We know applying for university can be confusing, so we've answered our most frequently asked questions from parents, carers and advisors regarding Clearing.
Parents and carers
What is Clearing?
Clearing offers your child a chance to find a full-time undergraduate course to start this September. Many students find their university place through Clearing, so they wouldn’t be alone in exploring their options.
How does Clearing work?
A university will publish a list of the courses which have places available to start in the coming September. We list our Clearing courses from the beginning of July. As soon as your child has their exam results, they can apply for the course either online or by calling the university’s Clearing hotline which opens on A Level Results Day.
If they have the required exam results for the course, they can be made an offer in Clearing. Once they have been made an offer, they will receive an email from the university which explains what they need to do next to accept their offer and make arrangements for student finance or accommodation if they need it.
Your child can contact multiple universities to see what their options are.
Who is clearing for?
There are many reasons why your child might want to apply for university in Clearing:
- Their exam results aren't what they expected
- They decide to apply at the last minute
- They change their mind about the course they've already applied for
- Their exam results are better than they expected and they want to explore other options
How can I help my child prepare for Clearing?
Clearing can be confusing, and not just for students. So if you’re not familiar with the C word and how to best support your child during this time, we’ve put together a handy guide for before, during and after results day.
We also have a Parents' and Guardians guide to preparing for university, packed full of info on when to start thinking about university, how to choose a course and university, and invaluable explanations on student finance, accommodation, and what you can do to help your child make the right choices!
Can my child apply for Student Finance before receiving an offer through Clearing?
We would encourage you to make your student finance application as soon as possible – you do not have to wait until you have applied for a course or received an offer from a university before applying for student finance.
If your child has gone through Clearing and needs to apply for finance or change their course/university on their application, read our guide to their next steps.
Can my child still apply for accommodation if they get a place through Clearing? Will there still be places available?
Yes! They can apply for accommodation using the Clearing / Insurance accommodation application. An offer of accommodation will be emailed and they will be given three days (UK applicants) and five days (EU/International applicants) to accept the offer, make the required payment and provide a UK guarantor. Find out more information on applying for accommodation after Clearing.
How does UCAS track work?
Please refer to the UCAS website for more information about UCAS Track.
Are all of your courses available to apply to in Clearing?
Not all courses are available to apply to via Clearing. You can visit our website for information on which courses are still available, places available in Clearing and UCAS points required will be released in early June.
Please note that there is no guarantee as to when each course will fill up and become unavailable, therefore we advise calling us before making any choices through UCAS.
Do we need to wait until results day to apply through Clearing?
If a student already has their results to hand they can begin applying through Clearing from 5 July as long as the course they are interested in is showing that there are places on our website.
Can a parent/ teacher etc. speak to someone on the Clearing hotline?
We cannot take an application from a third party such as a parent or teacher, nor can we discuss an individual’s application with them. However, they can make general enquiries if they so wish.
Advisors
How do we inform universities of students' grades?
If a student has already received an offer from BCU we will have received their grades before them and you shouldn't have to inform us. If a student has not already applied to BCU but wishes to through Clearing, they simply need to call our hotline on results day and can share their results with us then. We will then be able to advise them of any courses they could apply to.
Can a student apply on results day if they are awaiting GCSE results?
No. Students must have the required GCSE results before being able to apply, therefore they must wait until the following Thursday for the release of their GCSE results before being able to apply through Clearing. Please check the entry requirements for each course to see which GSCEs and grades are required.