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. You should join a DofE residential as an individual without meeting participants or leaders beforehand. Wed say that a more appropriate description would be a Youth Award rather than a professional qualification. 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. In order to earn UCAS Points for volunteering, you could complete either a NOCN Diploma or Award in International Volunteering. Did your volunteering or skill complement a particular part of your studies? In fact, simply as an addition to your CV and University Application, its not really necessary for you to do a course and gain the qualification (though if it is something that is available to you it shouldnt be turned down!). Actually, it aims to get you improving yourself in a whole myriad of ways. Of course, they would! Depending on the chosen programme you can stay in our purpose-built residential centre with dormitory accommodation or in our tented village. 23km per dayHow far do you walk on DofE? The UCAS Website will provide you with more information about the Scottish Highers. This is another additional qualification which shows how you can develop your employability skills. How Often Does Edinburgh Tram Go To Airport? Speak to the activity provider prior to packing for your residential experience. No. Read More However, if you are in primary school or just not yet in the right stage of secondary education, you are going to have to wait. It is designed to foster interests and improve skills that can be drawn upon into adulthood. Many schools, colleges and universities deliver the DofE programme and this can be very convenient for students to integrate into their studies. It helped me to be confident and go for things I would have only dreamed of before doing the DofE. The difference is that Pre-U Qualifications give students more of an opportunity to work independently, so that they are more prepared for University study. This means that if you wanted to take a BTEC at Sixth Form, you would need to be more certain of the career path you wanted to take earlier on. The number of UCAS Points that you can earn are listed on the ABRSM Website. Throughout the residential week you should endeavour to push the boundaries of your comfort zone and experience new environments and new people. Is it actually going to help to get you into some of the best universities in the country? Our systems have detected unusual traffic from your computer network. The scheme encourages young people to try new things and step out of their comfort zone. Further information about both the Diploma and the Award can be found on the NOCN Website. 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. 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. school clubs that look good to universities, looks good on your university application. But well save that question for a little while later. This means that if you have been learning a musical instrument, and doing the exams as you go along, you may be lucky enough to already have some UCAS Points. More information about this certificate can be found here. For people who complete the Gold award (which, by the way, is the only one in which any universities are going to be interested), you will have to do the fifth element. This table now reflects the new UCAS points tariff which uses a much lower points system than the old UCAS tariff. The details of this course can be found on the ASDAN Website. 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! 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. Obviously, the amount of UCAS Points you can gain varies based on whether you achieve a Pass, Merit or Distinction in your exam - so it is really worth practicing hard in your preparation. Beyond your academic achievements, universities want to see evidence of so called soft skills that you have developed through extra-curricular activities, such as communication, commitment, leadership and teamwork. Not gonna be a snitch, but now that I know stuff like this happen. To help you with your planning, weve created a helpful guide containing a list of frequently asked Gold DofE questions. In addition, you will have to do a short presentation to a small group within your Sixth Form. If your child has an adventurous spirit, the time to spare and would enjoy the challenge then the DofE would certainly be worth it. Theres one section of the UCAS application where the DofE can be utilised, that is what we unofficially call The Duke of Edinburgh Personal Statement.. 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. 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. Silver is for people aged 15 and above and should take 52 weeks. There are plenty of activity providers offering Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. Mapping out and preparing for one continuous journey over several days, which could be on foot, bicycle, canoe or another method that requires physical effort (no cars or electric scooters!) 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. The most obvious place to get UCAS points is from A-levels, AS-levels, and T-levels. I mentioned that I had been part of Scouting since the age of 6 and had completed many challenges including trips to Germany, Estonia and Poland and hiking in the Peak District. You can go on horse, on boat, on bike, or anything that isnt motorised. DofE isn't a formal qualification. I was able to demonstrate my strong sense of teamwork under challenging circumstances while trekking Snowdonia this Summer with my Duke of Edinburgh expedition group. Remember, DofE has over 400,000 entrants every year. 