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UCAS Apply Notes/apply

Contents:

Introduction

First Steps

Log On

Logged In

Courses

Education

Employment

About You

Personal Statement

Status of your Form

Send to Referee

Checking the Progress

What Happens Next?

Introduction

  • UCAS Apply is the most direct way of sending your application form to UCAS. You fill out your information online and send it straight to UCAS via the internet.
  • Application can be done anywhere: home, school, library, etc.
  • Students for this academic year should select 2008 entry.

  1. Log on to
  1. Select the Student Login 2008 Entry

First Steps

  • You need to register first by clicking on Register.
  • Use the buzzword Swanswell to register.
  • Enter details into the appropriate boxes.
  • Username is assigned and password and memorable phrase is created by you. Remember them otherwise write these down.

  1. Click on Register.
  1. Follow the on screen instructions by clicking on next.
  1. Accept the declaration otherwise close the browser.
  1. Registerwith a school/college
  1. Enter the buzzword SWANSWELL [case sensitive]
  1. Click on Sidney Stringer Mathematics and Computing SpecialistSchool

Log On

  1. Enter your username and password.

  • If you have forgotten your password Mrs Chennells can give you a new password.
  • The Internet Explorer window does not have buttons such as Next, Back, Stop. [It is imperative that you do not use these buttons for security reasons] Use the ones shown on web site instead.
  • The ‘Help’ button is always available at the bottom of the screen.
  • Unsuccessful login attempts results in your account can become ‘locked’. See Mrs Chennells to unlock your account.
  • Shutting down the window instead of pressing log out, results in your account becoming locked. To log back in, login as normal however you will be presented with a message of ‘You are already logged in’. Clicking on log in will allow you back into your account.
  • If you do not use the account for one hour, while logged in, you will automatically be logged out.

Logged In

  1. You will be presented with the following screen:

  1. To start completing your UCAS form click on the relevant button which you wish to enter. They can be completed in no particular order; therefore you can complete the section on About You.
  1. You will need to indicate whether each section is completed before it can be sent to the referee.
  • The View All Button allows you to show all of your application form.
  • To go back to this screen if you are a different section click on the green UCAS Apply logo on the left hand side at the top of screen. It will bring you back to this menu.

Courses

  • In this section you need to enter the courses which you wish to study at University.
  • If you know the institution, course and, if applicable, the campus code, these can be entered directly into the relevant boxes otherwise you need to click the '?' button to help you make your selection.

Enter each choice on a separate line. Start from the top and work your way down.

If you want to apply for more than one course at the same university or college, you must enter each course on a separate line.

Each university and college will only have the details of the course or courses that you have applied for at the university or college. They will not know your other choices until much later.

If you have made a mistake or need to remove a choice, simply delete the text.

You can choose up to five choices however for those applying to Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine or Veterinary Science courses you can only have up to four choices in any of these subjects.

If you are applying for medicine, dentistry, nursing and midwifery and certain other health courses, UK health authorities recommend you should be immunised against Hepatitis B when you start training. Institutions may also ask you for certificates to show that you are not infected. If you are applying for one or more of these subjects, you should check the immunisation requirements with the universities and colleges you have chosen.

There is an early closing date of 15 October 2007 if you apply for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or veterinary science. This means that your application must be sent before this date – however teachers must also add references to your applications.

Therefore you must allow time for completion of your reference
before this date.

  1. Select your course.
  2. Select the institution.
  3. Choose campus where necessary.
  4. For each one you will need to choose Year of Entry, Defer Entry? or Live at Home?
  5. Click on Save if you wish to continue working at a later date otherwise if you have finished your choices click on finished. Your form will be saved and the section will be marked as completed.


Education

  • You will need to give full details of any qualifications you have and on a separate screen full details of any qualifications you are about to undertake.
  • You will be prompted to enter your school or if you studied at different schools then you will need to list all your different secondary schools.

Qualifications

You must provide full details for the qualifications listed in the screen below to help universities and colleges consider your application. All qualifications which you have accepted certification from an awarding body for, even if you are retaking all or part of the qualification needs to be included. All qualifications for which you are currently studying or for which you are awaiting examination results needs to be completed in the qualifications pending box. The entry screens for many qualifications include an add module/unit or add subject button. When these buttons are displayed at the bottom of the screen, you must use them to provide full details for all the subjects, modules and units that form part of your qualifications. It is essential that all the information you provide is complete and accurate.

UCAS match the qualifications information on your application with the records of exam entries and the results you get from the awarding bodies [the examination boards], which set and mark your exam papers. This allows us to send your results to the universities and colleges where you are holding the offer of a place. They can then decide whether you have met any conditions they set you. If UCAS cannot match the information you gave UCAS to results, there may be a delay in us sending the results to the universities and colleges. There is also the risk that applications that contain qualifications that cannot be checked against awarding body results may be considered fraudulent and may be cancelled.

