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  5. UCAS Points and Glossary of Terms

UCAS Points

UCAS tariff points translate your qualifications and grades into a numerical value, which some universities, colleges, and conservatoires may refer to in their course entry requirements. If students took their Grade 6 and/or Intermediate from 1st September 2010 (when the qualification was transferred to the Qualifications and Credit Framework), they can receive the following UCAS points.

The number of points they can get depends on how well they did in their examination (i.e. Distinction, Merit or Pass).

Grade 6 Tariff Points Intermediate Tariff Points
Distinction 12 Distinction 20
Merit 10 Merit 14
Pass 8 Pass 8


When completing the online UCAS online application form, there are multiple sections that need to be completed:

  • Selecting the subject (Dance) and then specifying the genre (e.g. Imperial Classical Ballet)
  • Inputting the qualification date as stated on the certificate
  • Selecting the awarding organisation – the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing should appear on this list
  • Selecting the grade (Distinction, Merit or Pass)

 

Equivalence of qualification levels

Level 3 Equivalent to A Level standard
Level 4 Equivalent to the first year of a degree or a Certificate of Higher Education
Level 5 Equivalent to the second year of a degree, a Diploma of Higher Education, a Foundation Degree or a Higher National Diploma
Level 6 Equivalent to the third year of an undergraduate degree 
Level 7 Equivalent to a Master’s degree or to a PGCE
Level 8 Equivalent to a Doctoral degree Merit M

 

Glossary of Terms

ADC Approved Dance Centres
APEL The formal acknowledgement, through assessment, of learning acquired from previous experience.
BAPP BA Honours in Professional Practice
BDC The British Dance Council is the governing body for all matters pertaining to all forms of Ballroom, Latin American, and Disco Freestyle dancing throughout England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.
CCEA Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment – Regulatory Body for Northern Ireland
CDE Certificate in Dance Education (level 4)
CPD Continuing Professional Development
DCELLS Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills – Regulatory Body for Wales
DDE Level 4 Diploma in Dance Education
DDI Level 3 Diploma in Dance Instruction
DTLLS The Level 5 Diploma in Teaching and Learning in the Lifelong Learning Sector is a qualification that allows the holder to progress onto Professional Formation through IfL and, if successful, then onto QTLS.
EQF The European Qualifications Framework aims to relate different countries' national qualifications systems to a common European reference framework. Individuals and employers will be able to use the EQF to better understand and compare the qualifications levels of different countries and different education and training systems.
FDI Foundation in Dance Instruction (level 3)
GTP The Graduate Teacher Programme is a teacher training programme designed for graduates that allows individuals to attain their QTS while training and working in a paid teaching role.
HE Higher Education
IfL The Institute for Learning is the professional body for teachers, tutors, trainers and student teachers in the further education and skills sector.
ISTD Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
NQF The National Qualifications Framework is the qualification framework which included all general and vocational qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland accredited since 1997. Many qualifications are now transferred to the QCF which uses a credit based system to recognise qualification size and gives a more flexible approach to learners' needs.
Ofqual The Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator –Regulatory Body for England
PGCE The Postgraduate Certificate in Education is the qualification designed for individuals with degrees who want to embark on their initial teacher training and attain their QTS.
QCF The Qualifications and Credit Framework is the unit and credit based national qualifications system for England, Wales and Northern Ireland which enables the accumulation and transfer of credits and the easy identification of each achievement’s level and size.  Only qualifications on this framework will be recognised for equivalence with other countries’ qualifications via the EQF.
QTLS Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills is the status required by teachers wishing to practice in the lifelong learning sector in England and Wales. This status is awarded by IfL after their process of Professional Formation.
QTS Qualified Teacher Status is the accreditation that enables the holder to be paid as a fully qualified teacher in state-maintained and special schools in England and Wales.
Work-based learning Work-based learning is learning that provides a flexible learning experience that is delivered through work, in work, for work. It provides individuals with an alternative to conventional study and allows them to design their programme based on their interests and needs.