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. GoStudent is the #1 online tutoring platform for children. They will be able to provide you with a detailed kit list containing all of the equipment and clothing you will need. This qualification is aimed to bridge the gap between GCSE and AS-Level, but does not mean that you have to take A-Level maths after you have done it. You will feel a huge sense of achievement when you have completed all of the sections and receive your award. At the same time, youll have to track your progress and check in with DofE leaders, who will be helping you along the way. They allow you to gain experience in a field of work which interests you, and give you the chance to either progress in that field of work, or go to university to further develop your skills. 806 8067 22 Registered Office: Imperial House, 2nd Floor, 40-42 Queens Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3XB, Taking a break or withdrawing from your course, http://www.dofe.org/en/content/cms/about-us/our-impact/, Official UCL 2023 Undergraduate Applicants Thread. You can gain confidence in speaking, writing and listening, which will all be incredibly useful skills. Copyright The Student Room 2023 all rights reserved. PQ. There are a number of criteria that must be met in order to complete your DofE Gold expedition. The DofE residential must be completed as part of the Gold Award. They want proof of that. The Modern Foreign Languages short courses (for which you can choose from Italian, French, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Spanish and German) would be particularly useful in the long-term, as the ability to speak other languages has long been acknowledged as something that makes you more enjoyable. So, if youve got the time, and you can afford to do so, I would wholeheartedly recommend DofE Gold. When Did Stirling Stop Being The Capital Of Scotland? What matters much more to universities is your academic commitment. Cumulus Outdoors offer a number of DofE gold residential programmes in Dorset. 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. 6 years ago. This doesnt just mean your test scores or exam results. Residentials are a great way to explore creative outlets and learn new skills e.g., taking part in a jewellery making course or trying a new sport. Though there are still a number of different ways to earn points which may suit you better. There are plenty of programmes that can count towards your Gold DofE residential. It shows them too that you are an independent person who can look after themselves and who isnt just their exam results. You would take these at Sixth Form instead of A-Levels. Young Enterprise is a programme that has been running since 1963. You must be at least 14 years old to start the Bronze award, 15 for Silver and 16 for Gold. What are the Hardest GCSEs? 1. How do you think achieving your Award and the skills gained will help you in your future? D of E Silver 0 UCAS points. 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. These programmes are based around speaking and drama, which may help you increase your confidence in speaking to large groups of people a skill which can be easily transferred to other scenarios in your life and which is likely to be extremely useful! Duke of Edinburgh is the initiative that takes place in secondary school across schools in England and the rest of the UK. The Gold DofE expedition should take place over 4 days and 3 nights. There are no further levels to complete. No. What happens if you sleep hungry on your period? If your child would benefit from support in achieving the grades that they need to apply for university, contact a GoStudent tutor who can help them fulfil their potential. The thing about these timings is that if only one of the three sections has to be this long. The DofE also helped me when applying for summer placements; I was successful getting placements at a local wildlife trust, two veterinary clinics and an internship in South Africa, all of which would not have been possible without the DofE giving me the confidence to give things a go. These are known as bronze, silver, and gold level. For those looking to demonstrate an extremely high level of English language ability, the Certificate of Proficiency in English gains you up to 140 UCAS points and improves your English for employment and academic purposes. How do I add my Duke of Edinburgh to my UCAS application? The DofE is many things to many people, supporting generations to successfully navigate adult life. DofE stands for the Duke of Edinburgh Award, which was launched by Prince Philip in 1956. Like going away from home, on your own, and interacting with a group of your peers. Does Duke of Edinburgh Give You UCAS Points? A well as developing your specific subject knowledge, an Access to HE Diploma is intended to provide you with the study skills and general tools to make your time at University much more manageable and successful. Copyright 2022 Think Student Ltd. Company No. Enol online now or call +44 1865 954800 to book your place. In terms of skills for the workplace, there are numerous useful courses to choose from, such as the AAT Certificate in Accounting or the Certificate of Personal Effectiveness, the latter of which gives you 70 UCAS points and aims to develop skills to improve your employability, such as problem solving and working with others. If yes, then the DofE could be a useful tool to display non-academic achievements in a UCAS university personal statement as well as being a beneficial experience overall. This section of the award must take place in an unfamiliar environment without friends or relatives, which encourages young people to move out of their comfort zone. Does gold DofE give UCAS points? Apprenticeships are a great way to get qualified while also earning a wage. LAMDA Exams are another great example of a way to get yourself out of a classroom setting to earn some extra UCAS Points, and they can be taken at any point, so If you have already done some (from Grade 6 Grade 8) you may already have some UCAS Points. Reply 13. 