Maybe your child does not currently participate in any regular extracurricular activities. These are the sorts of questions that you are going to have to ask yourself in relation to your DofE. Do an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). AS-Levels can be taken in either your first or second year. Those involved in the programme are required, in . How did doing your DofE help prepare you for University life? 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. Bronze is open to anyone aged 14 and above. This is known as the Residential element, and it involves you staying and working away for five days. Every young person can enter the award program. The truth is that nobody misses out on a place at university because they did not complete a DofE, but if your child is looking for ways to add something extra to their application, a DofE achievement can be a good place to start. This article will help you understand the variety of ways which you can earn UCAS Points. Is it actually going to help to get you into some of the best universities in the country? No. What skills and experience from the DofE would you recommend mentioning? The expedition is the part that participants are usually most apprehensive about and a popular question is How far do you walk on the Bronze DofE ? There must be a minimum of 6 hours travelling each day, which equates to on average 16km or 10 Miles each day on foot. 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. 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. What skills and experience did you mention? Most obviously, you can boost your number of UCAS points by taking on an extra A-level or AS-level. The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, presents the award but thats about the only role he has in the whole thing. Standard Level, which can earn you up to 28 Points. Gold demands four days and three nights, with eight hours. The 10 Hardest A Level Subjects to Run Towards or Away From! If you need 144 points to do your dream university course, you'll need three A-level A grades. 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. It usually takes around 1 year to complete, but can be done on a part-time basis over a few years to suit you. How to: include DofE in your UCAS personal statement. So I'm in Year 11 (going into Y12 in September) and I'm thinking of doing the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. There are 3 levels (Bronze, Silver and Gold) and a number of sections to complete. Though this does not mean that it is limited to this group. does gold dofe give ucas points - Kazuyasu Yes. Unfortunately, DofE does not give you UCAS points. Its important to choose a residential programme that interests you and allows you to explore your passions further. Does gold DofE give UCAS points? 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. Apprenticeships are a great way to get qualified while also earning a wage. 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. . It is designed to foster interests and improve skills that can be drawn upon into adulthood. Reply 13. 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! Graded dance qualifications, similar to the music exams, are offered by several organisations, including the British Ballet Organization, the British Theatre Dance Association, the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and the Royal Academy of Dance. Expedition participants must be unaccompanied and it needs to be completed without motorised transport. Double check whether theyre on the list of approved DofE activity providers. DofE is split into three different levels, which you can take at different ages and which differ in intensity and material required. Your DofE Award is a fantastic way to demonstrate and evidence these skills in practice. These are known as bronze, silver, and gold level. 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. If you have done the Silver award, you can do it in 52 weeks. It is aimed at students aged 16 and over to allow them to develop their employability skills. Why should you do the Duke of Edinburgh award? 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. These are designed to take the stress out of planning, training and equipping teams. It does not serve any purpose on your UCAS form beyond the personal statement, where you are entitled to push it hard. Example aims include: create a piece of artwork inspired by the landscape, survey the landscape, create a nature guide. There is no minimum distance to cover, however there must be 8 hours of planned activity each day to satisfy the expedition requirements. BH19 2PX, Outdoor Adventure School Residential Trips in Dorset. Uni rejects application for something not mention in entry requirment, Any other good/free programs like Sutton trust or UNIQ. 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. One of the biggest providers of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Bronze Award YOU CAN REGISTER AS SOON AS YOU ARE IN THE SCHOOL YEAR IN WHICH YOU WILL TURN 14 Meanwhile, for Gold, you need to be 16 or above (i.e. These are known as bronze, silver, and gold level. These components are: If you would like to find out more about the International Baccalaureate and how it works, information about the Diplo. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Gold DofE Award Questions Answered | Residentials Dorset - Cumulus Outdoors You can learn lots of new skills, improve your fitness and take part in expeditions and adventure activities. Yes, it is possible to complete your Gold DofE expedition on a kayak or canoe. If your child has an adventurous spirit, the time to spare and would enjoy the challenge then the DofE would certainly be worth it. At Award and Certificate level (Level 3), these qualifications give you 30 and 50 points respectively. 