The difference really between BTECs and A-Levels is the fact that BTECs are more specific. 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. Unfortunately, some illusions may be shattered along the way. Does gold DofE give UCAS points? 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 . All A Levels come with UCAS points, the maximum number for one being 56 and that would require an A* grade. Some of the subjects also offer one year courses (which could perhaps be compared to AS-Levels). 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. Unfortunately, this doesnt answer the question of whether it will get you into university. Some voccational qualifications do give UCAS points, however these are usually exams with a standardised assessment procedure. For example, being a leader at a UK-based holiday camp for disadvantaged young people. 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. Reach out to a GoStudent tutor to ensure that your child reaches their full potential on exam day. Wed say that a more appropriate description would be a Youth Award rather than a professional qualification. DofE stands for the Duke of Edinburgh Award, which was launched by Prince Philip in 1956. 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. Duke of Edinburgh Award: Will it Boost My UCAS Application? Maybe your child does not currently participate in any regular extracurricular activities. Study for a Level 3 Diploma, Certificate or Award in your spare time. 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. By the time they do a Grade 8 they can earn nearly the equivalent of an A-Level (30 UCAS points). Work experience where possible, make each one relevant to the role youre applying for, listing your achievements and responsibilities. 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). It is not only incredibly useful in terms of your University Application, but also in your future employment opportunities. It consists of a number of parts, which are: If youd like to find out more about the Skills Challenge Certificate, take a look at this page about the Welsh Baccalaureate, which explains how the qualification works. Take an extra A-level or AS-level. music exams towards music, BHS exams towards animal related courses and so on. The number of UCAS Points that you can earn are listed on the ABRSM Website. Universities dont really care whether you went to a grammar school, a standard state school, or any other type of school. The other two need only be half that length of time. They are one of the most challenging aspects as you are isolated from the outside world without mobiles or other devices. Do an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). DOFE gives you ucas points. Its important to choose a residential programme that interests you and allows you to explore your passions further. This is through a programme called DofE Direct. Can I Leave My Luggage At Edinburgh Bus Station? Gold is the final stage of the Duke of Edinburgh award. This is usually the most challenging element for participants who must trek with their tent, water and cooking supplies carried on their backs. Duke of Edinburgh can make your look great on your uni application! But of course, it changes with different qualifications - so if you get a triple distinction (DDD) for a BTEC diploma, you'll also get 144 points. 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. Dorset is one of the best places in the UK to participate in outdoor adventure activities. AS-Levels are another great way to earn UCAS Points. Its good to keep perspective however, with 330,000 students participating in the DofE in the 20/21 season its not an unusual achievement by itself. I've just applied and was able to write in my bronze, sliver and gold. . They will also usually only be counted towards specific courses, e.g. 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. A friend just told me they put 6A* and 2 A as their gcse result on ucas while his gcse result is 1*A (math) 2A and the rest are B-D. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group. 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. Qualifications as well as your academic qualifications, remember to include your DofE Award. Making a Splash! Grades 6,7,8 offer some UCAS points that you can use for your application in the future. If you wish to report an article for misleading or false information, please click here. Sure, it matters that you did something outside of the mainstream school system. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is split into four parts. If you need 144 points to do your dream university course, you'll need three A-level A grades. No, I want to find out more. 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. UCL emailed about my grade 4 in GCSE maths, please help. 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. How to apply for Duke of Edinburgh award? 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). Bronze is open to anyone aged 14 and above. Did your volunteering or skill complement a particular part of your studies? 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. Does Oxford care about Duke of Edinburgh? Its ideal if youre not keen on doing the whole A-level or AS-level in Maths, but want something more on your university application and CV to demonstrate your mathematical abilities. If you would like to find out more about the Extended Project Qualification, you can find more information here. However, some universities look at extracurricular activities favourably during the admission process. The Skills Challenge Certificate (SCC) can be taken as a standalone graded qualification for students in Wales. Is there anything that the award shows that you can contribute to university life? It is possible to progress straight to gold DofE. How did doing your DofE help prepare you for University life? What Area Of Edinburgh Does J.K. Rowling Live? All sections of the award must be completed to pass the DofE award. Young Enterprise is a programme that has been running since 1963. . There are a wide variety of people who may choose to do an Access to HE Diploma, but most commonly, they are done by people who have been out of education for a while, and who dont have the qualifications to get straight into University. Every young person can enter the award program. 