Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Clearing advice for parents
What is Clearing?
Clearing is part of the university application process where applicants without a university place have the opportunity to secure a university place after the main cycle has finished. It runs from July to September and applies to applicants who:
- Already have their results but weren't made any offers
- Already have their results and have declined all their offers
- Have applied to university after 30 June
- Had conditional offers but their results didn't go to plan
- Have changed their mind about what they want to study or which university they want to study at
If results aren't what was expected
Your child will know whether Clearing is available to them if their UCAS Hub status says 'You are in Clearing' or 'Clearing has started'. It's important to remind your child that if they haven't got the grades they were hoping for, it doesn't necessarily mean they won't get the university place they wanted. The prospect of going into Clearing may seem discouraging at first, but it can be a great opportunity for them to secure a place very quickly on a course they like. We encourage you to take some time to sit down with them and watch our step-by-step video guide through everything they need to do.
Useful tips for Clearing
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1. Encourage your child to research their 'plan B'
It's good to get organised. Encourage your child to make a list of alternative options, and have universities contact details to hand on Results Day. They can contact us on 0113 812 3113.
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2. Keep calm
Make sure they shop around and think through their decision before confirming a place.
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3. Virtual Tours
Research is key. Virtual Tours are a great way to explore universities’ facilities and accommodation and get a sense of what the student experience will be like.
Seeing things clearly now
Millie and her mum Jan give their top clearing tips
A level and BTEC results
Universities will accept applicants who have been offered a place and get the grades to meet the entry requirements. This process is known as Confirmation.
If they don't get their Firm choice, they may well get their Insurance choice.
If they don't get their Insurance choice either, then they can go into Clearing.
During Clearing many universities, including Leeds Beckett, will look at the possibility of reviewing requirements for applicants who have only just missed out, which means your child could still get the university place they want.
If they took A levels, T levels or BTEC qualifications, they should check their UCAS Hub on results day to find out if their place has been confirmed.
Making the most of Clearing
Leeds Beckett University releases the entry requirements and details of courses that are available through Clearing from early July. This is the opportunity for your child to start looking around at what their options are, if they don't get the grades they hope for. It is important that you also encourage them to do so.
Here at Leeds Beckett we use UCAS points as part of our entry requirements. Our handy UCAS tariff calculator will help your child find out what their qualifications are worth before contacting universities on results day.
They shouldn’t give up on the course they want – there’s little value in just picking any course to get a place at university. Instead, it’s a case of finding a similar course, at a university where they would be happy to study.
They should be asking the same questions as when they were thinking about their Firm and Insurance choices. Do they want a campus university? Do they want a city university? Do they want a university only so many miles from home? This way, on results day, should they not be accepted at their university of choice, they already have a good idea of where else they would like to apply.
The big message is that Clearing shouldn’t be seen as a negative. Every year thousands of people find a place through Clearing and are very happy with where they go. Encourage your child to go into it with a positive frame of mind – ‘if I don’t get the grades I’m after, these are my options and this is what I’m going to do.’
Doing some research before results day will save your child time. If they go through Clearing, they should ring around different universities to find out more about courses that interest them. Based on their grades, they may receive a verbal offer of a place. They may capture a number of verbal offers on the day; however, they cannot confirm an offer before 15:00 on A level results day.
Each university decides how long they leave a verbal offer open – at Leeds Beckett we would usually say midnight on the day we make an offer. The best advice is for your child not to wait, as universities are unable to guarantee how long places will be available for. If they've done their research in advance, then it should all be about thinking through their decision.
Read our student's stories to find out more about what their Clearing experience at Leeds Beckett was like.
If your child wants us to talk to you, for whatever the reason, at Leeds Beckett we are happy to do this.
However, due to Data Protection regulations we need their permission to do so. Without permission, we can only talk to them. Also, even if we have their permission to talk to you, it is still them we can only make an offer to.
If they are planning a summer holiday, it’s worth reminding them of this. They can either add your details in the 'Nominated contact' field on their UCAS application or, if they've already applied and didn't do this, they can contact UCAS directly on 0371 468 0468 to nominate you as a contact.
