Parents and Carers Guide to University Clearing

What is Clearing and who is eligible?

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

Their place hasn't been confirmed

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.

Applying for a different course

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.

Didn't Get The Grades?

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.

USW student and his mum are sitting together at a table in the Students' Union cafe and looking at a laptop.

Preparing for University

A prospective student with their parent smiling and talking to a lecturer

What to teach them before they leave

A parent and their child sitting together at a laptop with a notebook and pencil case on the table.

Parents and Carers Guide to University

Head of Admissions, Kathryn, is being filmed in front of a red backdrop. There are filming lights in the background.

Top Five Tips

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

They must contact the University themselves

We can only discuss their application with them. However, whether they contact a university over the phone or online, you can still support them, unless they've named you or another parent or carer as having nominated access to their UCAS application. Help them prepare by discussing their reasons for wanting to study the course and choosing the university, as well as 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, you can find out more about the campus, talk to the lecturers and discover their accommodation options.

Two students reading and discussing a textbook

Have an open mind

Be prepared to look at options that you or your young person may not have considered before. You never know, your child may discover their dream course!

A mother and son are sat on a sofa drinking tea together and laughing.

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 once the situation has changed, however, there are plenty of other options. Take lots of time to research all their options, help them to create a shortlist, and help them not to rush into making any decisions.