This makes them useful qualifications for life in an office, not just on the stage: clear communication is essential for interacting with customers and colleagues. Writing about the course. 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. Most obviously, you can boost your number of UCAS points by taking on an extra A-level or AS-level. University of California, Berkeley (ages 15-18), 10 Brilliant Ways to Get More UCAS Points. 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. 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. 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. Unfortunately, this doesnt answer the question of whether it will get you into university. You can gain up to 50 extra UCAS points and help out a good cause by taking an ASDAN Community Volunteering Qualification. The test includes reading, writing, listening and speaking elements. 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. What the DofE does show to universities, however, is that you are committed: committed to learning new skills, committed to developing yourself beyond the classroom. No. Horse-Riding is another fun way to earn UCAS Points, which does not have an especially academic basis. The Best Free Homeschooling Resources UK Parents Need to Start Using Today. Grades 6,7,8 offer some UCAS points that you can use for your application in the future. Does Gold DofE get UCAS points? Standard Level, which can earn you up to 28 Points. They want proof of that. As a Gold Award holder, I also recommend including details of your residential and explaining that you did not know anyone but still managed to complete the activities while challenging yourself, learning new skills and making new friends. 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. 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. It has been designed to allow you hone your specific skillset and explore the topics that matter most to you. Reach out to a GoStudent tutor to ensure that your child reaches their full potential on exam day. The DofE has most definitely built my self-esteem to be able to apply for things I would otherwise not have done. In this article, well be answering some key questions that you have about the Duke of Edinburgh award, and referring to it as DofE for short. They will also usually only be counted towards specific courses, e.g. Did any of your DofE activities inspire you to pursue a particular field of study? Unfortunately, some illusions may be shattered along the way. It's not uncommon for the most promising students to take four or even five A-levels, with an extra AS-level on top. 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. 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. Each level of the DofE becomes increasingly more challenging, with more time required for each section. Summer School 2023 is filling up fast. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Whats the Best Age to Start Swimming Lessons? For example, if you did photography as your skill and are now looking to enrol on a photography degree, or if your volunteering involved . Rather, as we discussed in our piece on the school clubs that look good to universities, its much more about what you do with it. No UK university will ever care whether you did DofE or not. DofE stands for the Duke of Edinburgh Award, which was launched by Prince Philip in 1956. If you arent sure which subjects work well when combined, take a look at this useful article which lists some good A-Level combinations. Beyond that, its a way of showing employers that you have a superb command of the English language, which youll need in order to be able to communicate effectively with colleagues and customers when working in a business. No. The UCAS Points System can be confusing, and it is a useful thing to understand when applying to Universities. BH19 2PX, Outdoor Adventure School Residential Trips in Dorset. 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. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our site. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a fun and educational programme for young people aged 14-24. What Is The Duke of Edinburgh Award UCAS Application Connection? Participating in DofE can help you demonstrate that you possess the skills needed to excel in further education or your chosen career. The Skills Challenge Certificate (SCC) can be taken as a standalone graded qualification for students in Wales. If you would like to find out more about the Extended Project Qualification, you can find more information here. Silver DofE UCAS points also do not exist and so it will come as no surprise that the Bronze DofE follows the same pattern. Does gold DOFE give UCAS points? 3 Is gold DofE good for Is Gold Dofe Worth Ucas Points? Do you play a musical instrument? music exams towards music, BHS exams towards animal related courses and so on. You may also want to have a look at some Universities entry requirements, which often list preferred A-Levels. Cumulus Outdoors Residential Centre 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.. However, some universities look at extracurricular activities favourably during the admission process. This site is owned and operated by Think Student Ltd. Just as you can earn UCAS points for graded musical instrument exams, so you can accumulate them by taking exams in speech and drama. DofE isn't a formal qualification. Debate with GF/BF: TSR votes will decide! It shows them too that you are an independent person who can look after themselves and who isnt just their exam results. The Duke of Edinburghs Award is a registered charity in England and Wales (1072490) and Scotland (SC038254). The bronze award should take participants 26 weeks. Naturally, some groups will do less than this, and others more. 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. Required fields are marked *. Dorset is one of the best places in the UK to participate in outdoor adventure activities. 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! Usually, you get much less freedom to decide where you are going and when than this suggests. These are the sorts of questions that you are going to have to ask yourself in relation to your DofE. During this time our team have become well versed in all things DofE and have gained an excellent understanding of the various sections that make up the scheme. Your email address will not be published. The qualifications are all about developing your volunteering skills and knowledge, and recognising the unpaid work you do for the benefit of your community. Through your DofE activities you may have already demonstrated an interest in your course subject. D of E Gold 0 UCAS points. ), which details how you accomplished your aims. 