Clearing advice

Unfortunately, not all students secure the grades they were hoping for. Some also perform better than expected and re-evaluate their options.

Either way, results day can quickly turn to panic. Try to support your young person through this by keeping them as calm as possible.

They should listen to their teachers’ advice and not make any rash decisions.

Remember, Clearing is a UCAS process that works for thousands of students every year. Most find an alternative university option and go on to have a fantastic experience.

What is Clearing?

How can you support your young person?

You will need to have the following information handy. Your young person鈥檚 Clearing number. If they are eligible, it will appear on UCAS. They may need to quote this throughout the day, so encourage them to write it down. They will also need their UCAS ID and results, including their A levels or equivalent and GCSE English Language and Maths.
Sit with your young person and look through all the options available. See if the alternative universities you have shortlisted prior to results day have any vacancies for courses your young person is interested in.
When you find something that has potential, your young person should call the university to discuss it in further detail. Encourage them to ask any questions they have about the course, university or student experience. If their grades match the university鈥檚 criteria, the university will likely make a verbal offer. Students can hold as many of these as they want, so don鈥檛 be afraid to shortlist lots of institutions.
When you鈥檝e finished your research and phone calls, it鈥檚 time to decide which option is a good match and formally accept it on UCAS. If nothing appeals, your young person should consider alternatives. For example, they could take a gap year and reapply next year. Higher Education is a major investment of time and money, so it has to be right for them 鈥� somewhere they can be happy and successful.

For A level students, the earliest they can accept an offer is 1.00pm on results day. So, there’s plenty of time to consider all options and no pressure to make an immediate decision. However, be aware that verbal offers do expire, sometimes within 24 hours. It’s important to check with the university how much time your young person has to make their decision.

Once your young person has accepted a place, it鈥檚 time to make final arrangements. They will need to secure accommodation, if they鈥檙e moving away from home. They will also need to notify Student Finance that their university destination has changed. The university should provide you with information about next steps with their follow-up communications.