The UCAS Clearing process can be stressful for students, teachers and advisers alike. So here’s our guide on how you can help students make key decisions about their future education.
Why Clearing is an important opportunity for students
Clearing can be a positive experience for many students. With 64,300 UK students obtaining places through Clearing 2018, it’s becoming a popular way for students to enter higher education.
Clearing is an opportunity for students who:
- have better than expected exam results
- didn’t meet the criteria for conditional offers
- had a last minute change of heart about the university or course they want to study
Clearing dates
UCAS Clearing opens on 5 July 2019 but students can only start the process once they have their exam results (6 August for Scottish Highers and 15 August for A-levels).
Have a plan ready for your students
Results Day can have a big impact on plans so make sure your students have thought about alternative options. Encourage them to research ahead. What’s more important to them – the course or the university? What other universities have similar courses? Would going to further education college be an option?
Be prepared
Once Clearing becomes a likely option for students, get them to prepare for the day. They can register their interest in Clearing at their chosen universities. It‘s a good way of getting useful updates from universities.
Likewise, they should find out the Clearing phone numbers for their preferred universities. The University of Stirling’s Clearing hotline is +44 (0) 1786 466166.
When calling universities, students should have the following information at hand:
- exam results
- UCAS ID and Clearing ID
- personal statement
- qualification details
- CV
We also suggest students have a practice phone interview, where they run through their motivations for applying and make sure they can discuss their UCAS Personal Statement.
It can get emotional
Emotions run high on Results Day. It can be stressful for students, but it’s also a day that will draw your emotional intelligence and professional know-how. Be prepared for difficult conversations and a potentially exhausting day. Above all, be ready to point out opportunities and available options. For example, it may be the case that applying next year may be a better option depending on results.
Try to keep students calm and have a positive outlook with them. If possible, have a quiet space available where students can come and speak to you.
On exam results day
Once your students have got their results, get them to log into UCAS track to see the status of their offers. It’s important that they don’t just assume they’ve automatically lost their place if they haven’t achieved all conditions of their offer.
After that, get your students to call the universities they’re interested in as soon as they know their results. Please note that we need to speak to the applicant directly and we can’t discuss your student’s application with you.
Adjustment
If students have done better than expected they could use UCAS Adjustment to change course or university. Find out more about UCAS Adjustment.
We’re here for you and your students
Students will be looking to you for reassurance and guidance on Results Day – perhaps even before they turn to their parents. So it can be a tough but rewarding day helping them.
You can always speak to our Clearing team (+44) 01786 466166) to see if there’s anything we can do.