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. How to Get UCAS Points (19+ Legitimate Ways). Required fields are marked *. Unfortunately, DofE does not give you UCAS points. The most obvious place to get UCAS points is from A-levels, AS-levels, and T-levels. 1 st lesson free! A Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE) Level 3 will get you 16 UCAS Points. 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). 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. Check out my post Use DofE to make your CV and Personal Statement shine for the full rundown. More information about this certificate can be found here. 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. Your email address will not be published. Benefits of DofE - The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Benefits to young people When your child does their DofE programme they'll develop the skills and attitudes they need to become more rounded, confident adults. Should you put Duke of Edinburgh Award on CV? . If you want to earn extra UCAS Points, you can take an extra Cambridge Pre-U Qualification, so that you are studying 4 courses. 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. Take an extra AS Level You should join a DofE residential as an individual without meeting participants or leaders beforehand. Does gold DofE give UCAS points? What skills and experience did you mention? Pre-16 Qualifications Most courses also require that you have certain pre-16 qualifications, including GCSE Maths and English. The details of this course can be found on the ASDAN Website. And, as you can imagine, the more hours are put in, the higher the number of UCAS Points earned is. PSHE teacher told us that watching porn is ok and healthy, UCAS Applications + Uni group discussion threads 2023 **Official Thread**, The Courtauld Institute of Art 2023 offers. The most daunting part of a UCAS application is the Personal Statement: 4000 characters to explain your suitability for higher education. Young people are eligible to start the DofE award from the age of 14. 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. 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. For example, you may want to do a diploma in Fashion, or Fitness Instructing and Personal Training. 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. 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. No. Most obviously, you can boost your number of UCAS points by taking on an extra A-level or AS-level. The DofE gives variety to a CV and is certainly an asset. Through your DofE activities you may have already demonstrated an interest in your course subject. Many employers will recognise the achievement of a DofE and the hard word that it represents. Is There A Virgin Lounge At Edinburgh Airport? How many UCAS points do you need for Oxford? It is often a good idea to consider which subject you want to take at University when you are choosing which A-Levels you should take. 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. Would they be interested in the fact that you volunteered during senior school? However, some universities look at extracurricular activities favourably during the admission process. You will not receive UCAS points for completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award. What skills and experience from the DofE would you recommend mentioning? There are plenty of activity providers offering Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. What Are Some Easy GCSE Subjects and How to Make the Right Choices? So I'm in Year 11 (going into Y12 in September) and I'm thinking of doing the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. Read the providers reviews and ensure they have appropriate accommodation and qualifications for the activities. It does not serve any purpose on your UCAS form beyond the personal statement, where you are entitled to push it hard. 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. If you are starting at Gold level, without completing your Silver it will take at least 18 months. Would an academic institution care if school pupils had walked across Cornwall for three days? It has been designed to allow you hone your specific skillset and explore the topics that matter most to you. Please try your request again later. Leave a rating. Which parts of the UCAS application can you use your DofE experience in? A Theory of Knowledge, which can earn you up to 12 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. 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. Do anyone has this happen before or how many people actually get away with this each year? Perhaps your childs school is heavily endorsing participation in the DofE which might have you wondering Is DofE important for university applications? . This article will help you understand the variety of ways which you can earn UCAS Points. 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. 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). 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. These include an incredibly popular watersports week, first aid week and festive Halloween and Christmas specials. If your childs school isnt licensed to run the DofE a local Youth Group may be. However, it may mean that you already have some UCAS Points, or that you can get UCAS Points by completing the exams (if you are already at a high level). Doing a full diploma may be a bit of a tall order alongside A-levels, but the lower qualifications should be more manageable and will still give you points to the rough equivalent of half an A-level. Cumulus Outdoors are based in Dorset and run Gold canoe and walking expeditions. 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. 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. The DofE has enormous variety and can be tailored to each persons interests. 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. 1. 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. 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. Learning a musical instrument can be a fun pastime, and is a great way to earn some extra UCAS Points. It is also a qualification which is really valued by Universities as it demonstrates your individual study skills. At the end of each level participants receive an award to recognise their achievements. But well save that question for a little while later. You will feel a huge sense of achievement when you have completed all of the sections and receive your award. All apprentices earn a specific minimum wage (details of which can be found here). 2. 