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. The qualifications are all about developing your volunteering skills and knowledge, and recognising the unpaid work you do for the benefit of your community. Does Gold DofE get UCAS points? On the other hand, law related courses will usually ask for ABB at A-Level which amounts to 128 UCAS points. By the time they do a Grade 8 they can earn nearly the equivalent of an A-Level (30 UCAS points). There are a number of criteria that must be met in order to complete your DofE Gold expedition. UCAS: Deadlines and 3 Genius Ways to Get Extra UCAS Points It does not serve any purpose on your UCAS form beyond the personal statement, where you are entitled to push it hard. Can adults do Duke of Edinburgh Award? - TimesMojo Dorset is one of the best places in the UK to participate in outdoor adventure activities. Required fields are marked *. Duke of Edinburgh's Award | Army Cadets UK 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. Students can take 3-4 of their courses at Higher Level (which comprises of around 240 teaching hours) and the remaining subjects at Standard Level (which is made up of around 150 hours of teaching). To apply to Oxford, students would need to have completed, or be studying for, at least 120 points at stage 1 or above, in appropriate subjects. These include an incredibly popular watersports week, first aid week and festive Halloween and Christmas specials. There are many ways to participate in the Gold DofE Award. By continuing to use our website without changing the settings, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. 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. What are UCAS points? | How to get UCAS points - Success at School You may also want to have a look at some Universities entry requirements, which often list preferred A-Levels. 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. And, as you can imagine, the more hours are put in, the higher the number of UCAS Points earned is. You also have the option of taking the Certificate in Advanced English, which is a less advanced qualification that offers 70 points to those who achieve an A grade. It does not serve any purpose on your UCAS form beyond the personal statement, where you are entitled to push it hard. 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. 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. University of California, Berkeley (ages 15-18), 10 Brilliant Ways to Get More UCAS Points. Which parts of the UCAS application can you use your DofE experience in? Perhaps your childs school is heavily endorsing participation in the DofE which might have you wondering Is DofE important for university applications? . Participating in DofE can help you demonstrate that you possess the skills needed to excel in further education or your chosen career. I also explained how doing this allowed me to become a Cub Scout Young leader and then a Leader and how I used this for the Volunteering section of my Silver DofE programme. 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. You can earn UCAS Points from Grade 6 Grade 8, in both instrumental and music theory exams. ), which details how you accomplished your aims. To make sure your planned residential satisfies all of the conditions we recommend looking at the residential checklist on the dofe.org website. Silver is for people aged 15 and above and should take 52 weeks. Your email address will not be published. You must be in an unfamiliar environment and lead by an organised group, registered charity or Approved Activity Provider. Developed by Cambridge International Examinations, the Cambridge Pre-U qualifications can completely replace A-levels with a full programme of studies that gives you a diploma, or you can take a shorter course (over the course of a year) alongside your A-levels. 0. Cumulus Outdoors in Swanage offer an exciting events programme, which showcases the best of the Jurassic Coast. Gold residential costs vary between provider. AS-Levels are another great way to earn UCAS Points. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group. 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. It demonstrates commitment, hard-work, determination and your ability to work independently and as part of a team. It also demonstrates to Universities that you are good at learning more practical skills something that is likely to be useful in your future studying and careers. A standard distance to walk is 16km per day on Bronze, 19km per day on Silver, and 23km per day on Gold. Dorset . The residential provides participants with an opportunity to expand their horizons and pursue new and existing interests and passions. However, its more about what you have learned from it than the fact that you have done it. Dont do it just because it makes you look like a more rounded candidate. How many UCAS points do you need for Oxford? Time: 2022-12-13T18:10:06+00:00. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a fun and educational programme for young people aged 14-24. Theyre also a brilliant way to turn your hobbies into extra UCAS points without eating too much into the time you need to do well in your A-levels. 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!). With exceptions for some specific courses, DofE comes into play for that last 20% . We hope this will inspire you to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award and answer any questions you may have. It comprises of 5 days of group activities and 4 consecutive nights sleeping away from home. 10 Brilliant Ways to Get More UCAS Points - Oxford Royale If you arent sure which subjects work well when combined, take a look at this useful article which lists some good A-Level combinations. This site is owned and operated by Think Student Ltd. Any course that you have the opportunity to do which provides recognition of the fact that you have employability skills should absolutely be taken advantage of. Definitely the expeditions! Some organisations running the award may charge a fee to cover administration costs and activities may be an additional extra. Participants must work through these in turn and satisfy various criteria. 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). Theyre not employers, Scouts leaders, or your mother so they might not be hugely impressed by your ability to read a map. Learning a musical instrument can be a fun pastime, and is a great way to earn some extra UCAS Points. Silver DofE UCAS points also do not exist and so it will come as no surprise that the Bronze DofE follows the same pattern. 12 Nov DofE, how to complete your Bronze, Silver, Gold award. Remember, DofE has over 400,000 entrants every year. Cumulus Outdoors are based in Dorset and run Gold canoe and walking expeditions. Are you still using the skills you gained during your DofE programme? A slightly higher knowledge of maths might also come in useful for certain degree subjects for which A-level maths is not required, such as Geography. Pre-16 Qualifications Most courses also require that you have certain pre-16 qualifications, including GCSE Maths and English. However, some universities look at extracurricular activities favourably during the admission process. 