Here are answers to the questions we get asked most in the run up to the 15 January deadline.
How do I link an application to our centre?
The applicant can link their application to your centre by using the ‘Options’ button in Apply. If your student does not have this option, please check they have not already entered contact details into the reference section, as these will first need to be removed. If you’re still having trouble, call our Schools Team, quoting your five-digit UCAS number, and the applicant’s Personal ID, and we'll link the application for you.
A student has requested to link their application to our centre using the ‘Options’ button. Why can’t we see this application?
In Apply for advisers, click on ‘Link applications to centre’, then ‘Applications to be part of centre’, and check the application is linked through correctly.
Do my students need to list all their qualifications in the education section, or just those they think are relevant to their application?
All qualifications and grades need to be added to your students’ applications, including any U grades or retakes.
The education section is the area where mistakes are often made. When you sign in to Apply for advisers, there’s a tick box called ‘Qualifications checked’ for each application. This is to remind you to check for mistakes or missing qualifications. It’s important that these details are accurate, to prevent unnecessary delays in the summer when we match UCAS applications to exam results provided by awarding bodies.
How do I add and approve references?
Click on the ‘References’ section in Apply for advisers to select an application, and add their reference. Double-check that the right reference has been pasted into the right application.
Once you’ve added a reference, it’s ready to be approved. But before you do this, we advise you to get it read by somebody else, to check for accuracy.
If you need to amend the reference, or add in predicted grades after it’s been approved, go to the action box and click ‘Unapprove’, then ‘Return to referee’.
Need any help with writing references? Take a look at our adviser reference guide.
Where do I add predicted grades?
Take care entering predicted grades, including science practical grades if they’re needed. Either a free-text or drop-down box for each of the student’s pending grades should appear above the main reference space. This is where you’ll add in the predicted grades.
If there isn’t an option to add predicted grades, or you can’t see the qualification you need to provide a prediction for, check the applicant has added all their pending qualifications in the education section.
How do I know if an application is ready to be submitted?
Once applications are ready to be sent to UCAS, they’ll appear in the ‘Send to UCAS’ area of Apply for advisers. Both the application and reference need to be approved, otherwise they won’t display here for final submission. If you're sending us a large number of applications (over 100), please submit them to us in small batches, and in plenty of time.
Before you send us applications, please check that each student has completed every section of their UCAS application, and all the necessary information is included (e.g. predicted grades). A warning message will come up if an application is missing significant information.
If you submit an application, and then realise something’s missing, you’ll need to inform the relevant universities or colleges directly.
Why can’t I check the qualifications box?
Make sure the applicant has marked their education section as complete. Until they do this, you won’t be able to check the box.
Why can’t I approve or send the application?
It’s likely the applicant hasn’t paid for the application.
What if I’m affected by adverse weather?
A. If you’re concerned you may not be able to send your students’ applications ahead of the 15 January deadline due to adverse weather, please contact us as soon as possible.
We hope this helps, but if you have any further questions, please call our dedicated Schools Team on 0345 123 8001 (international: +44 330 333 0239), or email [email protected].