User Guides & Frequently Asked Questions

EUCLID PG Admissions FAQs

General PG Admissions FAQs


Retrieval

  1. How do I know that someone is a Non EUCLID user?
  2. How can I retrieve all applications for a particular programme?
  3. The key board shortcuts indicated in the user guides do not seem to work. Why is that?
  4. How do I search for information within fields that has the dynamic list functionality?

Intray Use

  1. How does EUCLID know to send applicant Intray messages to the AMF Group Intray and not the ASF Group Intray?
  2. Can I forward an intray message to a Group Intray?
  3. Can I forward an Intray Task to a colleague?

Application Form

  1. What email is sent to the referee if the applicant ticks the box for EUCLID to contact them directly?  Also, how are they then able to upload a document, or does it need posted in?
  2. How do applicants access the on line application form?
  3. Can applicants store and then retrieve an application mid way through the process?
  4. How do applicants retrieve an application they have stored or completed?
  5. How do applicants include a personal statement in their on line application, and can they cut and paste the information into the on line application. Secondly is there any way we can ask them to tailor the text in this section to request specific information?
  6. How many words can the personal statement section accommodate?
  7. If an applicant is applying for different programmes is any of the information/uploaded documentation available to reuse, or does it all need to be re-entered.
  8. What guidance notes are provided to applicants during the on line application process.
  9. How do we handle paper applications and is there provision to scan and store any associated documentation?
  10. What if any criteria does EUCLID hold to determine or define that an application is complete and can be considered for a decision?

Clearance Checks

  1. How can I tell the difference between an Internal Clearance check and a clearance check that has resulted in a message going out to the applicant?
  2. There is no clearance check for the document I require from the applicant. What should I do?
  3. What would happen if we wanted to ask an applicant to improve or change their research proposal in a particular way?

Updating Records

  1. Is it possible for the applicant to update the original application?
  2. If a member of staff inputs the application, can the applicant then go in and update the details?

Communicating with Applicants

  1. Where information is received hard copy or by e-mails outside of EUCLID how is it possible to store and retain them within the EUCLID system?
  2. Will EUCLID be able to be used exclusively as the communication tool for applicants?
  3. Will all staff involved with applications will be able to see all messages that have been sent and received?

Offer/Rejection

  1. Does the letter to rejected applicants include scope for a reason for rejection?

References

  1. How does EUCLID handle reference requests?

Offers

  1. Does the EUCLID system determine the number of offers that can be made?
  2. Can the student accept more than one offer, e.g. if the student has accepted an offer and then gets a better offer (from another UoE/ School / programme) can they cancel the first acceptance and accept the other?

Funding

  1. Can EUCLID be used to apply for funding?

Reporting

  1. What reporting facilities will be available on EUCLID?
  2. Will it be possible to export data from EUCLID directly to Excel e.g. contact information to assist with conversion?

Timescales

  1. What are the University standard turnaround timescales for dealing with postgraduate applications?
  2. Does EUCLID generate auto reminders to applicants concerning their application?
  3. What is the timeframe provided to applicants to respond to offers?

Retrieval

  1. How do I know that someone is a Non EUCLID user?

    You will see three links on the top right hand corner of their record in the ACD screen. For further information please consult the Admissions Screening User guide at the address below

    http://www.studentsystems.ed.ac.uk/staff/Support/Web_Guides/index.htm

    Staff User Guide > Postgraduate admissions> Admissions Screening Function


  2. How can I retrieve all applications for a particular programme?

    It is possible to retrieve all the applications for a particular programme by entering the relevant programme code into the ‘Programme’ field in the ACD screen and clicking retrieve. A list of programme codes is available from the EUCLID website: http://www.studentsystems.ed.ac.uk/staff/FAQ/


  3. The keyboard shortcuts indicated in the ASF user guide do not seem to work.  Why is that?

    The Keyboard shortcuts are applicable only to PC users using Internet Explorer


Intray Use

  1. How does EUCLID know to send applicant Intray messages to the AMF Group Intray and not the ASF Intray?

    Screening staff are required to update the ‘Application ready for admissions decision (IAPCOP)’ Clearance check to ‘Passed’ as the final step in identifying an application as having completed the screening and being ready for a decision. It is this action that prompts the system to forward applicant responses to AMF Group Intray.


  2. Can I forward an Intray message to a Group Intray?

    Yes. It is possible to forward messages to group Intrays by clicking on the ‘Forward’ link next the message and selecting the required group Intray from the drop down list.


  3. Can I forward an Intray Task to a Colleague?

    No. While it is possible to forward messages to colleagues, an Intray message that is identified as a ‘Task’ can not be forwarded.


Application Form

  1. What email is sent to the referee if the applicant ticks the box for EUCLID to contact them directly?  Also, how are they then able to upload a document, or does it need posted in?