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. 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. Your gold award in DofE isnt a golden ticket to any higher education institution that you fancy. If you are interested in doing a short volunteering course, the details of ASDANs programme are found on the ASDAN Website. Take an extra AS Level However, some universities look at extracurricular activities favourably during the admission process. Participants may also find that they enjoy the experience more than they expected and acquire new skills to write about in their UCAS personal statement too. This is another additional qualification which shows how you can develop your employability skills. Post-16 Qualifications A-levels, AS-levels, Advanced Highers, Certificates, Diplomas and Awards are all converted into UCAS points. If you have done your DofE, I would definitely mention it. Is the Duke of Edinburgh award important for university? 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. You will not receive UCAS points for completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Whilst the DofE doesn't directly impact on your UCAS application, you could use it to improve your score should you reach the higher grades of the syllabus. They will provide you with a checklist containing everything you need to bring for your time away from home. If yes, then the DofE may not be able to elevate their UCAS application much further. Stage 3 qualifications, in Riding and in Horse Knowledge and Care, give you 35 UCAS points each, as does the Preliminary Teachers Certificate (Equine Coach). I would not have even applied to do this if I had not done my DofE as it has reduced my nerves while talking to people I do not know and with assisting professionals or qualified staff members. In my personal statement, I wrote about how my experience during the Skill and Physical sections had increased my confidence and improved my fitness and swimming speed; for my physical activity, I swam at a local swimming club and gained Personal Bests. So, yes, universities do like to see a Duke of Edinburgh Award on your UCAS form, but only insofar as it tells them something about you. Making a Splash! 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. Whats more, drama requires good teamwork, so thats another useful transferrable skill youll pick up through this qualification. You will feel a huge sense of achievement when you have completed all of the sections and receive your award. Like the musical instrument exams, speech and drama exams earn UCAS points from Grade 6 upwards, with a maximum of 65 points for a distinction at Grade 8, or 90 for a PCertLAM (LAMDA Level 3 Certificate in Speech & Drama: Performance Studies). 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. There are 5 sections to complete as part of the Gold DofE award. For full courses, known as Principal Subjects, youll receive up to 145 UCAS points, while Short Courses available in Modern Foreign Languages, Mathematics and Global Perspectives attract up to 60 points. 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. It is the volunteering itself which is the useful, transferrable skill especially if you are able to volunteer somewhere which relates to your dream career (for example at a Veterinary Practice if you wanted to be a Vet). While it's standard to take three A-levels, many of the brightest students will be taking four or even five A-levels, or four . In addition, you will have to do a short presentation to a small group within your Sixth Form. If you are starting at Gold level, without completing your Silver it will take at least 18 months. 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. 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. If you think that an Access to HE Diploma is the ideal path for you, have a look at this helpful website. 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. Use DofE to make your CV and Personal Statement shine Speak to the activity provider prior to packing for your residential experience. If you would like to add your UCAS Points up online, you can use the UCAS Tariff Points Calculator. Duke of Edinburgh Award: Will it Boost My UCAS Application? - Superprof 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. What Are Some Easy GCSE Subjects and How to Make the Right Choices? No, I want to find out more. If you would like to find out more about how BTECs compare to other qualifications, take a look at this useful comparison. 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. The DofE also demonstrates many soft skills that cannot be communicated through academic grades alone. How do I add my Duke of Edinburgh to my UCAS application? In order to earn UCAS Points for volunteering, you could complete either a NOCN Diploma or Award in International Volunteering. It also gives you something to talk about on your personal statement (eg confidence). Is there anything that the award shows that you can contribute to university life? An Award of Personal Effectiveness (AoPE) from ASDAN will earn you 8 UCAS Points, and will take around 80 hours at Level 3. 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). 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. Like going away from home, on your own, and interacting with a group of your peers. Duke of Edinburgh Award UCAS Application | GoStudent You can't list it as a qualification in your education section. Unfortunately, some illusions may be shattered along the way. IP-address: 40.77.167.8. If so, youll be pleased to learn that the exams you do will give you extra UCAS points from Grade 6 upwards. Is the Duke of Edinburgh award a professional qualification? One of the problems with this way of earning UCAS Points is that the courses can be quite expensive. Benefits of DofE - The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Completing the Gold DofE award can be challenging, but it is an extremely rewarding and enjoyable experience. Generally, it would be recommended to do them in the first year if possible, to reduce your stress when it comes to your A-Level exam season. Doing the Duke of Edinburgh programme will probably have little to no impact on your university application. The number of UCAS Points that you can earn depends on whether you achieve a Pass, Merit or Distinction, and the breakdown of these scores can be found on the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) Website. 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