SWAPWest Induction SWAP and your year ahead

Welcome Pack The welcome pack has all of the information from this presentation in it, as well as your SWAP Student Agreement. 2

What is SWAP? Access Programmes that progress to degree/HN For adults who do not have entry requirements 30,000+ students since 1987 SWAP is national; we are SWAPWest! Partnership of colleges & universities in the West

Contents of SWAP Programme Three components of the SWAP programme: Study and pass 18 academic units (SQA units) Preparation for Higher Education (PHE) SWAP Student Profile grades at end of the year You must pass all units and PHE to complete the programme. 4

Preparation for Higher Education PHE is an essential part of SWAP and is comprised of class work and university visits A) Class work Complete PHE workbooks throughout the year Download from SWAPWest website or college VLE B) University visits Open days, applicant visit days SWAP events: Universities Info Day and Study Skills Days

Where to find PHE www.ScottishWiderAccess.org

How to complete PHE

Download from the SWAPWest website PHE Contents Introduction Taking Stock - Part One Study Diary (throughout the year) Taking Stock - Part Two UCAS Guide Personal Statement Interview Skills Presentation Skills Study Skills (throughout the year) Finance Taking Stock - Part Three What Happens Next Extended referencing guide Download from the SWAPWest website

Completion of PHE You are responsible for completing PHE and must be prepared to show evidence of completion at the end of the year (May). Your tutor may (or may not) organise some things to do as a class. You could organise study groups yourself to do certain exercises together You can do some things on your own at home. Whatever works best for you and your class tutor

I wished I had looked at it sooner.” PHE is useful! “Because there were no assessments and no one was checking it, it was easy to just keep putting it off... “But when I finally took the time to look into it, I realised how useful it was. Some of the things I had been struggling with, like writing my UCAS Personal Statement, was all laid out in the PHE workbooks. I wished I had looked at it sooner.” Claire GKC

Learner Agreement Formalisation of things covered today Please read carefully NB: Disclosure of criminal convictions Sign register to confirm you have read & accepted terms Tick to show that you have registered online already

SWAP Student Profiles All tutors contribute to this and agree grades (A-D) Grades comment on your preparedness for HE Ability to handle text Communication overall performance Also confirms passed all units, including PHE

Progression Routes List of university courses you can apply for using your SWAP programme State the requirements for entry – please read carefully Some places are limited and entry is competitive Some places are subject to selection and/or interview Available late October Contact SWAP before you apply to courses not in the progression routes.

Progression routes database search

Progression route requirements

Progression Routes Universities will set conditions: Some will say simply “pass all units” Others will ask for profile grades (e.g BBB) Some may ask you to include specific units Science (not biology), Engineering & Maths at Strathclyde will require summer school (pass with A grade) Some courses require percentages of physics units (E.g. vision sciences at GCU)

Careful Planning Required! Later in the year you may have the opportunity to select additional/optional units Do your research on your preferred universities and courses Find out which units you need to meet their conditions Speak to your class tutor/SWAP if any questions

Do not make the mistake of applying only to a single course. You must have a ‘Plan B’ AAA AAB ABB BBB BBC HNC/D Use all 5 of your choices! Do not make the mistake of applying only to a single course.

UCAS - please wait until instructed to apply Apply through SWAP - not your College! SWAP is a UCAS ‘School’ Use SWAP buzzword: swapwest2017 Deadline UCAS 15th January – college December! Cost 1 choice = £13, more than 1 choice = £24 http://www.ucas.ac.uk/ Download PHE UCAS and Personal Statement guides and use guidance on the UCAS website.

Registration www.ScottishWiderAccess.org You must register as a SWAP student. Register as soon as possible. Do not delay.

SWAP Student Mentoring Network www.facebook.com/groups/swapmentors/ Or email: amy.angus@scottishwideraccess.org for an invitation

A message from former SWAP students http://youtu.be/lXtKXgeZeJE

A message from former SWAP students https://youtu.be/YFxoVw1jx88

Contact Us SWAPWest c/o Glasgow Kelvin College 123 Flemington Street Springburn Glasgow G21 4TD Tel: 0141 564 7206 Email: swapwest@scottishwideraccess.org Web: http://www.scottishwideraccess.org Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/swapwest Director – Kenny Anderson Development Officers – Dr Lisa Marsili, Amy Angus, Andrew Quinn Admin – Karen Cunningham and Erica O’Neill