Guidance on Entering Qualification Details

On the screen for entering details of GCE and VCE Advanced Subsidiary [AS] subjects, UCAS refer to ‘certification’ of qualifications. You ‘certificate’ an AS subject when you claim or ‘cash in’ the results. For GCE and VCEAS subjects, you can choose when you ‘certificate’ your results. The diagram below explains how you should enter details for GCE Advanced Subsidiary [AS] and Advanced Subsidiary [AS] VCE qualifications. If you have certificated an Advanced Vocational Certificate in Education [AVCE] SingleAward and you are taking an AVCE Double Award, you must enter the AVCE Single Award with a grade and the AVCE Double Award with the grade pending. Units that make up GCEAS, ASVCE, GCE A level, Advanced VCE and Advanced VCE: Double Award are not qualifications and you should not enter unit details in this section. You or your referee may wish to refer to achievements in your units in your personal statement or reference. If you have any doubts about the “certification” of your AS subjects, you should check with your school or college, or whoever is helping you with your application. You can also contact the UCAS Customer Service Unit on 0870 1122211 for advice. You must not send UCAS, examination certificates or other papers. If you have extra information about your qualifications, send it to your chosen universities or colleges after UCAS have sent you your welcome letter and Personal ID/application number.

Additional Admissions Tests

Some universities and colleges require applicants applying for certain subjects to sit additional admissions tests as part of the admissions process. You should check the university and college website or their prospectus to see if an additional admissions test is needed for the courses you are applying for. Additional admissions tests are designed to supplement the information in the application and, where appropriate, an interview. An up-to-date list of tests can be found at You should enter details for any admissions tests you have already taken with results and for any admissions tests you still need to take. All your choices of university or college will see the information you have entered for your qualifications. Only certain universities and colleges require specific admissions tests for particular courses. When you provide details for an admissions test, you give some indication of the institutions to which you have applied and the type of courses. The universities and colleges will not, however, have the details of any of the other institutions or courses you have entered in the choices section of your application.

Employment

  • Here you can enter any paid employment past or present.
  1. If you have been employed click yes otherwise you will need to click on no.
  1. Enter details as required.
  1. Click on Save if you wish the job to be saved. You can then add another job or mark the section as completed.

About You

  • Personal details such as name, address, e-mail, phone, date of birth, fee details, and special requirements, criminal convictions [remember to declare them if you have any] and parental occupations.
  • Ensure your contact details are accurate and correct. They will be used by UCAS and universities to contact you if there are any problems.
  1. Details already entered during registration will transcend and appear here.
  1. Ensure they are correct and accurate.
  1. Further details questions will appear as your scroll down this page. Complete all questions which you are required to complete.

Remember

Country of Birth: Usually will be United Kingdom

Nationality: Usually will be UK National

Residential Category: Usually will be A UK Citizen/EU National

  1. Click on Save if you wish to continue working at a later date otherwise if you have finished your choices click on finished. Your form will be saved and the section will be marked as completed.

Personal Statement

  • Don’t leave section blank
  • Highlight your positive experiences
  • Why have you chosen your course[s]
  • Focus on achievements
  • Link your experience hobbies and pastimes to your course.
  • Link your skills and what you have to offer to the university
  1. Complete your Statement in Microsoft Word first ensuring that you:

Spelling and Grammar Check

  • Paragraphs to start off each new subject. Remember each to use a subject sentence.

[Remember a clear line space after a paragraph].

  • Ensure it flows, is structured and coherent.
  • Ensure you punctuate fully.

Proof Read it

Re-Read it

Get your tutor to check it

  1. Paste it into UCAS Apply by right clicking and click on Paste.
  1. Check and reformat your statement as necessary.
  1. Click on Save if you wish to continue working at a later date otherwise if you have finished your choices click on finished. Your form will be saved and the section will be marked as completed.

Status of your Form

  • Preview your form
  • Print your form
  • All uncompleted areas are highlighted in red
  • You can still continue to see your UCAS after it has been sent although it will be too late to make any changes

Send to Referee

  • The referee is your tutor and then MrsChennells
  • This can only be sent once all sections are complete and you have agreed to the declaration
  • Staff can return your form back to you if they feel it is inaccurate or if there is something wrong with it. They cannot edit the text for you. It must be edited by you
  • You will then be legally bound to pay £15. You will be able to pay by credit/debit card online – if you are unable to pay you can probably use your friend’s card and pay cash. If you have any major problems then speak to Mrs Chennells.
  • The referee will check you application to ensure that it is an accurate and complete reference

Checking the Progress

  • After submitting to your referee, you can log on and find out whether

Application checked/unchecked

Reference started/in progress/waiting approval

Application sent to UCAS

Application Number [You must quote this number every time you communicate with UCAS]

What Happens Next?

  • It will be processed by UCAS overnight and an application number issued within 24 hours
  • An acknowledgement letter will be sent through the post with a password so that you check the decision of universities and colleges about your application.

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