UCAS Application Guide

1. UCAS Application Guide • IMPORTANT • You can download this PowerPoint from the ‘November’ section of the SWAPWest Prep for HE website • Please use this PowerPoint and/or the SWAP PHE UCAS guide to complete your application • It is also important that you complete Taking Stock 2 and Personal Statement Prep for HE exercises Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAPWest) 2019-20

2. Applying to University • Choices • How to Apply • Personal Statement

3. Choices Use the following to help you decide: • SWAP Progression routes (published mid-end of Oct) • UCAS Course Search • Information from individual universities: • Website • Prospectus • Admissions contacts

4. Deadlines and advice • The UCAS deadline is: 15th January 2020 • Your college deadline will be sooner,so they can complete references (Dec 2019) • Please read Prep for HE guides and complete exercises! • Use UCAS Application guide and/or this PowerPoint • Complete Taking Stock 2 and Personal Statement exercise in Prep for HE materials • Additional help and videos on UCAS website

5. Visit:https://2020.undergrad.apply.ucas.com/appreg/SecurityServletVisit:https://2020.undergrad.apply.ucas.com/appreg/SecurityServlet Click: register

6. Accept terms and complete personal details

7. Set and take note of password IMPORTANT

8. Take noteof username then ‘log in now’Your username will appear here. Take note! IMPORTANT

9. Apply ‘through school/college’

10. SWAPWest Buzzword: swapwest2020 Buzzword is: swapwest2020

11. Select ‘Yes’- registering through SWAPWest

12. Select group – college/programme

13. UCAS welcome page (Note Personal ID and Verify email) IMPORTANT IMPORTANT

14. Verify your e-mail address: open a new browser window or tab and check the email you used to register. Make a note of the verification code sent to you, then return to the UCAS page and click the link shown.

15. UCAS welcome page:you will now be directed to the UCAS welcome page where your Personal ID will be shown again. Watch the video and begin your application.

16. UCAS Application Sections:Now you can begin filling in your application. The pages you need to complete are listed in the panel on the left-hand side of the page. Work your way through each of these pages, marking them complete as you go. NB: You may skip around and complete them out of order, if you wish. You may also pause your application and return to complete it some other time; UCAS will save your progress.

17. Personal details Personal Details… • Some filled in automatically • Provide other details, e.g. fee code usually 02 – UK, then… • Select ‘Student AA Scotland’ • Disabilities (if none, select ‘none’) Additional Information… • E.g. Nationality, if have been in care • Preparation for Higher Education Activities – leave blank (SWAP Prep for HE not listed)

18. Personal Details

19. Student Finance support: UK and EU nationals select Fee code 02 / Student AA Scotland

20. Additional Information

21. Student Finance

22. Course / University Choices • Use up to 5 choices – ideally 5 spread across different universities • Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) • University of Glasgow • University of Stirling • University of Strathclyde (only apply for one social science choice!!!) • University of the West of Scotland (UWS) • Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) • Start date: Sept 2020 (can also apply for deferred place) • For year 1 as point of entry, UCAS advises to leave box this box blank.

23. Choices - Have choices/codes ready! DOUBLE CHECK COURSE CODES ON UNI WEBSITES REMEMBER TO SAVE AFTER EACH CHOICE

24. Education

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

26. Search for SWAP • Perform a search for “Scottish Wider” nb. SWAP West and SWAP East will appear in the drop down box • Click “Scottish Wider Access Programme, West”

27. You will now be able to enter the start/end dates, qualification and attendance details.Start and end dates for your SWAP course are provided by your college (usually Aug-Jun)Indicate that you have been full-time and that you will receive a formal qualification at the endClick SAVE

28. You will receive two warning signs. This is fine: SWAP does not have an exam centre number. Your finish date will be in the future. Click SAVE and return to the main qualifications page (see next screen)

29. Education • Click on add qualifications

30. Education • Click National Units – Scotland

31. Education • Enter unit titles withcodes, qualification date, awarding body (SQA), level (National 5/Higher) and result (usually Pending). • Click on ‘save and add similar’ to add another unit. • Click ‘save’ after you have entered all units to be returned to the main Education page.

32. Employment • Can add up to five employers • If you have none to add, mark section as complete

33. Personal Statement IMPORTANT • Complete PHE Personal Statement exercise! • Include in your introduction: ‘I am a SWAP Access to _________ student’ • Do not plagiarise! • Create personal statement as a Word document then copy and paste your final draft into this field.

34. Personal Statement (and other) advice on UCAS videos: www.ucas.com/connect/videos

35. Personal Statement • 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!

36. Example structure (middle - in no particular order) Introduction – be original, honest and interesting! What attracted you to subject and why. Mention that you are a SWAP student and state your programme! Academic paragraph- knowledge and skills gained through SWAP/other studies. What subjects have you enjoyed most and why? Give examples. Mention study skills you have gained (e.g. writing, presentations etc.) Subject interest– add to introduction, subject interest outside classroom. What ideas raised in the books/documentaries/lectures have you found interesting, and why. Skills from life/work/experience – Include skills/attributes that will make you a successful student and good at your future profession. Hobbies/interests– Important to show your personality. You could contribute through clubs/societies. State how they have helped you. Conclusion – Sum up why you want to do subject and why you are suitable. Could mention future career aspirations.

37. Preparation • Complete SWAP PHE exercise • Consult university course webpages (and job profile webpages) • Think of skills required • Make a rough list of points to include, remembering to cover all courses • Be prepared to write many drafts! • How to write • Start writing early • Rough bullet points or a mind map • Find a structure to arrange paragraphs • Important information near beginning • Introduction should capture reader • Conclusion reinforce enthusiasm • DO NOT PLAGIARISE Personal Statement mind map • What to include (academic) • SWAP programme you are studying • Why you are applying • Communicate understanding of course • The subjects you are studying • Academic skills you are developing • E.g. academic writing, referencing, critical thinking, group work etc. • What to include (non-academic) • Positions you have held • Relevant/transferrable skills (give examples) • Relevant experiences and training • Qualities that set you apart and show can cope with university level study • Achievements and hobbies

38. Declaration, payment and sending your application Declaration You will be asked to tick the box ‘I agree to allow details of my application and its progress to be shared with my school/college/centre.’ It is necessary to tick this box otherwise SWAP cannot see the progress of your application. Failure to share information with SWAP can prevent SWAP sending confirmation that you have completed the SWAP programme to your chosen universities, resulting in no offer. When finished, agree to the declaration. Payment and referee • Pay using credit or debit card (£25)...and your part is done! • Application is then sent automatically to your referee • Form will then be sent by UCAS to your chosen universities.

39. After sending your application • Universities have until early May to respond • Use Track at: www.ucas.ac.uk/students/track/ • Possible responses are:

40. Reply to your offers • Do not reply until you have received responses from all of your 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

41. 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.

42. Further assistance Good luck!