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. How do I add my Duke of Edinburgh to my UCAS application? It helped me to be confident and go for things I would have only dreamed of before doing the DofE. They equate to half of an A-Level, as you only complete the first year of the course. 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. Many students consider taking more than the standard three AS/A-Levels, or they will take an A Level course on top of their core T-Level. 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 would like to find out more about how BTECs compare to other qualifications, take a look at this useful comparison. The Duke of Edinburghs International Award. It should be something you are interested in and be suitable for completing in wild country without external help. 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!). So, no, you cant just do the expedition. Sure, it matters that you did something outside of the mainstream school system. 12657283. The elements of each persons DofE can vary widely, depending on how they choose to complete their sections. What Area Of Edinburgh Does J.K. Rowling Live? Some organisations running the award may charge a fee to cover administration costs and activities may be an additional extra. How Often Does Edinburgh Tram Go To Airport? Subject areas you can choose from for the Free-standing Mathematics Qualification include Additional Maths, Using and Applying Statistics, Working with Algebraic and Graphical Techniques, and Modelling with Calculus. 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. Please try your request again later. . You can do some in depth research about a subject that interests you, to then write a 5,000 word essay, which will answer a question that you have set yourself. Meanwhile, for Gold, you need to be 16 or above (i.e. Making a Splash! The thing about these timings is that if only one of the three sections has to be this long. 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. Cumulus Outdoors are based in Dorset and run Gold canoe and walking expeditions. Do universities like Duke Edinburgh Award? A Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE) Level 3 will get you 16 UCAS Points. 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! You can gain confidence in speaking, writing and listening, which will all be incredibly useful skills. 20. This article will help you understand the variety of ways which you can earn UCAS Points. A standard distance to walk is 16km per day on Bronze, 19km per day on Silver, and 23km per day on Gold. The platform that connects students with their private tutors, The best Academic tutoring tutors available. Time: 2022-12-13T18:10:06+00:00. 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 does not serve any purpose on your UCAS form beyond the personal statement, where you are entitled to push it hard. Cobblers Lane I've just applied and was able to write in my bronze, sliver and gold. 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. Young Enterprise is a programme that has been running since 1963. They generally have a more vocational basis, which allows you to develop useful employability skills in the subject that you have chosen to study. Contents show 1 How many UCAS points is gold DofE? We recommend speaking with your expedition provider. You would take these at Sixth Form instead of A-Levels. Take an extra AS Level 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. 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. The Gold DofE expedition should take place over 4 days and 3 nights. 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. Apprenticeships are a great way to get qualified while also earning a wage. It does not serve any purpose on your UCAS form beyond the personal statement, where you are entitled to push it hard. They want to see that you are interested in the subject to which you are applying. 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. How did doing your DofE help prepare you for University life? 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 . The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, presents the award but thats about the only role he has in the whole thing. 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. The specification can be found here. 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. 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. 23km per dayHow far do you walk on DofE? 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. 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. What skills and experience from the DofE would you recommend mentioning? You must be at least 16 years old. Further information about both the Diploma and the Award can be found on the NOCN Website. 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. Read More Read our tips for how to talk about your DofE in your personal statement. Gold demands four days and three nights, with eight hours. An Award of Personal Effectiveness (AoPE) from ASDAN will earn you 8 UCAS Points, and will take around 80 hours at Level 3. 1. 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. For Bronze, the expedition has to be two days and one night, with six hours of activity on each day. How to: include DofE in your UCAS personal statement. For Silver, this extends to three days and two nights, with seven hours on each day. 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. This is through a programme called DofE Direct. Definitely the expeditions! Silver DofE UCAS points also do not exist and so it will come as no surprise that the Bronze DofE follows the same pattern. 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). Never consider sources in isolation and always do your own independent research before making decisions. Speak to the activity provider prior to packing for your residential experience. If you are starting at Gold level, without completing your Silver it will take at least 18 months. Take an extra A-level or AS-level. You will not receive UCAS points for completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Are Rugby Bin Collectors Still On Strike? DofE can help young people discover new hobbies and talents. Copyright 2022 Think Student Ltd. Company No. At Award and Certificate level (Level 3), these qualifications give you 30 and 50 points respectively. 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. 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. If you want to find out more about the types of apprenticeship that you can do, take a look at the UCAS Website. 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. 1 st lesson free! It is offered by OCR, and combines aspects of GCSE maths with AS and A-Level Maths. No, I want to find out more. 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. 