Duke of Edinburgh's
International Award

About the Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is the world’s leading youth achievement award, operating in over 140 countries and territories around the globe. The names of individual operating authorities often differ from nation to nation, but the Award and its unique reputation with employers, policy makers and leaders in society remain unchanged and consistent.

To date, over 8 million young people have started their Award and begun their journey to a brighter future.

Who Can Participate

The Award is available to all young people aged 14 to 24. It is voluntary, non-competitive, enjoyable and balanced, and requires sustained effort over time. The Award encourages young people to design their own program of activities, set their own goals and challenge themselves to achieve their aims.

Three Levels of the Award

At each of the three levels of the award – Bronze, Silver and Gold – participants are required to complete four sections: Service, Skill, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey. Gold level participants also complete a Residential Project.

Participants must be 14 years of age to begin Bronze. At this level participants must demonstrate an ongoing and consistent commitment in service, Skill and Physical Recreation for a minimum of 3 months. They must also select one of these sections to pursue for an additional 3 months. The Adventurous Journey or Expedition is 2 days and 1 night. The Bronze level takes a minimum of 6 months to complete.

Participants must be at least 15 years of age to begin Silver. At this level participants must demonstrate consistent commitment in Service, Skill and Physical Recreation for a minimum of 6 months. An additional 6 months on a section of choice is required for Direct Entrants. The Adventurous Journey is 3 days and 2 nights. It takes a minimum of 6 months to achieve the Silver level for those who are Bronze Award Holders or 12 months for those who go directly into Silver.

Participants must be at least 16 years of age to begin the Gold level. Participants must demonstrate consistent commitment in Service, Skill and Physical Recreation for a minimum of 12 months. An additional 6 months on a section of choice is required for Direct Entrants. The Adventurous Journey is 4 days and 3 nights and the additional Residential Project is 5 days and 4 nights. This level takes a minimum of 12 months to achieve for Silver Award Holders or 18 months for those who go directly into Gold.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award at AIS

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award was launched in February 2016, with 27 students signing up to participate at Bronze Level. In June 2016, 22 students successfully completed their Practice Adventurous Journey in the Ardennes in Belgium. Fifteen of these students then went on to complete their Qualifying Adventurous Journey in Luxembourg in September 2016. Since 2016 students have undertaken Adventurous Journeys in Houffalize, the Hautes Fagnes/Hoge Venen in Belgium and Mullerthal in Luxembourg.

Membership of the International Award currently stands at 50 students with two students having successfully completed their Bronze Awards. Weekly meetings take place after school, providing students an opportunity to discuss their progress with Award Leaders and to collaboratively plan and train for their Adventurous Journeys.