Clearing Guide - Parents and Carers

Exam periods are a stressful time for all members of the family, and it can feel like a lot is riding on results day. While your child’s results will impact whether they can attend their university choices, it’s not the end of the world if they don’t achieve the right grades or change their mind: they still have the option to apply through Clearing. 

Learn all about Clearing and the ways you can support your child during this period below. 

What is Clearing? 

Clearing is a way that your child can study a university course if they: 

• don’t receive any offers from universities 
• don’t make the grades for their firm or insurance choices 
• change their mind about their top choices of course and university 
• apply after 30 June 

After results day, universities often still have spaces available for courses in a wide range of subject areas. Your child will likely need to contact a university directly to find out if they have places available in the area(s) they would like to study. The university will then check their course vacancies before taking your child through the next steps. 

How can you help your child around Clearing? 

Before results day  

• You have time to prepare, so it’s important to find out what will happen if your child applies for university through Clearing. You can learn what happens during and after application, work out the likely timelines involved, and inform yourself about the overall process. 
• Encourage your child to look at other universities, while emphasising that it isn’t the end of the world if they don’t get the grades their firm and insurance choice universities require. 
• In the “Contacts and residency details” of your dependent’s application, they have the option to add your name for “nominated access”. This means you can contact UCAS or the universities they applied to, to discuss their application status. If they add your name, you’ll just need their Personal ID and to be able to answer basic security questions when you make the call. 

On results day  

• Be positive and supportive, whatever happens. If your child doesn’t achieve the grades they hope for, they are likely to be upset. Remind them that many successful people have entered university via Clearing and gone on to achieve great things. 
• Stay calm. If your child needs to apply via Clearing, it can be tempting to rush to take action, but your dependant will need reassurance, guidance, and encouragement above all else.
• Your child may want a lot of your help, or they may want to do things themselves. Either way, let them know you are there if you need them, and try not to take control.
• Clearing Plus matches students to their most suited Clearing courses but matches only become available if your child is unsuccessful with their application, or if they are applying for the first time for a place in Clearing. Review matches in Clearing Plus in the UCAS Hub by clicking the “View your matches” button in their application. 
• When your dependent is making calls, help them stay organised. While they are on the phone, it’s a good idea that they have the full list of their results (including GCSEs), their UCAS number (if they have one), and something to take notes on (phone, computer, or good old pen and paper). 

After results day  

• Stay patient but encourage your child to keep checking their application once they have applied for Clearing. 
• Consider taking your child to visit the university campus they have applied for, to make sure it’s the right choice for them. 
• When they have received an offer and want to accept it, they will need to click on “Add Clearing Choice” in UCAS Hub and fill in the details for the course and university they want to accept. The university will then be notified, and once they have confirmed the place’s availability, your child’s place will be guaranteed.