    All this info is included in the ASF/AMF User Guides


  2. How do applicants access the on line application form?
  3. Applicants can access the online application process from the centrally managed prospectus pages, or from an A-Z list of programmes from the University website. It is intended that school and college web pages should supply a link to the University online prospectus to make it easy for applicants to navigate to the on line application.


  4. Can applicants store and then retrieve an application mid way through the process?
  5. Yes relatively early in the process applicants are able to store then go back to the application at a later time. Once the applicant has clicked past the upload documents stage of the process an option to save is presented to the applicant.


  6. How do applicants retrieve an application they have stored or completed?
  7. Applicants will receive an email automatically when they complete or store an application. If stored for later completion the email will provide a click through to the application to allow them to continue. Otherwise if completed they receive a copy of their application.


  8. How do applicants include a personal statement in their on line application, and can they cut and paste the information into the on line application. Secondly is there any way we can ask them to tailor the text in this section to request specific information?
  9. Yes personal statements can be pasted into the on line application. This is a free text box so we cannot constrain what goes here beyond limiting the number of characters. There is some guidance given above the box, and research proposals can be separately uploaded. Otherwise the prospectus / School provided information should be used to address the provision of information concerning what should go into a personal statement.


  10. How many words can the personal statement section accommodate?
  11. The personal statement field allows for up to a maximum of 3,500 characters, approximately 500 words. There is also provision for applicants to input to a ‘Relevant Knowledge/Training Skills’ field which offers the same provision for characters and words.


  12. If an applicant is applying for different programmes is any of the information/uploaded documentation available to reuse, or does it all need to be re-entered.
  13. Theoretically using EASE to access EUCLID may present an opportunity to reuse some personal data used in a prior application. However at this stage thinking is that it may be problematic to achieve this. Consequently the current view is that if one applicant is applying for more than one programme, e.g. the same applicant applying for a PhD in Geography and also PhD in Geology then the answer is - they will need to complete two separate application forms.


  14. What guidance notes are provided to applicants during the on line application process.
  15. Applicants are presented with on line guidance notes for certain fields, and there is a traffic light system on the ‘tabs’ to the application which provides a visual indicator of completed sections. The tabs also allow applicants to navigate very easily around the application form.


  16. How do we handle paper applications and is there provision to scan and store any associated documentation?
  17. Paper applications will continue to be available for those unable to use the online process e.g. in the event the applicant does not have access to the web. Paper applications should be keyed into the EUCLID system by the school or college handling the application, and a flag set to indicate that the applicant requires hard copy communications. In this way those reviewing applications will see them on the EUCLID system in exactly the same way as online applications. EUCLID also makes provision for the scanning of the application form and any associated documents onto the system.


  18. What if any criteria does EUCLID hold to determine or define that an application is complete and can be considered for a decision?
  19. There is nothing that is hard coded into the system that will deem the application complete in terms of supporting documentation supplied. It is a matter for the school and or college to provide guidance to the admissions screening and management staff when an application should be deemed complete, and therefore ready for further consideration regarding a decision. With the application form there are of course a number of mandatory fields which must be completed e.g. Qualifications, Year of Award and so on and the applicant will receive on line guidance to ensure the application form is completed in full, to allow the decision to be made.


Clearance Checks

  1. How can I tell the difference between an Internal Clearance check and a clearance check that has resulted in a message going out to the applicant?

    In the application ‘Clearance check’ list you will find a column titled ‘Clearance check code’. The code for each Clearance check the system has for this application can be viewed within this column. Each code begins with an ‘E’ or an ‘I’. If it begins with an ‘E’, it is a Clearance check that has been requested of the applicant. If it begins with an ‘I’ , it is a Clearance check set aside for internal use only and the applicant does not play any part in these.


  2. There is no Clearance Check for the document I require from the applicant. What should I do?

    A Clearance check has been set aside for these occasions. It is called ‘Additional Application Information’ and can be selected from the drop down list of Clearance check you can select to create. This generic Clearance check allows you to key in the specific information you require from the applicant into the ‘Additional Information (displayed to applicant’ field.

    If you find you are using this Clearance check on a regular basis for the same information request you should consider requesting a new Clearance check option to be created as a change request.


  3. What would happen if we wanted to ask an applicant to improve or change their research proposal in a particular way?
  4. This is one of the standard clearance checks it provides for a request to be made to the applicant to refine or amend their research proposal and re-upload the proposal.


Updating Records

  1. Is it possible for the applicant to update the original application?

    Applicants cannot update their applications once submitted, that is to protect the integrity of the application. The application form (full) is a report of the application that was submitted at a given point in time.


