The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award. Home.
The second award · Grade 9

Silver

More distance. More challenge. Discover more of you.

  • Year groupGrade 9
  • Duration26 weeks
  • Expedition3 days, 2 nights
  • WhereSwitzerland
An expedition team walks a stony mountain track beneath a steep ridge line, washed in Silver blue

You know how
this works. Show it.

Silver is the natural next step for students who have completed their Bronze Award. Open to Grade 9 students, the Silver Award raises the bar across every section: longer commitments, a more demanding expedition and a greater expectation that you are driving your own journey. By this point you know how the programme works. Silver is about showing what you can do with that.

The four sections

Same sections.
Higher standard.

The same four sections apply at Silver level, but with increased time commitments and a higher standard of personal reflection and goal setting.

  • Volunteering

    Your volunteering at Silver should reflect genuine growth since Bronze. You are expected to take on more responsibility, work more independently and contribute in a way that has real impact. The same broad categories apply, but your SMART goal should stretch you further than it did at Bronze.

  • Physical

    Build on what you started. At Silver, progression is key. You should be able to demonstrate clear improvement over a sustained period. Whether you continue with the same activity from Bronze or choose something new, the commitment and the evidence of development need to be stronger.

  • Skill

    Silver expects a deeper level of engagement with your chosen skill. If you are continuing from Bronze, you should be working towards a more ambitious goal. If you are starting something new, you will need to show genuine commitment and measurable progress.

  • Adventurous Journey

    The Silver expedition is three days and two nights, navigating as a self sufficient team in a natural environment. There is a practice expedition and a qualifying expedition. Both take place in Switzerland, as part of a combined nine day residential trip held after your Final MYP Exams.

Six students line up shoulder to shoulder in expedition kit, long shadows stretching towards the camera, washed in Silver blue
Ready to walk · every journey starts in training

What does the programme look like?

As with Bronze, Silver participants take part in a dedicated weekly ECA programme at NLCS Dubai. Sessions support your activity sections, build on your expedition training and help you maintain your Online Record Book (ORB). By Silver, you are expected to be more independent in managing your own progress.

How long does it take?

The Silver Award takes a minimum of 26 weeks to complete for students progressing from Bronze or 52 weeks for direct entrants. Direct entry without a Bronze Award is possible only in exceptional circumstances and is not the standard route through our programme.

How do I sign up?

Silver is
by invitation.

Once you have completed your Bronze Award, your DofE Coordinator will be in touch about next steps. You do not need to apply independently.

Start with Bronze What comes after Silver