At Projects Abroad, we believe school trips should inspire and empower students and provide lasting academic benefits. Through our collaboration with an academic partner, we now offer schools the opportunity to integrate accredited academic qualifications into their trips.
Through our partnership with the Centre for Global Citizenship Studies, students can earn UK-accredited diplomas worth 16 UCAS points or 9 US college credits, transforming their travel experiences into powerful additions to their academic profiles—all with minimal effort required from teachers or schools.
Why add academics to school trips?
School trips are already life-changing, but combining them with an academic framework makes them even more impactful. Imagine a student predicted to achieve BBB at A-Level. By completing this programme and earning 16 additional UCAS points, their overall score will rise to AAB—a change that significantly improves their university prospects.
Students not only gain extra UCAS points but also a global experience and a recognised diploma that complements their university applications. It’s the perfect package—academic excellence, global perspective, and a standout qualification—all delivered seamlessly alongside their school trip. It’s a straightforward way for schools to enhance student outcomes, improve metrics, and offer something unique. It’s a no-brainer!
For schools, this tangible improvement in outcomes enhances your reputation, attracts more families, and reinforces your position as a leader in educational innovation.
Benefits for schools
Adding an academic framework to your school trips brings significant benefits:
- Improved metrics and rankings: The framework directly impacts your school’s most important metrics. Higher grades and improved university acceptance rates boost your school’s national ranking, showcasing your commitment to excellence.
- Increased appeal to families: Offering a globally recognised qualification alongside a travel experience demonstrates your dedication to student success, making your school more attractive to prospective families.
- Enhanced university outcomes: Adding 16 UCAS points to a student’s portfolio can turn a good application into a great one, increasing the number of students accepted into top-tier universities.
- Cost-effective innovation: This programme is an affordable way to add value to your school trips. It delivers measurable results without requiring major changes to your existing processes.
- Teacher-friendly implementation: Delivered asynchronously online, the framework requires minimal teacher input. Academic tutors from CGCS will support students throughout the diploma course, allowing educators to focus on supporting students during the trip without adding workload.
Benefits for students
Students participating in the programme enjoy life-changing opportunities that combine academics with adventure:
- Boosted university applications: Earning an additional 16 UCAS points gives students a competitive edge, demonstrating academic achievement, global engagement, and the ability to balance practical and theoretical learning.
- Holistic development: By combining immersive travel with structured online learning, students gain academic and real-world skills that prepare them for higher education and future careers.
- A unique differentiator: Completing an accredited qualification while travelling sets students apart, highlighting initiative, adaptability, and a commitment to personal growth.
Related article: How volunteering can boost your UCAS application.
Transform your school’s outcomes
Adding an academic framework to your school trips is more than just an enhancement—it’s a transformation. Students gain essential skills, improved grades, and stronger university prospects. Schools benefit from improved performance metrics, higher rankings, and a reputation for innovation and excellence.
By combining academic structure with global experiences, this programme positions your school as a leader in modern education—equipping students for success while strengthening your institutional appeal. Schools can demonstrate measurable success in academic and personal growth, showcasing how they’re preparing students for a competitive, interconnected world.
The programme also provides students with lifelong skills extending far beyond the classroom. It fosters critical thinking, adaptability, and global awareness—highly valued qualities in today’s universities and workplaces. By integrating this programme into your school trips, you’re investing in the future of your students and your institution, ensuring both achieve excellence at every level.
Whether you’re looking to boost your students’ outcomes or your school’s profile, this academic framework offers a proven, low-cost solution that delivers measurable results.
Want to learn more about our Diploma in International Volunteering?
Contact us today to speak to one of our group specialists! They will be happy to answer any questions you may have and help you take the first step towards organising the trip of a lifetime.