  2. If a member of staff inputs the application, can the applicant then go in and update the details?

    No this is not possible, either staff or the applicant need to enter the full application. The candidate can provide supporting documentation if the application is input by admissions staff. Applicants can only update address details and respond to tasks.


Communicating with Applicants

  1. Where information is received hard copy or by e-mails outside of EUCLID how is it possible to store and retain them within the EUCLID system?
  2. Any non-electronic documentation may be scanned and uploaded to EUCLID. Any electronic communication can also be saved uploaded to EUCLID, and then attached to the application. To protect space on the server there will be a regular deletion of such material (e.g. 1 year after the student's programme starts - archiving policy still to be determined).

  3. Will EUCLID be able to be used exclusively as the communication tool for applicants?
  4. EUCLID can be used for all the standard interactions required with applicants in connection with admission. For example requesting the upload of supporting documents, making an offer, or reminding the applicant of important changes. Using the Clearance Check functionality is the means by which to request and record documentation and other information from applicants required to support an application. In such circumstances the system will automatically generate an intray communication to the applicant requesting the documentation, with an attached task allowing the applicant to upload the document. This should save time for everyone involved in the process.

  5. Will all staff involved with applications will be able to see all messages that have been sent and received?
  6. All staff who have the appropriate EUCLID access will be able to view all communications to applicants that have been generated from EUCLID via a specific screen (this will include intray, email and hardcopy communications). . Incoming messages will only be available to view in the intray to which it was sent; in most cases this will be the Group Intray enabling multiple staff to view the intray message.


Offer/Rejection

  1. Does the letter to rejected applicants include scope for a reason for rejection
  2. Yes, there is a range of standard reasons (e.g. unable to provide supervision in this area)


References

  1. How does EUCLID handle reference requests?
  2. Applicants will be able to supply references in one of three ways: by uploading the document, posting in a paper copy, or by supplying the referee’s email address. Where the applicant supplies the referee’s email address in the application process, the EUCLID system will generate an automatic reference request at the point at which the application is formally submitted. In the event a response from the referee is not forthcoming it remains the responsibility of the applicant to ensure it is received by the University.


Offers

  1. Does the EUCLID system determine the number of offers that can be made?
  2. No. Those involved in the Postgraduate Admissions process will continue to use experience and statistics from previous years to decide on the conversion rates of offers to entrants, and use this information to decide how many offers need to be made to fill the programme’s places. In order to take full advantage of the new processes, you should work out these conversion rates before you start making offers.

  3. Can the student accept more than one offer, e.g. if the student has accepted an offer and then gets a better offer (from another UoE/ School / programme) can they cancel the first acceptance and accept the other?
  4. An applicant is allowed to accept more than one offer. Once a decision has been made between offers there is no automated action within EUCLID, intervention is needed by the admissions staff to cancel the outstanding offer/acceptance.


Funding

  1. Can EUCLID be used to apply for funding?
  2. Funding is not within the scope of EUCLID. There is part of the application that relates to funding allowing the applicant to indicate how they will provide for their postgraduate fees and ancillary costs, however it is made plain in the notes to the applicant that it does not constitute an application for funding. This area could be used to signify any prior agreement between the applicant and school or college relating to named studentships.


Reporting

  1. What reporting facilities will be available on EUCLID?
  2. Business objects (BOXI) is being used to allow reporting on the data held within EUCLID. A series of standard reports is being developed to assist admissions staff in managing the application process e.g. applications awaiting decision from postgraduate supervisors/selectors. This should greatly assist the process. It will also be possible to create your own reports using BOXI.

  3. Will it be possible to export data from EUCLID directly to Excel e.g. contact information to assist with conversion?
  4. It is not possible to export data directly from EUCLID to Excel, however BOXI (Business Objects) referred to above can be used to capture personal data, which can then be used in the manner proposed.


Timescales

  1. What are the University standard turnaround timescales for dealing with postgraduate applications?
  2. University timescales for dealing with applications are as follows: Admissions response or decision follow-up. If information is missing from the application, the applicant to be contacted within 5 working days. If application to be held for decision date then the applicant should be contacted within 5 working days. Once information is complete (and if decision date used, once date passed) the applicant should be contacted with a decision within 10 working days.

  3. Does EUCLID generate auto reminders to applicants concerning their application?
  4. The applicant will receive reminder emails if they have begun but not completed an application at the following intervals: 15 days 45 days 60 days (to state that the application will be cancelled)

  5. What is the timeframe provided to applicants to respond to offers?
  6. Applicants will receive an offer via their intray in addition to which they will be sent an email message. If the offer is subsequently amended e.g. from conditional to unconditional they will receive further messages. Thereafter Applicants are given 4 calendar weeks (28 days) in which to respond to the offer: the deadline for response will be automatically recorded in a clearance check and may be extended at the discretion of the school or college.

 


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