Clearing Guidance for Teachers and Advisers

What is Clearing?

Clearing opened on Friday 5 July and will close on Monday 21 October at 6:00pm. It’s a great opportunity to find a place at university for students who:

• have only recently decided to go to university
• aren't currently holding any offers
• have changed their mind about where or what to study
• are expecting or have received exam results different to expected.

Talking to your students about Clearing

Thinking ahead and putting plans into place early is a great way to make the Clearing journey smoother for your students.

• Start talking about Clearing early, to familiarise students with how it works and what they can expect should they need to use it
• if your students feel that their exam results might be different to what they expected, help them to explore different options – whether a different university or subject
• encourage them to think about what they’re passionate about, future career goals and where they’d like to make an impact
• explain to your students that Clearing is a positive option that could help them to find unexpected opportunities leading to even better outcomes than they originally planned
• talk about contingency plans for best and worst-case scenarios – this will give your students peace of mind and help them to remain calm on Results Day
• remind them that over 38,000 students secured a university place through Clearing in 2023 – so they are taking a very popular, and for many students successful, route to university by using it.

Five key tips for success

Clearing gives your students the opportunity to find a place or make a change. Helen Mercado, Head of Admissions at the University of Derby, shares her top tips to help them succeed in Clearing.

Getting organised

Feeling organised and having a plan is a great way for your students to take any stress out of the application process. Here are some things to consider before they launch their Clearing journey:

• Helping your students to research available courses is a great way to help support them, whether they're looking for a different option, or they're applying for the first time. It's important to not only think about the title, but also the modules offered, course structure, teaching methods, how they'll be assessed and whether it will lead to the right career opportunities once they've graduated. Visit our Clearing Hub to explore the array of industry-focussed courses offered by the University of Derby
• encourage students to prepare important information including their UCAS ID, exam results, Personal Statement, the contact details of any universities they're considering and the UCAS codes for any courses that they're interested in
• if they've applied for student finance, it's important to notify Student Finance England about any changes by visiting their website. If they haven't yet applied, they'll need to do this as soon as possible, as applications can take up to six weeks to process - again, this can be done on Student Finance England's website
• for many students, university is their first opportunity to experience true independence, so thinking about where they'll be living is really important. It's worthwhile for them to research different cities, student life and the types of accommodation available. The University of Derby is a fantastic choice with these factors in mind - our vibrant student city is packed with amenities, while our accommodation was rated Best University Housing in the Global Student Living Awards 2024. With guaranteed rooms for all first-year students, all-inclusive bills and a packed calendar of events, it's the perfect base for students to make Derby their own
• lots of universities will offer the chance to visit during the Clearing period, and this is your students' best opportunity to get a true sense of whether they could picture themselves studying there. The University of Derby is running an Open House event from Results Day, and your students are welcome to drop in to tour our campus, industry-standard facilities and award-winning accommodation.

Results Day

Your students have climbed mountains throughout their academic journeys, and by Results Day, they’ve reached the summit. It’s easy for them to feel as though their future is hinged on the contents of an envelope, and this can bring anxiety around how the day could unfold if things don’t go to plan. There are plenty of contrasting emotions, and the excitement of students who have secured their university place only intensifies feelings of distress, anger and confusion felt by those who haven’t.

In reality, there are so many great options available to your students, however their day pans out. Here are ways that you can help them on the day, whatever their situation.

Students who haven’t met their required grades

Students may already know whether they've met the entry requirements of their preferred course if they’ve logged into UCAS Hub prior to collecting their results, so proactively seek out those who look as if they may need some additional support. Offer them somewhere quiet to discuss their options away from their classmates and prepare to act as a voice of calm and reasoning.

It’s important to celebrate your students’ successes, whatever the outcome. They’ve worked hard and have achieved great things throughout their journey. If they’re feeling upset or confused, reassure them that their feelings are valid, but remind them that there are so many exciting opportunities waiting for them through Clearing.

Encourage them to pause and take a breath. It’s crucial that they don’t make any impulsive decisions and whilst it’s important to act quickly, there’s no need to panic. Before hitting the phone lines, you could help your students to research and note down the names of alternative courses, collate their personal details and exam results (including GCSEs or equivalent), find a copy of their Personal Statement and a pen and paper. 

For current University of Derby student Jack Hanson, A-level Results Day didn't go quite as expected. Following a change of direction, Jack found his was to Derby through Clearing and hasn't looked back since.Read Jack's story and inspire your students.

Students who have achieved better results than anticipated

Amongst the elation of realising they’ve aced their exams, students who have done better than expected may want to search for a new course, whether one that they originally dismissed due to higher entry requirements or one that was already full. In this situation, it’s really important that your students receive a verbal offer before declining any university places that they’re holding. 

Clearing is a great opportunity to readjust and seize new opportunities, but encourage students to consider whether the perceived advantages of a new university or course are truly significant. Whilst university rankings provide some insight, they don’t guarantee that students will receive a better experience on their course, and if they have visited their current choice and felt at home there, it might well be better to stick with this option – the grass isn’t always greener!

Students who have changed their mind about where or what to study

The same applies to students who have simply changed their mind about what to study. If they originally applied before the UCAS deadline back in January, it’s possible that they may have found new passions and career aspirations in the months that have passed since. Support them with searching for new courses and weighing up their options, but remind them that they can only accept one Clearing offer once they’ve rejected their firm choice, and should they want to revert back to their original choice, they’d have to do so through Clearing with no guarantee of finding a place on the course.

Choosing whether to follow your head or your heart can be tough decision when it comes to deciding on a course. Read how University of Derby student Hannah initially chose to study Biomedical Science, but decided to pursue her true passion for Motorsport Engineering.

Students who are applying for the first time through Clearing

You might have students who didn’t initially apply for university but have recently decided that it’s the right next step. They can make a direct application through Clearing, and first need to create a UCAS Hub account, write a personal statement and provide an academic reference. Your students may also be able to apply directly without UCAS if there chosen university offers this – although this option is more commonly taken by international students whose route doesn’t correspond with the usual UCAS deadlines.

Read how a phone call to our Clearing hotline set University of Derby graduate Lilly on the path to success.

Making a Clearing phone call

The thought of making that all-important phone call is anxiety inducing for many students but reassure them that they’ll be met by university staff trained specifically for this exact scenario, who will provide friendly and non-judgemental guidance.

It’s advisable that your students make the call themselves as this will help them to express their passion for the course and provide all the necessary information, however it may be possible for you to act as their representative with their consent. Be supportive but don’t take over, and keep in mind that some universities offer online chat functions as an alternative.

Help your students to get started

The University of Derby is a fantastic place for your students to take their next step. Ranked Top 5 for Employability and Course Quality, they can expect to receive a gold-standard level of teaching here while studying industry-engaged courses that will put them at the cutting edge of their fields. Our promise to you is simple - we'll work with your students to find courses that spark their excitement, fuel their passions and prepare them to make an impact in their dream industries.

We're here to help you during this challenging time, and we've compiled some useful resources below that you can share with your students.