How Does the Points System Work?
If you're doing any of the RED Awards, you'll need to complete the Points Submission section. This means earning 25 points from a variety of eligible activities outside your academic programme.
Points are a way of recognising your time and effort. You can earn them through:
- Volunteering, work experience, or part-time jobs
- Leadership roles
- Careers sessions and workshops
- Online learning and skills development
Our points system is flexible, so you can choose activities that suit your goals, interests, and availability.
You don’t need to complete all the activities listed. You can choose to complete activities across the different point brackets (1, 5, and 10) or focus on higher-point options – how you complete the pathway is entirely up to you.
Remember:
The purpose of the award is to challenge yourself and demonstrate how you’ve developed a broad range of skills.
The more you broaden your horizons and engage with diverse learning and activities, the more holistic and meaningful your award experience will be.
How Points Are Awarded
Points are awarded based on the level of activity and time commitment. The more time and dedication required, the more points your activity is worth.
| Points | Description |
Example of Activity |
| 1 point |
Activity lasting under an hour or a one-off event | A workshop or one-off volunteering session |
| 5 points | Short-term commitment (under 1 month) | A two-week online course or short volunteering project |
| 10 points | Significant commitment (over 1 month) | Sustained paid work, long-term volunteering, or a three-week FutureLearn course |
Guidelines For Submitting Your Activities
You can submit more than 25 points if you wish, but to ensure fairness, please follow these guidelines:
- You cannot submit repeat activities.
- Paid work or volunteering can only be counted once, even if it is ongoing, as this is already reflected in the higher points value.
- If you undertake a different paid or volunteering role, this can count as a new activity.
Award Requirements
Depending on the RED Award you choose, there are certain requirements you must fulfil:
RED Professional Development Award
- At least 1 point must be from volunteering
- At least 2 points must be from careers engagement (e.g. careers sessions, fairs, or workshops)
RED Sustainable Action Award
- All activities must link to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
RED Global Engagement Award
- All activities must have a global or cultural focus
Find out more about each RED Award on our RED Awards page
Not Sure Where Your Activity Fits?
There’s some flexibility in how activities are categorised. If your activity or learning doesn’t clearly fit into a specific section, choose the closest match and use the reflection box in the pathway to explain your submission.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please get in touch:
Careers, Carrington First Floor
0118 378 8359 | red@reading.ac.uk