UCAS Application Help Guide

UCAS Application Help Guide

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Table of Contents

UCAS application key information .................................................................................. 2

Guide to completing UCAS education section - examples

Allied Healthcare...................................................................................................................... 3

Social Sciences ....................................................................................................................... 4

Humanities ............................................................................................................................... 5

Education section reminders ..................................................................................... 6

Personal Statement ...................................................................................................... 7

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UCAS Application Key Information

1. Apply: go to http://www.ucas.com/apply and click on apply for 2019. 2. Buzzword: click the register tab and follow the instructions remembering to input the buzzword.

3.Personal Details: You will then be asked to input your personal details and a number of other elements, some of which may cause some confusion and so have been addressed below:

a) Unique Learner Number (ULN). If you have a ULN from school, please put it in, the

DistanceLearningCentre.com does not use Unique Learner Numbers.

b) Student Support – FEE CODE. If you are a UK or EU student applying to student finance it will be 02. There are a number of other options for you to read through and see if they apply if the above does not.

c) Nominated Access – If you're likely to be away at any time during the application period, you may want to nominate someone who can make decisions on your behalf and discuss your application with UCAS and universities, e.g. a parent, other relative or guardian.

d) Choices – You can make a maximum of 5 choices, you must check the entry requirements to ensure that you meet the minimum requirements.

Education - When filling in details of your studies on the UCAS application, you need to put in the names of the Units you are studying. Below are 3 examples of the Education section of a UCAS form For the units you are studying please check your account. You can do this by clicking on the My Grades and Mark Sheets tab on your learner account.

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Example 1 In Example 1 the student is studying on the Allied Healthcare Professions Pathway Option 2. NB - units can change depending on when you started your Diploma and so please ensure you double check the units you are studying. You can do this by clicking on the My Grades and Mark Sheets tab on your learner account.

Education

distancelearningcentre.com (08/2018 – 06/2019 – PT)

Access to HE (2014 onwards)

Allied Healthcare Professions 06/2018 Ascents Introduction to Cell Biology 06/2019 3 Creds 3 Pending

Introduction to Psychology 06/2019 3 Creds 3 Pending

Further Study Skills 06/2019 3 Creds 3 Pending

Academic Writing Skills 06/2019 3 Creds 3 Pending

Study Skills 06/2019 3 Creds 3 Pending

Planning a Research Project (Psychology) 06/2019 3 Creds 3 Pending

Biology Practical Investigation (Biology) 06/2019 6 Creds 3 Pending

Macromolecules and Key Bio Principles 06/2019 6 Creds 3 Pending

Applic of Theories to Substantive Topics 06/2019 6 Creds 3 Pending

Anatomy and Physiology of Human Skele 06/2019 3 Creds 3 Pending

Psychological Perspectives and Behaviours 06/2019 6 Creds 3 Pending

Human Reproductive Biology 06/2019 3 Creds 3 Pending

Cardiovasc, Respir and Gastro-Int Systems 06/2019 6 Creds 3 Pending

Homeostasis, Coordination and Control 06/2019 6 Creds 3 Pending

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Example 2 In Example 2 the student is studying on the Social Science Pathway Option 2 and completed the diploma and moderated in November 2017 and so can put the grades in as they have been awarded. NB - units can change depending on when you started your Diploma and so please ensure you double check the units you are studying. You can do this by clicking on the My Grades and Mark Sheets tab on your learner account.

Education



Social Science 11/2017 Ascents Introduction to Criminology 11/2017 3 Creds 3 Achieved

Introduction to Psychology 11/2017 3 Creds 3 Achieved

Further Study Skills 11/2017 3 Creds 3 Achieved

Academic Writing Skills 11/2017 3 Creds 3 Achieved

Study Skills 11/2017 3 Creds 3 Achieved

Research Project (Psychology) 11/2017 6 Creds 3 Distinction

Research Project (Criminology) 11/2017 6 Creds 3 Distinction

Contemporary Issues in Criminology 11/2017 6 Creds 3 Distinction

Applic of Theories to Substantive Topics 11/2017 6 Creds 3 Merit

Theories/Perspectives in Criminology 11/2017 6 Creds 3 Merit

Psychological Perspectives and Behaviour 11/2017 6 Creds 3 Merit

Aggression Forensic Evidence and the Reliability of Evidence

11/201711/2017

3 Creds 3 6 Creds 3

Distinction

Distinction

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Example 3 In Example 3 the student is studying on the Humanities Pathway Option 1. The student has also completed a 9 credit progression award in English. NB - units can change depending on when you started your Diploma and so please ensure you double check the units you are studying. You can do this by clicking on the My Grades and Mark Sheets tab on your learner account.

