Advice for Parents and Carers During Clearing

What is Clearing and who is eligible?

Clearing is a service for undergraduate students of all ages that opens in July. We'll consider applications through the summer up until the start of term. Your young person will be eligible if:

They haven’t applied to university
They submitted their UCAS application to study after the June 30 deadline
They didn’t receive any offers
They received offers they did not want to accept
If they remain unplaced after gaining their results

Top Five Tips

two members of university staff working on the phone lines during clearing

They must contact us themselves

We can only discuss their application with them, unless they've named a parent or carer as having nominated access to their UCAS application. Whether they contact us over the phone or online, you can support them through the Clearing process. Help them prepare by discussing their reasons for wanting to study their chosen course while ensuring they have relevant documents to hand.

Parents sat with their daughter in front of a large glass window at a USW Open Day.

Take part in Open Days

USW runs Open Days and live events throughout the Clearing period. By attending one of our events, they can find out more about the campus, talk to the lecturers and discover our accommodation options.

Two students reading and discussing a textbook

Have an open mind

Encourage your young person to look at options they may not have considered before - you never know, your teenager may discover their dream course!

A father and son sat in Ty Crawshays cafe on the USW Treforest campus. They are smiling and talking over a cup of coffee.

Be encouraging and reassuring

It’s important that you reassure and encourage them as the Clearing process can be stressful. Even if you’ve never heard of a particular course or university, it doesn’t mean it’s not the right fit. Help them to stay calm and encourage them to explore their options while assuring them Clearing is a good and valid path into higher education.

Hands of an unrecognisable person typing on a laptop

Take time to research

It can feel overwhelming when things don't go to plan, however, there are plenty of other options. Set aside plenty of time with your young person to research all their options and reassure them not to rush into making any decisions.

If your young person is in Clearing because they haven’t had their place confirmed on their original choice, there are still plenty of options for them. Encourage them to visit our website to view all the courses available through Clearing so they can see what they might like to study. They can contact us in a variety of ways if they have any questions or if they want to apply.
Your young person should contact us if they have decided to apply for a different course. Applying for a course at USW through Clearing is really straightforward and, if your young person is eligible, we can normally make an instant offer over the phone. They should have a list of their qualifications and grades as well as the course they want to study to hand. If they're already in the UCAS system, they should also have their personal UCAS ID number ready.
If they didn’t get the A-Level grades they hoped for, don’t panic! We may still be able to offer them a place, and they can check this on their UCAS Hub page. Alternatively, if we can’t confirm their place on their original course, we will still try to make them an alternative course offer. This will appear as “changed course offer” and “UCC” on their UCAS Hub page. They will either need to accept or decline the new course offer – if they decline, they will automatically be placed into Clearing.

Contact Us

A student looks serious while looking at their phone in a library with a pile of books next to them, an open book in front of them and bookshelves behind them

Cheerful student sitting at desk with laptop having phone conversation, typing on computer keyboard

Help them to be independent

Going to university will be a key moment for your teenager, and the Clearing process could be a large part of that. Empower your young person to take the lead and make decisions about their future with confidence. From making phone calls to universities to researching course options and booking open days, encourage them to make their own choices for their future while reassuring them that you’re here to listen and offer guidance if they need it.