Pre-enrolment period

The pre-enrolment period is when you are an applicant, starting when you apply to study with us until September when you come onto campus to enrol and become a student.

During the pre-enrolment period, you need to:

Attend an applicant event dates for 2024-25 will be released in due course
Respond to us or on your UCAS app regarding our offer letter sent to you via email
Apply for student finance (unless you are an apprentice)
If an apprentice, complete sign-up paperwork with the apprenticeship recruitment coordinator
Declare any disabilities and apply for disabled students’ support
Enquire about student accommodation
Read the Stepping Up to Higher Education Guides
Attend a Stepping Up to Higher Education workshop
Download SDConnect app
Follow UCSD on Facebook and Twitter
Receive an invitation via email to attend campus to enrol
View your provisional timetable

Scroll down to learn more!

Attend applicant event

Applicant events at the University Centre South Devon are tailored specifically for the course you have applied for. We know that you will have a lot of questions to ask, so an applicant event will give you the opportunity to:

find out about your chosen course in more detail
speak with academic staff who will guide you in your learning
chat to current students about their experiences at university
meet other applicants who are considering studying at UCSD

As well as looking at your course in more depth, and providing you the opportunity to speak with teaching staff, the event will also be supported by the chance to find out more about:

finance and funding, including details of your bursary
learning and disability support

Dates for 2024-25 will be advertised here in due course

Respond to our offer letter sent via email

Once our Admissions Team has assessed your application, you may receive an offer from us. This means that we have accepted you onto your chosen course. The offers that we make can be conditional or unconditional.

Conditional offers

Your acceptance onto your chosen course is subject to you meeting the entry requirements of your offer. This usually means that you have recently sat an exam for a qualification and are awaiting the results of this (EG GCSE’s, A Levels etc). To have your place on your chosen course confirmed, you must meet the conditions of your offer.

Unconditional offers

This means you have already met the entry requirements. You will need to check your offer letter carefully as you may already have the required qualifications, but you may still need certain checks to allow you to join the course (a common example is a DBS check). Your offer will clearly state what is required.

The Offer Letter will be sent to the email address that you listed on your application. It is very important that the Offer Letter is read in full as it contains our student contract, all of our policies and procedures, programme handbooks, confirmation of fees and outlines the next steps.

Student number

You offer letter will include your student number, you will need this, so please make a note of it!

Apply for student finance (unless an apprentice)

Student Finance England (SFE) is a service provided by the Student Loans Company. They provide financial support on behalf of the UK Government to students from England entering higher education in the UK.

To find out what you are entitled to, read our interactive quick start guide

Applications to Student Finance are available online

Apply now via this link https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-register-login

Tuition Fee Loan, this covers your University fees and is paid directly to the University Centre.

Maintenance Loan, this helps to support with your living expenses, the amount that you can borrow is means tested based on your household income and where you are going to be living during the academic year.

Repayments

The amount you repay will depend on which plan you are on with student finance and the amount you are earning. Please visit the gov.uk website for more information on this – Repaying your student loan: How to repay – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Complete sign up paperwork with Apprenticeship Recruitment Coordinator (Apprenticeships Only)

During a signup meeting the Apprenticeship Recruitment Coordinator (ARC) will meet with you and your employer. Apprenticeships only

You will complete the following:

Enrolment Document
Checking of English and Maths (BKSB’s discussed if needed)
Discussion around any additional support needs
Employer Details
Skill Scan
Signing of contracts

Declare any disabilities and apply for disabled student stupport

Please let us know by emailing HE [email protected] if you have a physical, sensory, learning or mental health difficulty or disability as you may be be eligible for additional support.

You may not think of yourself as disabled, but when studying in higher education, your condition is likely to be considered a disability and may be eligible for additional support. But do not worry, we have extensive experience in supporting disabled students, and we can help you access this support to enable you to reach your full potential.

Eligible conditions include a sensory or mobility impairment, an ongoing long-term/progressive medical condition such as epilepsy or chronic fatigue syndrome; a mental-health condition such as depression, anxiety or borderline personality disorder; Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC), or a specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia. If you are not sure you have a learning difficulty, you can use this guide to help.

For more information please visit Disability Support – University Centre South Devon (ucsd.ac.uk)

Enquire about student accommodation

The accommodation is close to Paignton Town Centre and the beach with easy access to South Devon College.

Our rooms are fully furnished and the utility bills and broadband are included in the rent.

Room rates range from £500 to £560 per calendar month.

For further information please visit Accommodation – University Centre South Devon (ucsd.ac.uk)

Read the Stepping Up to Higher Education Guides

The online guides introduce new concepts and provide advice and guidance to help you make the transition to university level study.

As you will discover, university studies are quite different from school, college or work, but with help from your lecturers, personal tutor and the Student Support Hub you will quickly adapt and learn how to study effectively and independently.

Starting in Higher Education

Explores some of the different types of scheduled learning you can expect from studying at university level and how it may differ from your previous experiences.

Independent learning in Higher Education

Becoming a successful independent learner is essential if you want to enjoy the university experience and achieve your best performance. This means taking responsibility for your own learning, your motivation to learn, managing your time and reflecting on your progress.

Skills for Higher Education

Advice on first assessments, how to use referencing to credit others for their ideas, and guidance on how to find your voice within your university studies.

Digital literacy at UCSD

This details the software, with which you will need to be proficient.

Employability and skills for HE

Explores the importance of thinking about employability from the start of your studies at UCSD, including the support available to you.

Joining us at level 5 or 6

If you are joining us directly from another higher education provider or after a break in your studies, please take a look at look at this guide to teaching, learning, and assessment at UCSD.

Support

If you need any assistance working though the Stepping up to Higher Education guides, please email: [email protected]

Attend the Stepping Up to Higher Education workshops

STEPPING UP TO HIGHER EDUCATION WORKSHOPS

The stepping up to higher Education workshops are designed to support your transition into higher education, providing you with the opportunity to plan, prepare and practice the skills you will need at UCSD.

There are four workshops available in July and September

Managing your studies – Planning and organising your study time alongside family, work and friends

Understanding the Assessments – Understanding the different types of assignments, and ideas/tips to support you in completing them

Reading Effectively – Learning different techniques to support you in retaining the information you read

Academic writing – Looking at structure, style, and some dos and don’ts of academic writing! Touching on critical thinking and referencing

Book your space here

Download SDConnect app

Please download the SDConnect app.

As an applicant, the SDConnect app enables you to stay informed about what is happening here at UCSD, we will post regular study skills advice and top tips to help you prepare for studying in higher education.

Then after you have enrolled you will be able to:

Report an absence
Access timetables on the go
Communicate with your peers, lecturers and personal tutor
Share ideas and collaborate
Receive real time updates
Find out about the latest offers and events happening across campus

The app can be downloaded for FREE to your device via The App Store and Google Play Store.

There is also a desktop version available via this link.

Follow UCSD on Facebook and Twitter

So that you do not miss out on upcoming events, learner tips and student finance updates, add us on social media!

Facebook: /UCSouthdevon

Twitter: @UCSouthdevon

Receive an invitation to attend campus to enrol

We are excited to welcome applicants to the University Centre to enrol or re-enrol on a programme with us for the academic year of 2024/25!

We will contact you by email over the summer, using the email listed on your application form, to notify you of when you can come to the University Centre and enrol, if you are unable to attend please let us know by emailing [email protected]

After you have completed the enrolment with us you will be a fully-fledged student!

Enrolment days are Monday 2nd, Tuesday 3rd, Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th September 2024.