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Clearing and results day advice for parents and guardians

Clearing advice for parents and guardians

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What is Clearing?

Clearing is a great option if your child's grades aren't what they were expecting for an offer they received through UCAS. Clearing is also an opportunity to apply if your child took a gap year or has only just decided to go to university.

Clearing is for everyone to find the right course and institution for them. It allows your child to find all the remaining undergraduate vacancies at universities across the UK, starting in September.

What to do before your child's results day

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Before results day

To prepare for the possibility of going through Clearing, it's best to have an honest conversation with your child about a potential plan B if their grades are different than expected.

Leading up to results day you should ensure your child:

  • Checks the conditions of their UCAS offers before results day
  • Ensures that their contact details in UCAS are up to date
  • Checks how they will get their results on results day
  • Researches the courses they would potentially like to study
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Important dates

Clearing opens from July 2024. If your child already has their results (for example they've taken a gap year) they can apply from this date.

Clearing is busiest around A level results day. This means it's important to be prepared, so you and your child can act quickly to get a place.

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What will they need to go through Clearing?

Your child will need their:

  • UCAS ID number and log-in details for UCAS Hub (if they have applied through UCAS)
  • Personal statement
  • Qualification results

On the day

3 male students laughing together while studying in a bright library

Your child has now received their results

On results day, remain calm and positive to help your child explore what their next steps might be.

If your child has narrowly missed the grades they needed, it's a good idea to phone their first choice university to check if they will still offer them a place on the course. If this is not an option, do some research and decide what their other options might be.

Whilst Clearing is open until October, it's a good idea to ask about the course your child likes as soon as possible to avoid places filling up. However, it's important that your child chooses the right course for them. Take time to make sure that they have thought through all their options and are happy with their decision before they finally accept.

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Phoning Clearing hotlines

Once your child has found a few courses they like, keep track of the course names, course codes and information. This means you will be ready for phoning the Clearing hotline.

After your child has secured their place

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Celebrate their achievement!

Going to university is a big life change. It's important to celebrate your child's achievement in choosing the course that's right for them! Going through Clearing can be a stressful time and celebrating will help them feel confident in their choices.

To help your child get prepared for university, here is a list of things to do before they leave:

  • Ensure they have applied for a student loan with Student Finance - see information about funding and scholarships at UWL.
  • If they need accommodation, check what their chosen university is offering - see UWL's accommodation.
  • Think about what they might need to take to university, start packing and plan travel for their big moving day.
  • Read the course requirements to check for any books or other study materials they may need before the start date.

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FAQs for parents

  • How can my child speak to a UWL adviser?

    Contact our friendly, specialist Clearing advisers to discuss your options. We are here to help and can advise you on all aspects of our courses and how to apply.

  • When should my child contact you about Clearing?

    They can contact us about applying through Clearing once they have their final results.

    If they already have their results (for example if they’ve taken a gap year and they don’t have a place lined up at university), they can contact us to apply now.

    Popular courses can fill up very quickly. We recommend contacting us as soon as you can once your child has their results.

    Contact our friendly, specialist Clearing advisers to discuss your options:

    Find answers to some of your Clearing questions.

  • What does my child need when they are ready to apply?

    Applying through Clearing is straightforward and takes just three steps:

    • Step 1 - decide which course they would like to study
    • Step 2 - receive their final results
    • Step 3 - your child can call us and enquire about their chosen course and we will help them apply

    When they contact us, all they need to provide is:

    • their results
    • their UCAS ID number (if they have one)
    • the name of the course they're interested in

    Your child can give our specialist advisers a call to discuss their options. We are here to help and can advise them on all aspects of our courses and how to apply. We can review their qualifications and advise which courses they can apply for.

    Find answers to some of your Clearing questions.

  • How long does is take to apply through Clearing?

    Applying through Clearing doesn't take long. In many cases, we can give your child a definitive answer over the phone about studying a course at UWL.

    However, the process can take a little longer if they apply for certain courses. For example:

    • some music and performing arts courses will require them to audition or submit a portfolio of work
    • some photography and design courses will require them to submit a portfolio of work
    • Nursing, Midwifery and Operating Department Practice courses will require them to attend a selection day
    • if they have non-standard qualifications or if they're applying for direct entry into level 5 or 6, their application may require academic review and will take longer to reach a decision

    The process may also take slightly longer when our course tutors need to carry out an extra review of their application. This might happen if:

    • they don’t have standard qualifications such as A Levels or a BTEC Diploma
    • they have already completed some undergraduate-level study elsewhere and they are applying to join the second or third year of a course.

    Contact our friendly, specialist Clearing advisers to discuss your options. We are here to help and can advise you on all aspects of our courses and how to apply.

    Find answers to some of your Clearing questions.

  • How can my child accept their Clearing offer?

    UCAS applicants

    They can log into the UCAS Hub and add University of West London as their Clearing choice using the institutional code W05. They'll also need the course code, which they can find on the course page.

    Non-UCAS applicants

    Please follow the instructions in their offer email.

  • How long can my child take to respond to their Clearing offer?

    If they have received a Clearing offer we don’t have a fixed deadline for them to accept it. However, as demand for places is high, we recommend doing this as soon as they can. This will allow them to secure their place and apply for accommodation.

  • Why has my child been offered a different course to the one they applied for?

    This is because we haven't been able to offer them a place on the course they originally applied for. This may be because the course they applied for is full or they were not eligible.

    However, the good news is that we have been able to offer them an alternative course.

    Use our course finder to find out more about the alternative course they have been offered.

  • Why has my child been offered a Foundation Year course?

    We may have offered your child a degree with an integrated Foundation Year if they didn’t meet the entry requirements for the degree course.

    During your Foundation Year, they will study modules which are relevant to their chosen degree. They will also benefit from academic skills modules that enable them to succeed at undergraduate level.

    This is a great way to improve their confidence before starting their first year of undergraduate study in their subject department.

    Upon successful completion of their Foundation Year they are guaranteed progression onto the first year of the degree course.

  • Will my child need to attend an interview?

    This depends upon their course.

    Speak to our advisers and they can talk them through any requirements for interviews.

    Contact our friendly, specialist Clearing advisers to discuss your options. We are here to help and can advise you on all aspects of our courses and how to apply.

  • Will my child need to send copies of their qualifications?

    Yes, if they are made an offer we will send them an email about how to send us their qualifications.