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. Dorset Cumulus also runs bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh walking and kayaking expeditions. Theres a handy flow chart to follow to ensure youve met all of the requirements. does gold dofe give ucas points. It usually takes around 1 year to complete, but can be done on a part-time basis over a few years to suit you. I am not a robot. You will feel a huge sense of achievement when you have completed all of the sections and receive your award. Many schools, colleges and universities deliver the DofE programme and this can be very convenient for students to integrate into their studies. There are no scores or grades, participants either pass or not. Is the Duke of Edinburgh award important for university? Joining a group of new people, staying in accommodation overnight for several days away from home doing valuable work. All Rights Reserved. What are the Duke of Edinburgh Award UCAS application points? It comprises of 5 days of group activities and 4 consecutive nights sleeping away from home. 6 years ago. 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. Enjoyed this article? Copyright The Student Room 2023 all rights reserved. . You will not receive UCAS points for completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award. These components are: If you would like to find out more about the International Baccalaureate and how it works, information about the Diplo. Why did this happen? These include volunteering, physical activity, skills, expedition and a residential. PQ. However, perhaps not to the degree that you might expect. Does Gold DofE get UCAS points? 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. 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. 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. Cumulus Outdoors offer a number of DofE gold residential programmes in Dorset. There are many ways to participate in the Gold DofE Award. 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. These qualifications are an excellent addition to the university applications of those whose native language isnt English, as theyre a respected way of proving that you can use English to an exceptional level, including specifically for an academic context. 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 DofE also demonstrates many soft skills that cannot be communicated through academic grades alone. Additional academic qualifications will make your university application look more impressive to admissions tutors, particularly when you choose to take on additional high-powered subjects on the list of facilitating subjects; but theres plenty to be said for these more vocational qualifications as well. No. Are you still using the skills you gained during your DofE programme? What happens if you sleep hungry on your period? In this case, the most recent qualification (and therefore the most relevant) is the one that gains you UCAS Points. If you have done your DofE, I would definitely mention it. 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. AS-Levels are another great way to earn UCAS Points. To help you with your planning, weve created a helpful guide containing a list of frequently asked Gold DofE questions. 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. The scheme encourages young people to try new things and step out of their comfort zone. Youll find out more below. school clubs that look good to universities, looks good on your university application. Unfortunately, DofE does not give you UCAS points. There are a number of criteria that must be met in order to complete your DofE Gold expedition. 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. 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! 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. Anything else youd like to add? The bronze award should take participants 26 weeks. An Extended Project Qualification (or EPQ) is a great way of adding to your UCAS Points. Aiming to encourage a spirit of adventure and discovery, you have to plan, train for, and complete an adventurous journey somewhere in the UK or abroad. Some of the subjects also offer one year courses (which could perhaps be compared to AS-Levels). First decide what does worth it mean to your child? 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. /h. Most obviously, you can boost your number of UCAS points by taking on an extra A-level or AS-level. They are offered by Sixth Forms, and allow you to choose which subjects you want to study moving forward. But well save that question for a little while later. What skills and experience did you mention? If i drop a subject can universities withdraw my offer? Unfortunately though, you will not be able to get involved in this unless you are living and studying in Wales. You never know, it could make a difference in getting into your first-choice university and you never know where that could take you! Performance is a great confidence boost, too, thus extending your comfort zone and improving your ability to take on new challenges. If you are interested in doing a short volunteering course, the details of ASDANs programme are found on the ASDAN Website. Completing the Gold DofE award can be challenging, but it is an extremely rewarding and enjoyable experience. How to apply for Duke of Edinburgh award? 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. I also have more confidence to help me succeed. Does Gold DofE get UCAS points? . Remember, DofE has over 400,000 entrants every year. It doesn't give you that many points however. Has anybody accepted university offers so far in 2023? To count towards your Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award the residential must be away from home and last for at least 4 nights and 5 consecutive days. You'll likely want to focus the first 80% of your personal statement on your specific course and why you want to study it. 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. 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. 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. 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. Do you feel like the achievement award taught you how to deal with challenge? Employers and higher education establishments value the award and its an excellent talking point in interviews. How to Teach Your Kids Times Tables + Free Times Table Chart! Did your volunteering or skill complement a particular part of your studies? There are age restrictions for each level of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Andy98. Improve your Mathematics with a Free-standing Mathematics Qualification. 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. Your DofE Award is a fantastic way to demonstrate and evidence these skills in practice. There is no minimum distance to cover, however there must be 8 hours of planned activity each day to satisfy the expedition requirements. 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).