Clearing is coming: everything you need to know

Top tips on how you can help your son or daughter prepare.

With exams largely out of the way and the summer fast approaching, you might be starting to feel like there’s nothing more you can do for your son or daughter ahead of results day. But there are still things you can do to help them along the way so by the time you get to results day on August 15 you can still be cool, calm and collected when it counts. Discover our top tips on how to plan for results day, Clearing and more.

Why Clearing?

There are so many reasons why your son or daughter might enter Clearing. You may think it’s just for students don’t get the grades for their chosen university, but this isn’t the case. They might have changed their mind about where they want to go, or have only just decided that they would like to go to university.

But no matter what happens, it’s important to remember that Clearing is open until mid September, so there’s no need to panic.

Top tip: Reassure your son or daughter that Clearing is an opportunity, not a last resort. And that they still have time to apply after Results Day for a September start.

Preparation is Key

Don’t get us wrong, staying positive is really important. And no one likes to think that things might not go their way. But failing to prepare for Results Day might lead to a last-minute panic, and no one wants that. Doing your research beforehand is a smart move and key to keeping a cool head on the day. So why not encourage your son or daughter to make a ‘Plan B’ list ahead of time. Work out what other universities interest them and jot down their entry requirements. Make sure you have a variety of options, some that accept higher grades and some with lower grade boundaries.

Top tip: Remember to write down university contact details – especially their Clearing helpline number – so you’ll have them to hand on Results Day! Ours is 01482466100.

Results Day

When the day finally arrives, remember to stay calm. Your son or daughter will be able to check UCAS track in the morning to find out if they got into their first choice. They’ll still need to go into school to collect their results regardless – so remind them to take their ‘plan B’ list with them, and a mobile phone with full battery so they can go through Clearing if necessary.

You can hold your son or daughter’s place in the phone queue for them, but they’ll have to chat to the admissions team directly. They might be offered a place on the phone, or have to wait for a call back – so taking note of the people they speak to is important.

Top tip: If you can, why not take the day off work, in case you need to support them through the Clearing process – or to go out and celebrate!

What Next?

Once your son or daughter has an offer through Clearing, they can login to UCAS track to register and accept it – happy days! The university will then be in touch with a confirmation email about the next steps.

Top tip: Once they’ve made their decision, take them to a Clearing Visit Day. This will help them to get a feel for the university and be useful when sorting out their accommodation.

The University of Hull will be running Clearing Visit Days after results day this August.

Check back closer to results day for more details - or if you're planning ahead now, check out our open day on Saturday, July 6 - you'll be sure of a warm welcome.

So now you’re an expert on Clearing – why choose Hull?

Book an open day