1. UCAS and SAAS INFORMATION FOR 2020 ENTRY

2. UCAS 2020 ENTRY
Applications completed online at

3. UCAS 2020 ENTRY
Applications completed online at

4. UCAS 2020 ENTRY
Applications completed online at

5. UCAS 2020 ENTRY
WHAT IS IMPORTANT AT THIS TIME OF INCREASED COMPETITION?
Preparation
Research
Relevant work experience/work shadowing/voluntary work
Visit institutions/HE conventions/Open Days
Personal Statement/Reference
Understand selection process
Be realistic
Alternatives

6. KEY DATES

7. UCAS 2020 ENTRY
Applications completed online at
Start application mid September – NOW.
Application allows for 5 choices.
Cost £25 (more than one choice) paid by credit/debit card.
PSE, Guidance Interviews, Open Days, Career Interviews and Careers Exhibitions support choices.

8. UCAS 2020 ENTRY Applicant researches where to study
Registers online with UCAS Apply
Completes form and processes payment
Academic reference added by school
School sends form electronically to UCAS
UCAS processes form and forwards to chosen HEIs
HEIs submit decisions (offer or unsuccessful)
Applicant views decisions on Track
Applicant replies to offers on Track (Firm/Insurance)
HEIs confirm places when results are released

9. THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Application form has 6 main sections:-
PERSONAL DETAILS
COURSE CHOICES - 5 choices
EDUCATION - qualifications (past and pending)
EMPLOYMENT - part time work
PERSONAL STATEMENT - very important
SCHOOL REFERENCE - completed by Guidance Teacher and checked by House DHT
- very important

10. A GOOD PERSONAL STATEMENT
SHOULD INCLUDE:
A reason for choosing the course
Any background interest
Any relevant experience
Career aspirations
Work experience – skills developed
Interests & hobbies
Achievements
Positions of responsibility
Any other relevant information
EVIDENCE OF:
Independent study skills
Self-awareness
Motivation, maturity and commitment
An understanding of the course
Good numeracy and literacy
Essay writing research skills
Time management skills
Enthusiasm to go beyond the curriculum

11. PERSONAL STATEMENT – POINTS TO REMEMBER
Thoroughly prepare
Take your time
Multiple re-drafts
Use a Word document
Use a Spell Checker
No humour
Sell yourself
Let others read it –Guidance, parents, older siblings
4000 characters including spaces
47 lines of text
UCAS use Similarity Detection Software!

12. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Completed form sent to Guidance Teacher
Payment made at home - £20 or £25 (depending on number)
Reference written including information on predicted grades, attendance, late coming and S6 experience
Form checked and submitted to UCAS
UCAS sends form simultaneously to all choices
HEIs consider applications. Applicant may need to:
Attend an interview
Send a portfolio of work
Sit an admissions test

13. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Admission tutors can make one of three decisions:
Conditional Offer
Unconditional Offer
Unsuccessful
Applicants then keep a
maximum of two offers:
Firm
Insurance
Conditional Offers:
Can be expressed in:
UCAS Tariff points e.g. 305 points
Grades e.g. AAAB at Higher
A combination of both e.g. 305 points including a B in H Maths
If no offers received.... UCAS Extra or Clearing in August

14. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? UCAS website www.ucas.com UCAS Apply and Track
yougofurther.co.uk – the UCAS student network
Facebook –
Twitter –
UCAStv – - video guides - channels for different audiences e.g. students/parents
YouTube -
Careers Database -
Skills Development Scotland-
SAAS -
Prospects -

15. SAAS – Students Award Agency for Scotland
An agency of the Scottish Government giving financial support to eligible students doing a course of higher education in the UK.
Further information from
* All figures for the rest of this presentation are valid for the university session 2019 – 2020 and are liable to change with inflation.

16. Tuition Fees
If you are a Scottish student studying in Scotland SAAS will pay your tuition fees.
If you are studying elsewhere in the UK, you will be responsible for your own fees. The amount due each year will be up to £9,250. If you meet SAAS eligibility conditions, you can choose to take out a tuition fee loan to pay your fees.
Applications for academic session 2020 – 2021 open on 1st April 2020 and close 31st March 2021.
Advice is to complete form before 30th June 2020.

17. Young Students’ Bursary (YSB) and student loan for living costs
Students can apply for a bursary and loan for general living costs while they study. Most school leavers will be classed as ‘young’. SAAS will use parental gross household income (before tax) to work out how much they will get.

18. Bursary VERSUS Loan
If you are eligible for a bursary, you will not have to repay it.
If you decide to apply for a student loan, you will have to repay it.
You can choose how much loan you want to take. There is a loan available of up to £4,750 a year, no matter what your household income is.
SAAS normally pay your money in monthly instalments throughout the academic year and the first instalment will be a double payment.

19. Repaying The Student Loan
There will be an income level (a threshold) below which you will not have to make any repayments at all.
The current threshold is £18,935 each year before deductions. The SLC will expect you to repay 9% of your annual income over £18,935. This threshold normally increases every year with inflation and a different limit may apply if you move to live in a country outside the UK. Scottish Government have committed to raising the repayment threshold to £25,000 by April 2021.
The SLC will expect you to repay 9% of your annual income over £18,935.

20. Repaying The Student Loan
Most students will repay their loans through HM Revenue and Customs either by employers taking amounts from pay through the PAYE system or through the tax self-assessment process.
How quickly you repay your loan will generally depend on how much you earn. You can also make voluntary payments, at any time, direct to the Student Loans Company (SLC).
Apply to SAAS repay SLC

21. Other funding options

22. ANY QUESTIONS