Applying through UCAS 2019 - SGS College-Careers Service

Applying through UCAS 2019
        SGS College-Careers Service

Contents
By the end of this you will:

•   know the resources available to support you
•   understand how to apply
•   know when you need to submit your application
•   understand how to track your application and reply to offers

Before you apply
• Make sure you know the deadline date.

• Research – career options, universities, courses you’re
  interested in, and minimum entry requirements.

• Learn from others – watch student videos at
  www.ucas.com/tv.

Research – it’s free
•   You can make up to FIVE course choices.

•   Search tool – to look for providers, courses, and minimum entry requirements.

•   Open days and virtual tours – a great way to explore campuses and facilities.

•   Learn from others – student videos, blogs, and case studies.

•   Career options – the UCAS career finder tool is ideal for considering the options after education.

•   Refer to the ‘Higher Education Pack’ for help with choosing courses.

•   Higher Education Packs are available on http://ecampus.sgscol.ac.uk/useful-info/student-
    support/careers-advice-and-guidance/higher-education/

Making a UCAS application
Begin your application at www.ucas.com/apply.

Below are the sections that need to be completed:

•   Personal details
•   Additional information (UK only)
•   Student finance (UK and EU only)
•   Choices – make up to five choices
•   Education
•   Employment
•   Personal statement
•   Reference

Select ‘Through
                                                     my
                                                school/college

If you have NOT selected to go through the college, your tutor will not be
   able to add your reference. If you have selected to go independently,
 amend this by selecting ‘options’, and select to go through the college.

Put in the
                                                                      buzzword
                             outstanding                           ‘outstanding’
                                                                    in lower case

This now should ask you to accept South Gloucestershire & Stroud College

Make a note of your
   Personal ID,
  username and
    Password

Select the course you are studying. If you are not sure which one is
correct, ask your tutor or a Careers Adviser, otherwise your application
form will not show up in your tutors list.

02-Select if funding is
needed. Student
Finance England etc.
(tuition fee/ maintenance
loans)

Use the ‘see list’ as it
automatically selects the
   courses and codes.

September 2019

September 2020

                        Deferred entry
      If you are wanting to defer entry, then you will
      need to confirm with your chosen universities
      that it is OK to defer. (Some courses may not be
      available the following year)

Enter dates for the WHOLE
September 2016
                 time attended college, even
September 2019
                 if the Level 3 isn’t the first
                 course you have studied at
                 the college.

Date you finish/finished
                  course, i.e, June 2019

                      Add in ALL your
                      modules that you have
                      done or are going to
                      do.
                      That could be as many
                      as 18.
Date received         If you have a grade
or will receive       then put it in, i.e, Pass
grade.
                      If you DO NOT have a
                      grade yet, leave
                      BLANK!!!- Tutor will
                      put in predicted grade

Apply key facts
•   Application is entirely online.
•   Maximum of five choices.
•   Some choice restrictions:
     • for medicine, veterinary science/medicine, and dentistry
       there is a maximum of four choices
     • can only apply for either Oxford or Cambridge
•   Simple application cost:
     • one choice – £18
     • two to five choices – £24
•   Equal consideration if deadlines are met.
•   Invisibility – universities cannot see where else you have
    applied.

When to apply
6 September – completed applications can be submitted to UCAS.

15 October (18:00 UK time) – deadline for Oxford or Cambridge, and most courses
in medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine/science.

15 January (18:00 UK time) – deadline for the majority of undergraduate courses.

24 March (18:00 UK time) – deadline for some art and design courses.

30 June (18:00 UK time) – last date to submit an application before Clearing.

Personal statement
• The only section you have total control over.

• Your chance to sell yourself as an individual.
                                                     UCAS similarity detection service:
• One personal statement for all of your choices.       remember, every personal
                                                         statement is run through
• Maximum of 4,000 characters or 47 lines.           software to check for plagiarism.
• Minimum of 1,000 characters.

• No spelling or grammar check.

• No formatting, e.g. bold, italics, or underline.

Personal statement – start early
Include:
• academic achievements, past and present
• why you’re interested in the subject area
• your knowledge of the subject area
• your enthusiasm to go beyond the syllabus
• what you enjoy about studying
• details of your independent study skills

Personal statement – top tips
Universities and colleges will ask:
 • have you chosen the right subject for the right reasons?
 • can you survive in an intense and pressured atmosphere?
 • do you have a range of interests and aptitudes?
 • do you have a depth of interest in the subject?
 • have you studied independently?
 • do you appear motivated and committed?
 • do you possess good numeracy and literacy skills?

Decision-making
After receiving your application a university or college will
make one of three decisions:
  • unconditional offer
  • conditional offer
  • unsuccessful

Or they can offer a place on an alternative course.

Universities and colleges can also:
• request an interview
• ask to see your portfolio
• ask you to take an admissions test

Track your application
Track is our online system that allows you to follow the
progress of your application once it has been submitted.

• It shows your choices, offers, and personal details (you
  can update these details).
• Gives you 24/7 access via a password.
• Enables you to reply to offers online.
• You also use this system for Extra, Clearing, and
  Adjustment.

Replying to offers
Once you have decisions on all your choices, you can hold a maximum of two
offers:
      • one as a ‘firm’ acceptance – your first choice
      • the other as an ‘insurance’ acceptance; this acts as a back-up if you do not
        get into your ‘firm’ choice

You must then decline any remaining offers.

If, once all your decisions and replies have been made, you are not holding an
offer, you may be able to use Extra or Clearing to find available places.

Other options
Extra (25 Feb – 4 July)
If you have used all five choices and have no offers or have declined all offers.
You could add Extra choices for consideration one at a time.

Clearing (early July to October)
If you have no offers, have not met the conditions of an offer, or have applied after 30
June deadline.

Adjustment (up to five days mid – end August)
If you have gained better results than the conditional offer you hold, you could
apply for a different course or university.

Additional help
Contacts-Tel: 0117 9092 225
Email: careers@sgscol.ac.uk

eCampus- Student Support-Careers Advice & Guidance (careers site)
eCampus- Careersphere (careers blog)
Facebook page- SGS Careers Service

UCAS Customer Experience Centre
0371 468 0 468
Monday to Friday, 08:30 – 18:00 (UK time)
Find us online at:
www.facebook.com/ucasonline
www.twitter.com/UCAS_advisers