Education



Humanities 06/2019 Ascents Introduction to Psychology 06/2019 3 Creds 3 Pending

Introduction to English Language and Lit 06/2019 3 Creds 3 Pending

Basic Principles in English Language 06/2019 3 Creds 2 Pending

Basic Principles in Number 06/2019 3 Creds 2 Pending

Study Skills 06/2019 3 Creds 3 Pending

Planning a Research Project (Psychology) 06/2019 3 Creds 3 Pending

Research Project (English) 06/2019 6 Creds 3 Pending

Academic Skills in English Language and Lit 06/2019 6 Creds 3 Pending

English Lang and Lit - Literary Criticism 06/2019 6 Creds 3 Pending

Application of Theories (Psychology) 06/2019 6 Creds 3 Pending

A thematic Approach to Poetry 06/2019 3 Creds 3 Pending

Psychological Perspectives and Behaviour 06/2019 6 Creds 3 Pending

Aggression 06/2019 3 Creds 3 Pending

Short Stories 06/2019 3 Creds 3 Pending

Analysis of the Novel 06/2019 3 Creds 3 Pending

Other (UK Qualifications)

Award in Progression (English) 06/2019 Open Aw

Developing Reading Strategies 06/2019

Using Writing for Meaning 06/2019

Speaking and Listening Skills 06/2019

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Note the key Information above:

The awarding body of the Diploma is Ascentis (Ascents)

The correct title of DistanceLearningCentre.com for UCAS is distancelearningcentre.com

The date in brackets indicates the start and end date for your course (08/2017 – 06/2019 – PT) it will most likely be different from this example. PT represents that this is part time study

The qualification date for a June 2019 moderation is: 06/2019

The Qualification date for November 2018 moderation is: 11/2018

All results for the Diploma if it has yet to moderate are pending

If you are completing a progression award, for each Unit you are studying you will need to list the Unit Titles and Credit Values as in example 3. The link below will demonstrate all unit titles for the progression awards http://www.distancelearningcentre.com/ProgAwardsL2_cs.php

You must also tell UCAS about other qualifications such as GCSEs and the school or college information of where they were taken. To do this you click the tab titled add a new college or centre.

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4. Personal Statement

The personal statement is, from your point of view, the most important part of the form. It is the first piece of written work the university will see from you and first impressions do count. The personal statement is 4000 characters or 47 lines (maximum). As the system times out it is advised that you write it in word and then copy it into the UCAS form. Universities cannot see the other choices you have made and so never be specific about a university in the personal statement.

Please ensure you follow the UCAS guidance and that you clearly understand the course you are applying for. The personal statement is important and should not be rushed. Please ensure that you give yourself enough time to plan it and write it. A personal statement gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the course you are applying for and shows how your skills and commitment would be of benefit to that university. It should highlight the potential you offer to study at H.E. level and evidence of independent learning skills. Therefore your personal statement should include the following:

a) Why do you want to study the course? b) How are your achievements relevant?

It is vital that you research the course and understand what the university requires. You should then match your achievements to their entry requirements. For example, if in the additional application information the university requests ability to problem solve, how can you demonstrate this in your personal statement? What examples can you draw from in your personal or work life that can demonstrate your strong skills in this area?

c) How will your studies make you a good student?

You are a student who studies via distance learning, as such this makes you a very strong independent learner. You should be highlighting your transferrable skills such as strong organisation, time management, communication, adherence to deadlines, initiative, problem solving, self-discipline etc. and link these skills to areas of the course you are applying for that are relevant.

d) Use your work experience to its full potential,

If you undertook work experience ensure you include it in your personal statement to its best advantage writing about who it was with, how long it was for, what you learnt from it and how it relate to the course you are applying to.

Below are some slides from both Manchester Metropolitan and Manchester Universities presentation on Writing Competitive Personal Statements. As you can see it is very clear what admissions tutors are looking for and also what they do not want to see. The Link below will open a Personal Statement Worksheet that Manchester University have kindly provided http://www.distancelearningcentre.com/access/umass-personal-statement-handout.pdf

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5. Send your Personal statement to your tutor

Once you have completed your personal statement, send it to your tutor for checking (bear in mind they will need a week to look over this as yours is not the only one they will have to look at and so make sure you plan your time frames carefully). Your tutor will check your personal statement but it is your responsibility to make sure that your Personal Statement is the best you can make it. If you want our advice on your Personal Statement, please follow what your tutor says, first time. Tutors will not keep going back over it telling you that you have not done what they recommended and helping you to 'tweak it'. However, they will provide a valid professional opinion which is worth making the most of. Please remember your Personal Statement is about you, your tutor will not write or rewrite it for you. As an education provider / advisor on the UCAS system, we are not responsible in any way for your Personal Statement, you are. Further guidance on the Personal Statement is available on the UCAS website http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/undergraduate/filling-your-application/your-personal-statement

6. Pay your money to UCAS

7. Inform your tutor:

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Tell your tutor only when you have finished your application. This informs your tutor that you are ready for them to check over your application and for them to provide a Reference. Very Important - to enable a detailed reference please fill in the Tutor Info Form at http://www.distancelearningcentre.com/access/Tutor_UCAS_Ref_Info.doc and email it to your tutor. The buzzword cannot be given out until your tutor has received this form.

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Documents

UCAS Application Help Guide