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. To make sure your planned residential satisfies all of the conditions we recommend looking at the residential checklist on the dofe.org website. You will not receive UCAS points for completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award. . PQ. These qualifications are primarily designed for those who want to pursue an equestrian career, but theyre a good way for those with a passion for horses to get extra UCAS points doing something they love. DofE isn't a formal qualification. 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 equate to half of an A-Level, as you only complete the first year of the course. 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. You can earn UCAS Points from Grade 6 - Grade 8, in both instrumental and music theory exams. If you arent sure which subjects work well when combined, take a look at this useful article which lists some good A-Level combinations. Duke of Edinburgh is the initiative that takes place in secondary school across schools in England and the rest of the UK. 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). 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 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. The scheme encourages young people to try new things and step out of their comfort zone. 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. So, do universities care about the Duke of Edinburgh? For Silver this goes up to a minimum of 7 hours per day, and for Gold a minimum of 8 hours planned activity per day before setting up camp for the night. D of E Silver 0 UCAS points. 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. 0 UCAS pointsD of E Bronze 0 UCAS points. 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. Youll get 20 UCAS points if you achieve an A grade. For example, if you did photography as your skill and are now looking to enrol on a photography degree, or if your volunteering involved . 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. Meanwhile, for Gold, you need to be 16 or above (i.e. Participants and leaders can access their profile to see the activities completed in each section.Your child can even manage their DofE via the Duke of Edinburgh Award app which can be downloaded from the App store and Google Play. Although the International Baccalaureate as a whole will not earn you any UCAS Points, each component of it will. The qualifications are all about developing your volunteering skills and knowledge, and recognising the unpaid work you do for the benefit of your community. It is aimed at students aged 16 and over to allow them to develop their employability skills. /h. You amass a portfolio of evidence of the voluntary work youve done, as well as actively developing skills in a range of useful areas, such as customer service, fundraising and project management. By continuing to use our website without changing the settings, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. 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. Theyre not employers, Scouts leaders, or your mother so they might not be hugely impressed by your ability to read a map. There are lots of DofE residential providers across the UK offering a variety of activities. The International Baccalaureate is available to students aged 16-19 across the world. It can be taken alongside GCSEs or A-Levels. You can choose to simply have a greater understanding of more advanced maths. You may also want to start taking the exams, if you already have a high level of skill in playing an instrument. What are the Duke of Edinburgh Award UCAS application points? 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. Dont do it just because it makes you look like a more rounded candidate. This will vary depending on when and where you are completing your expedition. 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. 2022 GCSE Grades Explained: All Your Questions Answered Here. I keep revising for science but I always forget so how do I fix this? The difficulty level of this qualification falls somewhere between GCSE and AS-level Maths, and at the Advanced Level youll come out with the rough equivalent of an A-level module. For example, the NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Photography is worth 60 points, or 120 if you do the full diploma. The specification can be found here. There are a number of different course types that are offered as an Access to HE Diploma, including programmes in Nursing, Business and the Social Sciences. No. 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. school clubs that look good to universities, looks good on your university application. 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. Ask your school or college about undertaking these courses to up your UCAS points! Due to this, the accuracy of articles on this site cannot always be guaranteed. They are offered by Sixth Forms, and allow you to choose which subjects you want to study moving forward. If you think that an Access to HE Diploma is the ideal path for you, have a look at this helpful website. Your email address will not be published. Why Do I Have Mice In My House All Of A Sudden? They want proof of that. Summer School 2023 is filling up fast. Cumulus Outdoors Residential Centre We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our site. Why did this happen? The Duke of Edinburgh Award has a number of benefits. 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. At Cumulus Outdoors we specialise in outdoor adventure activity residentials. Theres a handy flow chart to follow to ensure youve met all of the requirements. There are 3 levels (Bronze, Silver and Gold) and a number of sections to complete. There are age restrictions for each level of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. . This is in comparison to a BTEC route, which is more specialised. The maximum age to complete the DofE Awards is 25 years old. Unfortunately though, you will not be able to get involved in this unless you are living and studying in Wales. Performance is a great confidence boost, too, thus extending your comfort zone and improving your ability to take on new challenges. At the end of the expedition, you will be required to give a presentation (written, verbal, exhibition etc. 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. Gold demands four days and three nights, with eight hours. Through your DofE activities you may have already demonstrated an interest in your course subject.