SAC Learning

Entry to undergradaute courses at SAC is administered through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), the UK equivalent to CAO.

You’ll see small differences in the application requirements, for example, instead of adding all your CAO points together we will consider your grades and number of passes.

You can also apply after you get your results, via the UCAS 'Clearing' process. Check information about applying directly with UCAS. Applications are made using their online facilities.

This is a much simpler system than the old paper based process, and allows you to keep track of your application over the internet.

If applying from an Irish school, the UCAS online system recognises this and it directs you to special pages where you put in your Leaving Certificate subjects and school information.

SAC also provides information about applying specifically to the courses that we offer. Follow the links from this page.

Completing an ONLINE UCAS Application and the Application Process

UCAS provide excellent guidance to enable you to make a very successful application so it is worth taking time to familiarise yourself with their online Guidance material.

Points to bear in mind when completing the online application forms include:

Making the most of your Personal Statement

Your personal statement is a chance to explain to SAC why you have chosen a particular course and to convince us to pick you as a student.

This is a vital part of the process, and you should take the time to compose a statement that shows us how determined you really are to gain a place and benefit from the programme.

The UCAS website provides you with information to help you successfully complete a personal statement.

Supplying a reference

You will usually be provided with a reference by your present school, usually written by a teacher who knows you well or who teaches you a subject related to the course you wish to apply for, or your careers teacher. Normally this person checks your entries on the application and then adds their referral.

If you are a mature applicant, or applying without school involvement, you may decide to choose a referee who is not a current teacher. You can also choose a person who can give information on your work experience or career path to date.

You may have a disability or special needs and can choose to mention anything relevant about this if you wish. Again more information on how to do this is available on the UCAS site.

What the Offer From the College Means

UCAS use a different ranking system to the CAO. When your application is processed, SAC might make you an offer well before you sit the Leaving Certificate Exams.

This offer will be dependent on you getting certain grades in your exams. For example you might be offered a Conditional place if you get at least 3B’s and 1C in honours subjects or 1B and 2C’s in pass subjects.

This means you have a better idea in advance of what grades you will need to achieve to secure your place and have the Conditional offer turn in to an Unconditional one.

Closing Date For Applications

The deadline for UCAS is in January, around the same time as the CAO. Late entries are accepted through until June, and ultimately it may still be possible to secure a place during the Clearing period after UCAS applications have closed, which runs right until courses start in September/October.

However it is advisable to make applications within the UCAS timeframes as this enables you to make arrangements related to moving to the College and also perhaps more importantly gives you time to make applications for funding.

Clearing

Another major difference between the CAO and UCAS systems is 'Clearing', which is a second chance to secure a place on a course.

Clearing takes place in late August and early September when most of SAC’s places have already been allocated, but we may still have a few places available for students applying during Clearing.

Information on which courses have places available appears on the UCAS site, on our own clearing website, and also in the UK press.

If you have already entered the UCAS application system and are without a place on a course when Clearing starts, UCAS will send you an official Clearing Form, which you complete to secure a place.

At this stage you must ring SAC directly to apply for any free places still being offered. You can do this even if you haven't considered study in Scotland or SAC before this time.

You can also use the Clearing Process to find a place on a course even if you have not already applied anywhere through UCAS and have just decided to attend Higher Education.

However if you have already applied and been given a provisional offer from SAC or another institution based on achieving predicted grades and unfortunately you do not manage to attain them in your final exams you can contact SAC and discuss your situation with us.

The 'Clearing' process run by UCAS gives you the possibility of applying to us after you get your results and if we accept your grades a place may be available on the course you want to enter.

During Clearing more emphasis is placed on the student's capabilities and personality in addition to your academic grades.

Like the CAO, UCAS is not involved in choosing students, they just help the colleges or universities make their decisions, so please contact SAC directly to discuss your particular situation if you are without confirmed offer of a place at the start of Clearing.