Welcome to the S6 Resource page! You will find recordings of our Transitions Programme, resources to support you applying to higher education, and external links to help you develop career management skills.
As an S6 LIFT OFF Core Pupil, you will also have access to the Transitions Support Service:
You are entitled to send LIFT OFF up to 3 drafts of your Personal Statement. A member of the LIFT OFF team will review and send back your Personal Statement with comments and advice.
This video is an introduction to the Find Your Campus Resource created collaboratively by SHEP programmes LIFT OFF and Aspire North.
Scroll down to use the resource.
Click on the icons to find out about the Higher Education institutions across Scotland.
Workshop Outline:
Presenters:
Jack Nield
Helen King
Hannah Campbell
Maintaining positivity throughout your statement is so important – in your statement you really need to focus on the personal skills, qualities and attributes that make you an ideal candidate for Higher Education.
Try our three section method!
Each section can, of course, be more than one paragraph and you don’t need to stick rigidly to these section divisions, but each personal statement should hit markers such as:
3 section method:
Don’t be tempted to share or copy statements – all are passed through a plagiarism detection software.
Remember, use the LIFT OFF formula from our previous session to help you write an original personal statement.
This is VERY important – you don’t have a lot of space, so tick to the point!
TOP TIP: try removing any reference to the subject you are applying for from your statement. If it’s possible for someone to still guess the subject, your statement is clearly maintaining relevance throughout. If not, it might be worth doing another edit to focus your writing a bit more.
Let others read your personal statement and be open to help and advice.
Perhaps let a subject teacher read your statement, particularly if you are applying to study that subject at college/university.
Workshop Outline:
Presenters:
Mel Rookes
Helen King
Hannah Campbell
Emma Paterson
Track the status of your application on UCAS Track.
If you applied before the 26th January 2022 UCAS deadline, Universities must get back to you by 19th May 2022.
Each college has its own application process and deadline.
If you’ve used all five choices on your application and you’re not holding any offers, you could still find a place using EXTRA – it’s free!
You can only apply to one course at a time, meaning you won’t be able to have an insurance choice.
If you don’t hold any offers after 5th July 2022, you will be able to add an additional choice through Clearing.
The Student Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) pay tuition fees for course in Scotland directly to the college/university.
SAAS also provides student loans and bursaries to support living costs.
Apply by 30th June 2022 to ensure your funding is in place for when you start your course.
There is additional financial support available if you are estranged; care experienced; disabled; a young carer.
Create a budget:
Once you have created a budget, it’s just a case of sticking to it!
You can find out more about each university you’re interested in by checking the information they have on their website about accommodation.
There is no correct way to choose where you live, there are lots of variables.
Take the time to think about what’s important to you – can you afford it?
Take an active approach to getting support – ask and you shall receive.
Find out what support is available by visiting the college/university website.
You can get in touch BEFORE you start a course to arrange support, be prepared to tell the institution about your needs.
Join the workshop by click HERE.
Workshop Outline:
Presenters:
Jack Nield
Casey Brown (LIFT OFF Volunteer)
Choosing a university is just as important as finding the right subject. With so many different higher education experiences on offer, figuring out where to apply to can be overwhelming. An Open Day is the best way of getting a real taste of campus life.
As well as getting to see the facilities, an open day is a great opportunity to find out more about the different courses on offer from the people who live and breathe your subject – those who teach and study it, current students and academic staff.
Wherever you decide to study, it’s important to do as much research as possible so you make the choice that is right for you.
For some students, their individual circumstances can have a significant impact on their decision to go to university or college – and on their experience when they are there. Below are practical tips and useful resources to consider before, during and after you make an application to Higher Education.
Simply click the tab more information:
Many universities and colleges support in place to help students with care responsibilities. If you are responsible for providing unpaid care to a family member, partner or friend, you may be able receive extra support during your studies. This could include financial help, such as a bursary, support with managing your workload or even help with your own health and wellbeing.
More information about applying to university as a carer can be found HERE.
If you are aged 16-25 and have caring responsibility, you are considered to be a ‘young adult carer’.
