Clearing guidance for parents, guardians and carers
Are you supporting a young person who is considering their options during UCAS Clearing and aren't sure where to start? Here are some practical tips to guide you through the process.
Understanding UCAS Clearing
UCAS Clearing is an important part of the UK university application process. It helps students find available places on undergraduate courses after the main application deadline has passed.
Students might consider Clearing for several reasons—not just because they didn’t meet the conditions of an offer. These can include:
- Changing their mind about their choice of subject or institution.
- They missed the application deadline.
- Exceeding their expectations and wanting to switch to a different course or university.
UCAS parents' podcast Getting ahead of clearing
Unpack the clearing process. Find out all you need to know to support your young person during clearing with experts from UCAS and Keele's Student Recruitment Team.
Before results day
It's advisable to have a backup plan, so you're prepared if things don’t go as expected. Here are some tips:
- Talk through the options together and look at available places on other courses or universities your young person is interested in.
- Make sure they have all the key details ready for calling universities, such as the course name and their UCAS ID.
- Check with their School or College about how they will receive their results on the day.
- Be on hand to support them during the day.
- Have they charged their mobile phone?
Have a look at the UCAS Clearing toolkit for parents.
Results day
On results day probably the most important thing to remember is to keep calm and don't panic, whatever their results.
Reinforce that they have options and may need to take some time to think about their next steps. Be open to different paths such as foundation years.
Whether they’re heading to their top choice, navigating Clearing, or exploring new plans—celebrate what they’ve achieved.
