UCAS Application Guide Scottish Wider Access Programme SWAPWest

UCAS Application Guide Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAPWest) 2016 -17

Applying to University Choices How to Apply Personal Statement

Choices Use the following to help you decide: SWAP Progression routes (published end of Oct) UCAS Course Search Information from individual universities: Uni website Uni prospectus Uni admissions contacts, helpdesks etc. 3

Deadlines The deadline is: 15 th January 2017 Your college deadline will be sooner so they can complete references (Dec 2016) UCAS Application Guide in Prep for HE materials Help and videos on UCAS web site. 4

UCAS Apply: www. ucas. com then click link 5

Apply and track 7 6

Register 7

Complete personal details 8

Apply through school/college 9

SWAPWest Buzzword: swapwest 2017 Buzzword is: swapwest 2017 10

Select group – your college/programme 11

UCAS welcome page 12

UCAS Application Sections 13

Personal details Personal Details… • Some filled in automatically • Provide other details, e. g. fee code usually 02 – UK • Declare any relevant criminal convictions (not spent). Additional Information… • E. g. Nationality. . . • If you have ever been in care. . . • Your family’s education background. . 14

Personal Details 15

Student Finance 16

Course / University Choices Use all 5 choices If at all feasible, choose one course per partner university (or across as many of these as possible): Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) University of Glasgow University of Stirling University of Strathclyde University of the West of Scotland Start date: Sep 2017 (can also apply for deferred place) 17 For year 1 as point of entry, UCAS advises to leave box this box blank.

Choices 18

Education 19

Education Centre name (the field will be ‘greyed out’) Click on ‘Find’ 20

Add ‘Scottish Wider Access Programme’ Perform a search for SWAP (NB: it will not be found) Click the link “My school / centre is not listed here” You will be returned to the Education page where you can then type in ‘Scottish Wider Access Programme’ in the space that was previously greyed out. 21

Education Centre name : Scottish Wider Access Programme (not listed) Centre number: 78792 22

Education Click on add qualifications, then National Units – Scotland Enter unit titles with codes, qualification date, awarding body (SQA), level (Higher etc. ) and result. 23

Employment Can add up to five employers 24

Personal Statement 25

Personal Statement – UCAS TV http: //www. ucas. tv/ucas/video/48 Mgg 26

Personal Statement Use UCAS guides and SWAPWest guides What excites you about course; how did you first get excited? Skills you have (academic/work/life), outside reading/learning, experience. Evidence! What makes you unique? Hobbies/experiences etc. Avoid flowery language, clichés, rambling, plagiarism Be authentic, positive and enthusiastic Be clear and concise, have structure, use paragraphs (e. g. punchy intro, chunky middle and end on personal touch). Proofread; it will take you many drafts! 27

Personal Statement mind map 28

Declaration, payment and sending your application Declaration When finished, agree to the declaration. Payment and referee Pay using credit or debit card (£ 24). . . and your part is done! Application is then sent automatically to your referee Form will then be sent by UCAS to your chosen universities. 29

After sending your application Universities have until early May to respond Use Track at: www. ucas. ac. uk/students/track/ Possible responses are: Response What it means Unconditional Offer University offer a place with no conditions Conditional Offer University offer a place on condition, e. g. on successful completion of SWAP with BBB profile Withdrawn If you don’t respond to offers or attend interview Unsuccessful University will not offer you a place 30

Reply to your offers: Do not reply until you have received responses from all 5 choices There’s no rush! The clock doesn’t start ticking until your final response from universities has been received. . . You may reply in one of three ways: Accept Firm Accept Insurance Decline

Reply to your offers: Consider your choices VERY CAREFULLY These are binding agreements and cannot easily be changed Firm = your first preference (regardless of entry requirements) Insurance = a course with lower entry requirements than your Firm choice, that you would still be happy to accept. This is your “plan B” or backup plan. Once you have decided on your Firm and your Insurance choices, you will “decline” the other three offers.

Further assistance Good luck! 33