid your application, as they can help to demonstrate the wide variety of skills that you possess. One of the problems with this way of earning UCAS Points is that the courses can be quite expensive. If you are interested in Speaking and Drama, exams from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (or LAMDA) might be for you. Available subjects are broadly similar to A-level subject choices, with a few that are different to the standard A-level subjects, including Classical Heritage, Comparative Government and Politics, and Economics. According to reports from UCAS, most business-related courses require BBB at A-Level which brings a total of 120 UCAS points. The DofE award is a program independent from school qualifications that young people choose to undertake. The Skills Challenge Certificate (SCC) can be taken as a standalone graded qualification for students in Wales. This could be useful for a number of University courses, which require you to have a reasonably high level of maths, but do not necessarily need (even though it is generally preferred) for you to have a Maths A-Level. OK, its a bit more involved than simply going horse riding, but if youre a keen rider then you can use your equestrian skills to your advantage by taking qualifications from the British Horse Society. If i drop a subject can universities withdraw my offer? Are Rugby Bin Collectors Still On Strike? They want proof of that. Use our quick UCAS tariff chart below to find out what your predicted UCAS points could be at A-level: Truth: The D of E does not equal any UCAS points, Myth: The D of E is important for a UCAS application, Truth: It is a recognisable achievement, but for UCAS applications, exam, Myth: The D of E makes my UCAS application unique. 5 (12 reviews) It is very important to remember that AS-Levels only contribute to your UCAS Point total score if you have not achieved an A-Level in the subject. 60. There are a wide range of courses that you can complete and be examined in to earn points, all of which are listed on the LAMDA Website. If you want to find out more about the types of apprenticeship that you can do, take a look at the UCAS Website. If you want to earn extra UCAS Points, you can take an extra Cambridge Pre-U Qualification, so that you are studying 4 courses. Participating in an activity that increases knowledge in a certain area, not to be confused with something physical. The Duke of Edinburghs International Award. Think Student Ltd is a participant in the Amazon Services Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk. Young people are eligible to start the DofE award from the age of 14. However, you should remember that Volunteering is not only beneficial in terms of UCAS Points so it is still worth considering it as an option to broaden your skills. 14-24 year-olds can do a DofE programme at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, leads to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. It enables you to take a more vocational approach to studying the subjects that interest you, and is recognised by many Universities as a valuable qualification. 6 years ago. If your childs school isnt licensed to run the DofE a local Youth Group may be. The whole qualification will take you around 150 hours to complete. Many employers will recognise the achievement of a DofE and the hard word that it represents. When recording your activity on eDofE you will have to provide the residential start and end date as well as the date you started planning it. The bronze award should take participants 26 weeks. This is another great way to earn UCAS Points from an activity which you enjoy and which takes you away from your academic work so you wont end up sat at a desk all day studying! captcha. First decide what does worth it mean to your child? The group activities must be with new people and enable you to further explore new or existing interests. Never consider sources in isolation and always do your own independent research before making decisions. It comprises of four sections for Bronze and Silver and 5 sections for Gold. Is There A Virgin Lounge At Edinburgh Airport? So I'm in Year 11 (going into Y12 in September) and I'm thinking of doing the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. For the Skills section, I worked at my local stables, assisting with the day to day tasks and lessons; this included manual labour of mucking out and grooming the horses. An Extended Project Qualification (or EPQ) is a great way of adding to your UCAS Points. DofE is split into three different levels, which you can take at different ages and which differ in intensity and material required. However, if you have already chosen your subjects and later realised that a certain subject may look desirable on your University application, completing an AS-Level in your second year could be very beneficial. . DOFE gives you ucas points. Anything else youd like to add? Distance learning courses and evening classes at your local college are two avenues for you to explore for completing an award, certificate or diploma in your spare time, alongside