Ucas points?

[Lou2026]

I was just reading another post here who mentioned getting extra UCAS points for DofE and playing music.... I did not know extra UCAS points were a thing at all.

Is it? How does one know what is included and what isn't? Do you get extra points for being on this team or that etc?

We're a while off applying to universities and did certainly didn't realise it was a thing when I attended.

Any advice, thoughts welcome.

To my knowledge, it has to be an Ofqual regulated qualification. Some music grades and Speech & Drama exams (e.g. LAMDA) are regulated and carry UCAS points. I've just googled DofE and it says it doesn't give UCAS points. Here's a link to UCAS - you can enter the qualification in the box to check: https://www.ucas.com/applying/before-you-apply/what-and-where-to-study/entry-requirements/calculate-your-ucas-tariff-points

You have to be a bit careful with this because some courses won't accept extra points

You can add qualifications such as Grade 8 violin or gold D of E but in practice it makes little difference to offers as those with such are likely to be applying to unis which offer on grades not points.

Things may have points value but it's likely that most unis will state xx points over x number of a-levels or btec or whatever relevent academic qualifications they're applying with.

My ds is doing his LAMDA gold in March, we hadn’t even considered UCAS points, actually I don’t know if it does give any. But he is doing something st school called “Arts award gold” which gives some extra points. But ds wants an apprenticeship degree anyway.

Agree with all of this but some uni courses are even more specific and insist on specific grades in certain subjects even if the required UCAS total could be reached without getting that particular subject grade. You need to check chosen course offers carefully

My child gained the NLPQ (National Pool Lifeguard Qualification) which will give 8 UCAS points. Nice bonus, but not sure if it will be of any benefit until we make our uni choices

My DD had a load of UCAS points from music exams - not something anyone looked at. However she was told that if she missed her EE offer the conservatoire could restate it to a points based offer which her music exams would have easily covered. It wasn't relevant and I don't know anyone for whom the additional UCAS points were an issue.

There are no UCAS points for completing D of E. You can get UCAS points for certain music, dance and drama exam boards.

Most universities won't take them into account, however some will, especially if there are out of the ordinary circumstances.

My daughter applied to uni at age 22 after having trained as a dancer. She only took 2 A levels as she was at a residential dance school so the uni asked for details of her dance and drama grades. The conservatoire my son studies at will take ucas points from graded music exams into consideration, especially if they are at a school that does not offer A level or Btec music.

It didn't in my day, but it did mean I could earn more than my friends who were waitressing or shelf-stacking.

Do you think Rambert grades might be useful for a musician if the school doesn't offer A Level Dance? I'm still in two minds about taking formal dance exams as DD is focussing on music atm.
Her ballet is Vaganova so no points anyway.

If she is doing the standard 3 A levels then I don't think it will make any difference either way.

Thank you. I'm not sure about A Levels yet, music is a huge workload at the moment, with three instruments and lots of external commitments so probably won't be enough time, but she's not dead set on conservatoire 🤦‍♀️

This. My ds has 8 from his NPLQ and 20 from his EPQ.

Some universities want specific a'level grades, some will accept 3 a'levels and a total number of UCAS points.

There is some evidence that universities like to see applicants who are well rounded, have a'levels or equivalents, AND other UCAS points or certificates, because those individuals are have wider experience and require less pastoral care.

My ds has one offer that wants a certain number of UCAS points but he must also achieve a B or higher in Maths.

UCAS points from dance/drama/music are only really useful if you are applying for vocational type degrees that ask for points rather than grades, and are particularly useful if you are not the usual kind of applicant.

Eg someone applying as a more mature student, or a student with significant SEN without the normal A levels.

For the average 6th former doing A levels and applying for a non-related subject then it's something nice to put on the form, but unlikely to make any difference.

Also the case that for vocational degrees they have zero interest in certificates, it's all about performance at audition. Grades offer a rough guide to competence at specific skills. Lots of kids go to drama college or music degrees without a single exam certificate to their name.