1. SWAPWest Induction

2. Every student should have received a ‘Welcome Pack’ from SWAP.
The welcome pack has all of the information from this presentation in it, as well as your SWAP Student Agreement. 2

3. Sign the Register A paper registration form will be circulated
By signing the register, you agree to the terms of the Learner Agreement and indicate that you have received a copy of it for reference
Please only tick the box if you have already registered online as a SWAP student
If not, leave it blank and we will follow up

4. 2 1 3 4 Registration www.ScottishWiderAccess.org
You must register as a SWAP student.
Register as soon as possible. Do not delay.

5. What is SWAP? Access Programmes that progress to HNC/D or degree
For adults who do not have entry requirements and who have been out of education for years
35,000+ students since 1987
SWAP is national; we are SWAPWest
Partnership of colleges & universities in the West

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

7. SWAP Part 1: SQA Units A mixture of SQCQ Level 5 and Level 6 units
SCQF 5 = Standard Grade (credit), Int 2, Nat 5
SCQF 6 = Highers
Core units in Communication (equates to English) and Maths
Variety of other science subjects relating to science, health and/or medicine

8. SWAP Part 2: Prep for HE
PHE is an essential part of SWAP and is comprised of independent work, class work and university visits
A) Class work
Work through the PHE modules 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

9. Where to find Prep for HE

10. Prep for HE Timeline
Follow the timeline

11. PHE modules are designed to help you:
Think about how you study
Identify strengths and weaknesses
Improve skills in research, reading and writing for academic work
Learn how to reference properly
Check that you’re maintaining a good work-life-study balance and a sense of wellbeing
Apply properly to university as a SWAP student
Write an effective Personal Statement
Prepare for interview
Get help with the financial side of being a full-time student
Modules are accessible from the SWAPWest website

12. Your tutor may (or may not) organise some things to do as a class.
Preparation for HE
Your tutor may (or may not) organise some things to do as a class.
You may also organise study groups yourself to do certain exercises together
You may do some things on your own at home.
Whatever works best for you and your class tutor

13. Example 1: typical Prep for HE exercise

14. Example 2: typical Prep for HE exercise

15. Prep for HE is an opportunity:

16. SWAP Part 3: Final Profile
All tutors contribute to the profile and agree your final grades (A-D)
Grades comment on your preparedness for Higher Ed
First 2 grades will depend on your progression, they will vary if you are progressing to biology & chemistry related subjects or maths, physics and engineering. Medical studies is a separate profile. Please discuss this with your tutor when you receive them from university.
Grade 3: Overall performance (attendance; working well with others; responsiveness to feedback, etc.)
Also confirms you’ve passed all units, including Prep for HE
Essential part of your university condition

17. 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

18. Progression Routes
List of university degrees 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
Progression routes become available in late October
Contact SWAP before you apply to any courses that do not appear in the progression routes.

19. Progression Routes Universities will set conditions:
Others will ask for profile grades (e.g BBB or ‘B’ profile)
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 you to pass each assessment and achieve at or above a certain percentage (E.g. vision sciences at GCU)

20. 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

21. Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG)
Required for any student who will come into contact with vulnerable people
You must disclose to the college (your tutor) as soon as possible:
All previous criminal charges
Even if they did not result in conviction
Even if you think they are “spent”
If uncertain, contact Kenny Anderson at SWAP ( ) for advice.

22. UCAS - please wait until instructed to apply
You must apply through SWAP – not your College!
SWAP is treated as a UCAS ‘school’
Use SWAP buzzword: swapwest2020
Deadline
UCAS (Medicine, Vet Med, Dentistry) = 15th October
Other UCAS = 15th January (college deadline will be in December)
Cost
1 choice = £20, more than 1 choice = £25
Download Prep for HE UCAS and Personal Statement guides and
use the guidance on the UCAS website.

23. SWAP Student Mentoring Network Or
for an invitation

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, Paula Christie
Administrators – Erica O’Neill, James Burns, Karin Surgeoner