your A-level studies. Through your DofE activities you may have already demonstrated an interest in your course subject. What are the Duke of Edinburgh Award UCAS application points? Bronze is open to anyone aged 14 and above. reply. Dont do it just because it makes you look like a more rounded candidate. For Bronze, the expedition has to be two days and one night, with six hours of activity on each day. A Cambridge Pre-U Qualification is an alternative to A-Levels which is equivalent in value. Does gold DofE give UCAS points? You can earn UCAS Points from Grade 6 - Grade 8, in both instrumental and music theory exams. In this article, we look at the different ways in which you can raise your number of UCAS points to help the results part of your university application stand out from the crowd. At Award and Certificate level (Level 3), these qualifications give you 30 and 50 points respectively. In a similar way to Music Formal Exams, you can earn UCAS Points from Grades 6-8. I keep revising for science but I always forget so how do I fix this? Either way, an EPQ is a great way to develop your academic skills in the subject that you want to continue studying at University, and it will give you something extra to add to your personal statement! Suitable for aspiring actors and those who just enjoy performing, these qualifications develop your theatrical skills and enables you to get better at speaking clearly. Through your DofE activities you may have already demonstrated an interest in your course subject. You might have guessed that you are awarded a certain number of these points for each of your A-levels, with a higher number of points for higher grades; but what you might not have known is that there are many more ways of boosting your number of UCAS points beyond simply completing your A-levels. So perhaps your child has written in their UCAS Personal statement already about their interest in the course and their academic achievements, but theyd like to demonstrate their ability to, lets say, cooperate in a team. If you have done the Silver award, you can do it in 52 weeks. Dorset is one of the best places in the UK to participate in outdoor adventure activities. A-Levels are the most common way of getting UCAS Points. Spending more time in a library, taking an extra A-level, can be well worth it. Do an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). All A Levels come with UCAS points, the maximum number for one being 56 and that would require an A* grade. Required fields are marked *. How to: include DofE in your UCAS personal statement. The DofE also demonstrates many soft skills that cannot be communicated through academic grades alone. Cumulus Outdoors Residential Centre Time: 2022-12-13T18:10:06+00:00. R-CAPTCHA. These include volunteering, physical activity, skills, expedition and a residential. It shows them too that you are an independent person who can look after themselves and who isnt just their exam results. Note that this qualification will be withdrawn at the end of 2016, but you still have time to gain one before then. This is usually the most challenging element for participants who must trek with their tent, water and cooking supplies carried on their backs. Naturally, some groups will do less than this, and others more. 1. Taking 4 A-Levels is a challenge, but if you do it successfully, it does increase the number of UCAS Points that you will earn, while also giving you good knowledge of a whole extra subject. Andy98. There are a number of different qualifications and courses which will help international students develop their English skills, however the main 2 qualifications which allow you to earn UCAS points are: Not only does this kind of qualification give you UCAS Points, but it also will benefit you greatly in the worlds of work and higher education if you are not a native English speaker. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The DofE residential must be completed as part of the Gold Award. It is designed to foster interests and improve skills that can be drawn upon into adulthood. Making a Splash! Do anyone has this happen before or how many people actually get away with this each year? Typically, this begins when you turn 16 and start studying for higher-level qualifications. You must be at least 16 years old. If you explain how it helped or changed you, such as boosting confidence and skills while showing commitment to a task, it could increase your chances of getting a place. If youre not taking Mathematics as an A-level subject, but want a qualification in it just to prove that youre proficient, you could take a Free-standing Mathematics Qualification. Even better, they dont all involve devoting even more of your time to studying from textbooks. Depending on what Volunteering, Physical and Skills young people choose to get involved in with their D of E, the ability to relate their DofE experience to their prospective study is endless! If you arent sure which subjects work well when combined, take a look at this useful article which lists some good A-Level combinations. Youll find out more below. Unfortunately, (similarly to Music Exams) this is not a quick way of earning UCAS Points, as a Grade 6 Exam requires a lot of skill and practice. With an emphasis on personal development and practical experience, it is no surprise that many young people take up the DofE to help boost university applications and CVs with something more than academic achievements. 