If you are balancing your studies with the responsibility of caring for another person, this can be challenging. To help you manage this many universities and colleges have put support in place specifically to help students with caring responsibilities. This can include:
The help varies between each institution, so do your research before you apply. Their website will provide more details, but you can always contact the student services team directly to find out more.
One of the questions will enable students with care responsibilities to self-declare their circumstances:
‘Do you have any care responsibilities? Y/N’
If you select ‘Yes’, your information will be treated in confidence, to help the university or college provide support for you.
Do your research – it’s a good idea to find out what support is available before you make your final decision.
Self-declare – tell the college/university about your circumstances. Knowing a prospective student has caring responsibilities allows them to put support in place, to make sure you get the most from your university experience. There are several ways you can tell the institution about your circumstances:
Use your personal statement – highlight the skills, strengths, and positive attributes your caring responsibility has allowed you to develop. Read more about advice for writing a personal statement as a carer HERE.
Clink the links below:
If you’re a refugee or asylum seeker applying to higher education, there may be support available to help you with finance and your studies. It is a good idea to contact course providers before you apply, to discuss if they can offer you support, and what this might be.
The financial help available will depend on your immigration status, and where you live (your residential status). In Scotland, please visit the UKCISA website for full details HERE
One of the questions will enable students who are asylum seekers or refugees to self-declare their circumstances:
‘Do you have official refugee status in the UK, or are you an asylum seeker’
Select the option which most closely represents your circumstances. Your information will be treated in confidence, to help the university or college provide support for you.
UCAS in partnership with Student Action for Refugees (STAR) and their group of Equal Access Activists have created a resource to help you use the personal statement to identify your key strengths and transferable skills as you apply to university or college. You can access this HERE.
Click on the links below:
Every year, over 60,000 students with learning differences apply through UCAS to study at university or college in the UK, and access a range of support to help them succeed with their studies, day-to-day activities, travel and lifestyle.
Don’t forget to tell the university or college about any impairment or condition on your UCAS application – this helps to put the support in place ready for your arrival. This information is not used to make a decision on your application and it is only shared with those involved in supporting you, or making the arrangements for your support.
Research is vital to making your choices, and there is lots to think about. Never be put off by any assumptions about your impairment as most course can be made accessible with the appropriate support.
The providers website will be your starting point – easily find information and advice about learning and assessment methods, support provided, and the contact details for student support services.
Open Days are a valuable way to find out about a university or college first-hand – you can tour the facilities, speak to staff and current students, and really get a feel for whether you would like to study there. Click HERE on how to prepare for open days and visits.
The easiest way to let institutions know about your support needs is to use the question on the UCAS application – this will ask you to select your impairment(s) or condition(s), and you can give more information in the text box below if you wish. The information you provide is only used by student services team to arrange the support you may need before you arrive – it is never used to make an academic judgment on your application.
We recommend getting in touch with the college or university once you have accepted an offer to discuss the arrangements for your arrival. It’s is important to note that you are in full control of your support and if you decide you don’t need it, you don’t have to use it.
If you’re a care leaver or looked after child applying to Higher Education, there’s support available to help you with finance, settling in, and accommodation. Remember to tick the box on your UCAS application to let the university you’re applying to know you have been in care. UCAS have created a short guide on ‘Why Tick The Box’ In Apply?’ which can be viewed HERE.
This information is confidential and won’t be used against you! It lets the right person at the college or university know that you might need financial or other support, and can help you put that in place before you start your course.
To find out what the institution you’re applying to can offer, it’s best to contact them directly. You can visit their website or contact the student services team and talk to an advisor.
Scholarships, Grants and Bursaries – if you’ve spent time in care, there are specific scholarships, grants, and bursaries available to support you at university. More information can be found HERE.
The Care Leaver question:
‘Have you been in care? Y/N’
Select ‘Yes’ if you’ve ever lived in public care or as a looked-after child, including:
You will then be able to select the amount of time you have spent in care.
Click the links below:
Universities and colleges welcome students from a diverse range of backgrounds and experience. Students whose parent(s), carer(s) are current or former UK Armed Forces personnel may be able to get extra support from their chosen college or university.
