Parents' and Carers' Guide to Clearing

What exactly is Clearing?

Clearing is an application process that allows your young person to secure a university place if they do not yet have one.

It is ideal for students who have changed their minds about what or where to study, are applying later in the cycle or think their results might not go as expected. In fact, over 38,000 UK students secured their place through Clearing last year, the highest number ever, showing how common and successful this route is. (Source: UCAS 2024 End of Cycle Report)

Where is your young person in the Clearing cycle

Every student’s situation is different, this table shows what to expect at each stage and how they can secure their place.

Clearing is open now, so if your young person feels ready, they can apply today by calling our Clearing hotline (01332 592025) or completing our online form. It’s a great way to get ahead and feel more in control.

What if they already have their results?

If your young person already has their results, for example if they took a gap year or spent time working, they can apply through Clearing immediately. They can do this by calling our Clearing hotline (01332 592025) or completing our online form, and they may be able to secure a confirmed offer today.

What if they change their mind?

If your young person has a provisional offer but changes their mind, they can still look at other options and go through Results Day Clearing instead. Nothing is final until they accept an offer in the UCAS Hub.

How Clearing works (and how you can help)

No matter when they apply, the steps are simple. Here’s what to expect and how you can support them.

Before they apply

• Encourage them to research courses and universities early if they’re thinking about Clearing. If they’re unsure what to study, many students find our Course Match Quiz helpful.
• Help them shortlist their options and check what’s available.
• Keep their predicted or achieved results for their top subjects handy, plus any notes that might help, like questions they have about their preferred course or accommodation.

Top tip: Don’t worry about meeting the entry requirements. We’ll talk it through with your young person and help find a path that works.

Making the phone call

• Stay calm and reassure them. There is time to make good decisions.
• Help them get organised: pen, paper, and their results to hand makes calls smoother.
• Encourage them to make the calls or enquiries as we need to speak directly to the student. With their consent, you can help, but it is best if they are prepared to talk through their options.
• If they are nervous about calling, they can use our online form instead. They can also contact us via email, WhatsApp or direct message on social media.

Once they have an offer

• Remind them they don’t need to rush. Double check course, location, and accommodation.
• They’ll need to accept their offer in UCAS Hub by adding the Clearing choice.
• Once confirmed, help them update or apply for student finance.
• Sort accommodation early so they have plenty of choice. Derby guarantees a room in halls for all first-year students applying through Clearing.

Top tip: It can really help to visit in person before making a final decision. Our Open House events are a great chance to get a feel for the campus, meet the teaching team and current students, and explore our accommodation and the city. You can also take a Virtual Tour to get started.

Finance

Once they have their place, make sure they have sorted their student finance. If they've already applied for this, they just need to update the university and course details. This needs to be up to date before they start to make sure they get their loan. If they haven't already applied for finance, encourage them to do so as soon as possible.

Find out more about undergraduate fees and finance

Accommodation

The other big thing to sort out now is accommodation. We can guarantee all first year students a room in our award-winning halls.

Find out more about applying for accommodation through Clearing