1. You can go on horse, on boat, on bike, or anything that isnt motorised. Learning a musical instrument can be a fun pastime, and is a great way to earn some extra UCAS Points. The Gold DofE expedition should take place over 4 days and 3 nights. For example, you might be leaning towards doing all humanities subjects at A-level, because thats whats going to give you the best chances of securing a place on a particular degree course; but you still want to be able to show potential employers that your knowledge of maths is higher than GCSE, as this will help you stand out a bit more. 2 Does DofE count as UCAS points? Unfortunately, some illusions may be shattered along the way. This is in comparison to a BTEC route, which is more specialised. The Gold residential must include 5 consecutive days of group activities and at least 4 nights away from home. Which parts of the UCAS application can you use your DofE experience in? 20. Participants must work through these in turn and satisfy various criteria. This is a good compromise for students who want to earn more UCAS Points, and increase their knowledge of more subjects, but who also perhaps feel that 4 full A-Levels is too much. The most obvious place to get UCAS points is from A-levels, AS-levels, and T-levels. Summer School 2023 is filling up fast. Pre-16 Qualifications Most courses also require that you have certain pre-16 qualifications, including GCSE Maths and English. Gold is the final stage of the Duke of Edinburgh award. Your gold award in DofE isnt a golden ticket to any higher education institution that you fancy. If you are starting at Gold level, without completing your Silver it will take at least 18 months. Personal development is the name of the game. Its a good thing to do regardless of whether it will give your application a boost. No. The Best Free Homeschooling Resources UK Parents Need to Start Using Today. A Bronze and Silver DofE award have the same four sections to be completed, and a Gold DofE award has a fifth section: Participating in any regular physical activity, for example playing in a football team. I therefore had the confidence to apply for and become a Course Representative and a Student Ambassador at university; this means I am often the person students or prospective students come to with questions about student life and our course. BTECs are another common alternative to A-Levels. And, as you can imagine, the more hours are put in, the higher the number of UCAS Points earned is. University of California, Berkeley (ages 15-18), 10 Brilliant Ways to Get More UCAS Points. There are a number of different Horse-Riding Qualifications which can earn you UCAS Points, and they are listed on the British Horse Society Website, alongside the number of points that they will earn you. The details of this course can be found on the ASDAN Website. You never know, it could make a difference in getting into your first-choice university and you never know where that could take you! You must volunteer in the community for at least 12 months and complete the physical and skill sections. Cumulus Outdoors are based in Dorset and run Gold canoe and walking expeditions. Although some Universities give out their conditional offers to students based on their exam grades, there are still some which the UCAS Points system for offers. Can I Leave My Luggage At Edinburgh Bus Station? At Cumulus Outdoors weve been helping young people achieve their Duke of Edinburgh Award for many years through our exciting expeditions and Gold residential programmes. Does Gold DofE get UCAS points? The expedition is the most exciting element of the Duke of Edinburgh Award by a country mile. If youre already an A-level student and dont play a musical instrument, its probably not going to be possible to get up to Grade 6-8 standard (from nothing) before you apply for university, but taking up an instrument while youre doing your GCSEs might give you enough time to reach the standard required to gain UCAS points, if you put in plenty of practice. Writing about the course. You must be in an unfamiliar environment and lead by an organised group, registered charity or Approved Activity Provider. UCAS and the DofE: My advice With the UCAS application process now open for 2020 entry to universities and colleges, Kira Jarvis, one of our Gold Award holders, shares her personal experience and advice on using your DofE experience to enhance your submission. For Silver, this extends to three days and two nights, with seven hours on each day. What are the Hardest GCSEs? No, I want to find out more. That's right, even with walking 14 Miles a day on the Gold DofE, UCAS points are not awarded (though a shiny Duke of Edinburgh gold medal is up for grabs).