How to Apply

Part-time courses

Applications for all part-time Honours Degree, Foundation Degree, Higher Diploma and Certificate courses and Higher National Certificates at South Essex College should be made directly to the College using the online application form.

Full-time courses

All applications for full-time Honours Degrees, Foundation Degrees, CertHE and DipHE courses at South Essex College should be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) at www.ucas.com. Our institution code is S43 and on each course page of the prospectus will contain the UCAS code for each course.

UCAS Applications Process

UCAS applications can be made 24 hours a day at www.ucas.com through Apply, UCAS’ secure online application system. Applicant fees are payable upon application.

If you need help or advice on your individual application, you should contact a careers adviser or call the UCAS Customer Service Unit on +44 (0)871 468 0 468, open Monday to Friday, 08.30 – 18.00 (UK time). UK BT landline calls will cost no more than 9p per minute. Calls from mobiles and other networks may vary.

If you are calling from outside the UK and are unable to use the number above, please contact South Essex College on +44 (0)870 1122211. If you have hearing difficulties, you can call the RNID Typetalk service on 18001 0871 468 0 468 from within the UK, or on +44 151 494 1260 (text phone) or +44 151 494 2022 (for those with impaired hearing) from outside the UK. Calls are charged at normal rates.

You can email UCAS at enquiries@ucas.ac.uk for an automated response with general information and guidance on the UCAS procedures or you can also write to them at Customer Service Unit, UCAS, PO Box 28, Cheltenham GL52 3LZ.

For entry in October 2012 your application should be sent to UCAS as soon as possible after 1st September 2011 and no later than Friday 14th January 2012. Applicants will then be forwarded by UCAS to the College. If your application is received by UCAS after this date it will be forwarded to the universities you have listed and can be considered at their discretion. The College is usually willing to consider applications after this date but this is subject to the availability of places on the relevant course.

Applicants from outside the European Union should aim to send their application to UCAS no later than 30 June 2012. The College may be prepared to consider applicants through UCAS Extra – although popular courses may already be oversubscribed.

Applicants should contact the Admissions Office prior to making a UCAS Extra application to ensure there will be no difficulties. UCAS Extra applicants are also advised to submit a new personal statement and reference directly to the College, particularly if the subject emphasis of their course has altered from their initial application. Email: admissions@southessex.ac.uk.

Applying through Clearing

Applicants who apply after the end of June will be entered by UCAS into ‘Clearing’. For further information, visit www.ucas.com which explains the application deadlines in more detail. Once your application has been processed by the College, UCAS will contact you directly with our decision. Each application is considered individually.

You do not need to contact us directly with your decision - we will be told this by UCAS - but if you have any queries before you make your final decision, please contact us directly at admissions@southessex.ac.uk.

Conditional offers

If your offer is conditional on examination results and you meet the conditions, we will of course confirm your place. If your results do not quite meet the conditions, we will ask the Admissions tutors to review your application to see if you can still be given a place. Decisions are normally made within a day or two and you will be notified through UCAS.

Short-listed applicants may be required to attend an interview. For further information about this process please refer to the course pages in the College’s Undergraduate prospectus. Art and Design (including photography) applicants will be interviewed and will need to present a portfolio of work.

Open events

Several open days will be held at the College throughout the year and the dates are published on the College homepage. These events will give you the opportunity to look at the facilities and talk to tutors about courses either before or during the application process.

What will be taken into account by the College when making offers?

The Academic Admissions Tutors for each course take many factors into account when deciding whether to make an offer. These include:

• GCSE performance, including possession of prerequisites (e.g. Mathematics and English at Grade C)
• AS-levels, including subject mix and declared results
• A-level or equivalent qualifications, including subject mix, need for prerequisites, and predicted grades
• All qualifications undertaken
• Enrichment and extra-curricular activity, including work-experience, qualifications (e.g. Duke of Edinburgh, Young Enterprise), and cultural and social life, which would be indicated on the personal statement
• Reference from school or college
• Interview performance (if required)
• Any relevant mitigating circumstances which have bearing upon your application.

Learners with Disabilities or Learning Difficulties

Applications from learners with a disability will be considered on the same academic criteria as all other applicants. If you have a disability including mental health difficulties and specific learning difficulties, you should indicate this on your UCAS application. Early consideration can then be given to any additional support you may require, including individual examination arrangements, study strategies tuition and advice on funding. In order to assess necessary support provision, applicants may be asked to attend an interview with a member of staff from Learner Services. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office if you would like additional information prior to submitting your application. Further information on disability support and provision can be accessed from the College at: 01702 220500, guidance@southessex.ac.uk, or in person at the College.

Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) Checks

Some of our Higher Education programmes may involve regular access to children and/or vulnerable adults. Where this is the case, learners will be required to complete a CRB check.

Progression Agreement Learners

If you have signed a formal progression agreement with the College you will be required to enter ‘PA’ in the ‘further details’ field under the choices section. Our Admissions staff will then ensure that the relevant paperwork is in place, that you have met, or will meet the conditions of your agreement and will process your application accordingly.