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). I have become more of a team player and will make sure everyones voice is heard as Course Representative. This is one of the best decisions I have ever made; the skills I gained at the stables are adaptable to other animals and my studies, and the course has given me so many opportunities I would not have had if I had not applied to university or taken up my offer. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. Therefore, it depends which Universities that you are applying to as to how essential UCAS Points are, so it is important to do your research! Unfortunately, this isnt a quick way to earn extra UCAS Points, as you have to have put a significant amount of time into playing in order to reach a Grade 6 level. You may also want to start taking the exams, if you already have a high level of skill in playing an instrument. There are 3 levels (Bronze, Silver and Gold) and a number of sections to complete. Even better, they dont all involve devoting even more of your time to studying from textbooks. I also have more confidence to help me succeed. 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. Reach out to a GoStudent tutor to ensure that your child reaches their full potential on exam day. An Access to HE Diploma is a great way to earn UCAS Points if you dont have the typical qualifications that Universities may be looking for (such as A-Levels or BTECs). captcha. For Bronze, the expedition has to be two days and one night, with six hours of activity on each day. 3 Is gold DofE good for Is Gold Dofe Worth Ucas Points? It is offered by OCR, and combines aspects of GCSE maths with AS and A-Level Maths. Post-16 Qualifications A-levels, AS-levels, Advanced Highers, Certificates, Diplomas and Awards are all converted into UCAS points. 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. University of California, Berkeley (ages 15-18), 10 Brilliant Ways to Get More UCAS Points. Does Gold DofE get UCAS points? The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, presents the award but thats about the only role he has in the whole thing. Rather, your school will tell you the time and date (usually a bank holiday weekend) and you will plot the route. Through your DofE activities you may have already demonstrated an interest in your course subject. They equate to half of an A-Level, as you only complete the first year of the course. If you arent sure which subjects work well when combined, take a look at this useful article which lists some good A-Level combinations. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group. Completing your DofE and a grade or two would help to showcase your skills and talent. . Enjoy a fun-filled activity programme including coasteering, kayaking, climbing, abseiling and more. If you want to earn extra UCAS Points, you can take an extra Cambridge Pre-U Qualification, so that you are studying 4 courses. For those of you doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award for the purposes of university admissions, you should know that it doesn't actually give you UCAS points. Not at all, by all means do it if you have the time, but your exam results are far more important. Whats more, drama requires good teamwork, so thats another useful transferrable skill youll pick up through this qualification. Summer School 2023 is filling up fast. These are designed to take the stress out of planning, training and equipping teams. You might have been invited to a parents information evening about the DofE where the award is touted heavily as an asset to any UCAS application, however the Duke of Edinburgh Award UCAS application points breakdown looks like the following: Thats 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). All Rights Reserved. 60. 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. The UCAS Points System can be confusing, and it is a useful thing to understand when applying to Universities. Would they be interested in the fact that you volunteered during senior school? At Cumulus Outdoors our residentials start from 270. . All A Levels come with UCAS points, the maximum number for one being 56 and that would require an A* grade. If yes, then the DofE may not be able to elevate their UCAS application much further. Participating in an activity that increases knowledge in a certain area, not to be confused with something physical. The stakes are high because an answer other than of course! could shatter some of the most central beliefs held by young people across the UK. Making a Splash! Bronze is open to anyone aged 14 and above. No. If you would like to find out more about the Extended Project Qualification, you can find more information here. It usually takes around 1 year to complete, but can be done on a part-time basis over a few years to suit you. An Extended Project Qualification (or EPQ) is a great way of adding to your UCAS Points. 20. in sixth form) and it will take you 78 weeks if you start from scratch. The other two need only be half that length of time. If i drop a subject can universities withdraw my offer? Our goal is to connect every student with the perfect tutor. You can also use the DofE if you get invited for an interview. 