Institutions understand that service children may experience disruption to their education, or may have been restricted in their course choices. They also take into consideration that young people can face additional challenges when a parent or carer is deployed. It is important to let them know your circumstances as it allows them to consider your academic achievements in context.
Service children often develop highly valued, unique skills and strengths as a result of their circumstances, such as being an independent learner, or being able to adapt to different situations quickly.
You may be able to access additional support this can include financial help, mentoring, and study support. Before applying, it is recommended to contact student support services at the college or university to check what help is available, and to discuss your needs.
UCAS in partnership with Service Children’s Progression (SCiP) Alliance have created a guide for serivce children applying to university – read more HERE.
Your UCAS application will allow Service children to self-declare their circumstances:
‘Do you have a parent or carer who currently serves in the UK Armed Forces, or who done so in the past’
This information will be treated in confidence, to help the university provide support for you.
Click the links below:
One of the questions will enable students who are in receipt of free schools meals to self-declare their circumstances
‘Are you currently, or have you been, in receipt of free school meals during your secondary education’
This information will be treated in confidence, to help the university provide support for you. If you are unsure, ask your school – they will be able to confirm this for you.
Please contact LIFT OFF if you have any questions related to your individual needs.
Click the button below to access our quick guide on how to add LIFT OFF to your UCAS application:
You need to register with UCAS and complete the relevant application – there’s quite a lot to fill in but you don’t have to do it all at once. The UCAS website has lots of information on filling in an application: CLICK HERE.
Remember…different courses have different application deadlines.
Before you can send your UCAS application, you’ll need to pay an application fee
For courses starting September 2022:
1 course = £22
2-5 courses = £26.50
To maximise your chances of receiving an offer, LIFT OFF recommend using all 5 course choices (if possible).
Entry requirements vary between universities and colleges – a full list of universities and colleges and their minimum entry criteria can be found on the UCAS website.
If you are unsure you meet the Universities entry criteria, it is best to contact their admissions team for further guidance.
Absolutely!
Remember…as an S6 LIFT OFF Core Pupil, you have access to the S6 Transitions Support Service:
Visit the ‘Transitions Support Service’ section at the top of this page for more information.
It is important that your UCAS application contains a Personal Statement that is focused and relevant to the course and/or career you are interested in. It would be difficult to write a statement which blends your experiences, skills and knowledge of both Physics and Drama.
In this instance, you may also want to explore if one of your passions can be done as an extracurricular i.e. does the institution have a performing arts or drama society.
Some Universities offer Degree Flexibility/Degree Combinations. For example, Stirling University have over 220 single and combined courses to choose from. (for more information click HERE.)
The simple answer… NO. You do not have to study at a University in Scotland.
In Scotland, you do not have to pay tuition fees to the university yourself. Instead:
In Scotland, you’ll apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland. You can find out more information about funding available at the SAAS website HERE.
We have lots of information about how to structure and what to include in a personal statement.
Have a look at ‘S6 Session 2: Your Personal Statement’ – watch the recording and have a look at our resources.
If you are applying through a school, your reference will be written for you by a teacher or tutor who knows you.
You won’t have access to this, so you won’t need to do anything for it, but you can request to read the reference.
“Every one of Scotland’s universities is committed to widening access to university to those who have the ability and potential to benefit from a higher education, irrespective of their background or economic circumstances.” (Universities Scotland)
Each University has its own widening access criteria and entry requirements. They will consider lots of different factors alongside your exam results.
The best way to find out if you meet the minimum entry requirements is to call the institution or visit their website and search for:
Edinburgh University for example may consider making you what they refer to as a ‘widening access offer’. These offers are different from their standard entry requirements (more info HERE).
As much information as this resource contains, we know sometimes you have specific questions that you would like to ask. The LIFT OFF team are here to help and would love to hear from you!
You can also arrange a meeting to chat with one of the LIFT OFF team. Meetings can be on the phone, in school, or online. Just use the contact form to arrange a meeting.
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