1. SWAPWest Induction SWAP and your year ahead

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Where to find PHE

7. How to complete PHE

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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.

14. Progression routes database search

15. Progression route requirements

16. 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)

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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
Download PHE UCAS and Personal Statement guides and use guidance on the UCAS website.

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

21. SWAP Student Mentoring Network Or
for an invitation

22. A message from former SWAP students

23. A message from former SWAP students

24. Contact Us SWAPWest c/o Glasgow Kelvin College 123 Flemington Street
Springburn
Glasgow
G21 4TD
Tel:
Web:
Facebook:
Director – Kenny Anderson
Development Officers – Dr Lisa Marsili, Amy Angus, Andrew Quinn
Admin – Karen Cunningham and Erica O’Neill