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. Just as you can earn UCAS points for graded musical instrument exams, so you can accumulate them by taking exams in speech and drama. Although dance can be challenging and requires a lot of work, it can be used as a good way to have a break from your academic studies while also allowing you to do something that has the potential to help your academic career. Many young people obtain their Bronze DofE award before progressing onto Silver and Gold awards, but teenagers can dive straight into their Gold award if they are 16 years old or over. You can do an apprenticeship from the age of 16, and an Advanced Level Apprenticeship is generally considered to be equivalent to 2 A Levels. The maximum UCAS points you can gain this way is 65 points for a Distinction at Grade 8 (as with the music and drama exams, points are awarded from Grade 6 upwards). Thats not to say that your application will suffer if you only have three A-levels offers are almost always given based on three A-levels anyway (top universities might give an offer that includes four A-levels, but only if the candidate in question happens to be studying four). Is the Duke of Edinburgh award a professional qualification? Through your DofE activities you may have already demonstrated an interest in your course subject. Bronze is open to anyone aged 14 and above. DOFE gives you ucas points. Please try your request again later. At Award and Certificate level (Level 3), these qualifications give you 30 and 50 points respectively. Usually, you pick 3 subjects to study, but there is often an option to do 4 (which will obviously earn you more UCAS Points!). Ask your school or college about undertaking these courses to up your UCAS points! 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. UCL emailed about my grade 4 in GCSE maths, please help. The expedition should take place in wild country, away from civilisation for a minimum of 4 days and 3 nights with 8 hours of planned activity. BH19 2PX, Outdoor Adventure School Residential Trips in Dorset. It comprises of 5 days of group activities and 4 consecutive nights sleeping away from home. Qualifications as well as your academic qualifications, remember to include your DofE Award. 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. R-CAPTCHA. You may also want to have a look at some Universities entry requirements, which often list preferred A-Levels. For example, a course in first aid would be appropriate. Cumulus Outdoors Residential Centre Joining a group of new people, staying in accommodation overnight for several days away from home doing valuable work. What Area Of Edinburgh Does J.K. Rowling Live? The Best Free Homeschooling Resources UK Parents Need to Start Using Today. Whatever you mention, just make sure you explain how it helped you develop and how you would adapt this to study to succeed. Is the Duke of Edinburgh award important for university? No. Every young person can enter the award program. We recommend speaking with your expedition provider. 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. You have to complete all four parts to finally achieve the award. The Duke of Edinburgh Award has a number of benefits. If you have done your Silver or Gold DofE, mention the skills, physical and volunteering sections too, as they indicate that you will follow commitments through even if it takes up your time which you may need for other activities. For those of you doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award for the purposes of university admissions, you should know that it doesnt actually give you UCAS points. Double check whether theyre on the list of approved DofE activity providers. You can learn lots of new skills, improve your fitness and take part in expeditions and adventure activities. The platform that connects students with their private tutors, The best Academic tutoring tutors available. You can't list it as a qualification in your education section. With exceptions for some specific courses, DofE comes into play for that last 20% . More information about Essential Skills Wales can be found here. They dont care about it per se. Arty types might like Trinity College Londons Gold Arts Award, which gives you 35 extra points in recognition of your involvement with a range of arts projects and leadership (recorded in a portfolio in a medium of your choosing, such as a diary, video or blog). In a similar way to Music Formal Exams, you can earn UCAS Points from Grades 6-8. Theyre not employers, Scouts leaders, or your mother so they might not be hugely impressed by your ability to read a map. What Is The Duke of Edinburgh Award UCAS Application Connection? Having good English Language abilities will be essential if you intend to study in the UK, and the ESOL Programme is a good way of demonstrating that you have these skills. Employers and higher education establishments value the award and its an excellent talking point in interviews. Debate with GF/BF: TSR votes will decide! 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. You can choose to simply have a greater understanding of more advanced maths. Cambridge ESOL Programmes are aimed at students who do not speak English as their first language, so if you are a native English speaker, unfortunately this is not a way that you can earn extra UCAS Points. 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. 0. 12657283. Definitely the expeditions! 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. The company contracts with institutions, including the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Yale, for the use of their facilities, and also contracts with tutors from those institutions, but does not operate under the aegis of the University of Oxford or those other institutions. The qualifications that are required vary based on the type of apprenticeship that you want to do, and which company you would like to work with. Every effort has been made to keep costs down to ensure the DofE award is accessible to all. What Is The Average Salary For It People In Edinburgh? The points you can gain range from 5 UCAS points for a pass at Grade 6 to 75 points for a Distinction at Grade 8. If you think that an Access to HE Diploma is the ideal path for you, have a look at this helpful website. Did any of your DofE activities inspire you to pursue a particular field of study?