The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is an international non-formal education program for middle and high school students. It helps develop leadership, responsibility, independence, and the skills needed for adult life.
How the Program Works
Students complete one of three levels, depending on their age and readiness to take on more challenging goals.
Bronze Award — 6 months The first level for students taking their first steps in their own long-term projects.
Silver Award — 12 months The next stage: greater independence, more challenging tasks, and deeper work toward personal goals.
Gold Award — 18 months The highest level: large-scale initiatives, long-term projects, and a high level of responsibility.
What the Program Opens Up for a Child
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is not just a school activity, but an internationally recognized credential in a student’s portfolio. It is equally recognized by university admissions committees, recruiters at global companies, and scholarship program organizers.
The idea is simple: the Award confirms that a child has real experience with long-term projects — volunteering, sports, skills development, and an expedition. It is not just a line on a résumé, but a set of concrete experiences that can form the foundation of a strong motivation letter, an interview conversation, or a grant application.
Where it matters:
- University admissions — the UK, US, Canada, Australia, the EU, Asia. Top universities have long looked beyond grades to experience outside the academic curriculum.
- Career starts — graduate programs at international companies (Deloitte, EY, PwC, McKinsey, Google, Microsoft, and others) assess candidates based on competencies that the Award specifically develops.
- Scholarships and grants — program participants have access to Award partner opportunities in different countries.
- International community — more than one million active participants in over 120 countries. Contacts and a network that stay with a person for years after school.
Beyond the résumé, the program builds inner resources: the ability to set goals, manage time, and see a project through to completion. These are skills a child can take to any university in the world and use to become independent from day one.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award at A+
A+ Education Holding has officially implemented the program since 2025.
- Official accreditation from The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award
- More than 40 program participants during the 2025/26 academic year
- 11 completed Bronze Awards during the 2025/26 academic year
- Certified coordinators and mentors
- Our own volunteering, sports, and research project case studies
- Student participation in the international Award community
International Recognition
In July 2025, London The A+ Education Holding team visited the headquarters of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award and met with the program’s leadership. During the official visit, A+ student Dominika Chernushenko (Former AEC School President) presented her own experience of completing the Bronze level of the program. In particular, she shared her initiative of visiting military personnel in a hospital (including organizational details and feedback from the service members) and her approach to completing the “physical recreation” section while taking into account the demanding schedules of modern high school students.
Dominika received advice on optimizing the reporting process and creating SMART goals that actually work. She also heard inspiring stories about the journeys of Gold Award holders, including the Duke of Edinburgh. This is another example of how A+ students become part of a global educational community while still at school.
Four Areas of Development
VolunteeringStudents take part in social and charitable initiatives that have a real impact on society. Examples from A+ participants include:
- a campaign to collect and recycle plastic waste
- supporting wounded military personnel in a hospital
- supporting people in need of food assistance
- other social and humanitarian initiatives
Sport The program helps develop endurance, discipline, and consistency through physical activity. Activities chosen by students include running, dancing, fencing, participating in competitions, and other pursuits.
Skills Students choose a skill they want to develop systematically over an extended period: singing, playing musical instruments, cooking courses, and creative or technical fields.
Expedition One of the key stages of the program is a team-based scientific or research expedition. Examples from A+ participants include an expedition to a settlement to study the linguistic characteristics of the region and collect information from local residents, as well as practicing orienteering. Each expedition involves preparation: assembling a first-aid kit, setting up a tent, and working with a compass and map.
What Skills the Program Develops
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award develops competencies that international universities and global companies are looking for today:
leadership · teamwork · adaptability · innovation mindset · goal setting · self-management · critical thinking · resilience
Mentoring Support
Program participants work with teachers and coordinators who have completed additional training from The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. Mentors help students:
- set goals
- build an individual development plan
- support students throughout all stages of the program
- maintain motivation and encourage reflection
Specialists from various sports and volunteer organizations are also involved to ensure that participants have the highest-quality experience possible.
Why It Matters Today
The world is changing faster than school curricula. Universities and employers increasingly value real-world project experience, social engagement, the ability to work with others, initiative, and the ability to see things through to results. The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award helps students gain this experience while they are still at school.
