Parents and carers guide to university clearing

Whether your child is applying for a different university course or if they didn’t get the grades they expected on results day, we’re on hand to support them as they take their next steps into higher education.

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 child 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.

If your child 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. Your child will either need to accept or decline the new course offer – if they decline, they will automatically be placed into Clearing.

If your child 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 child should contact us if they have decided to apply for a different course.

Applying for a course at USW through Clearing is straightforward and, if your child 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.

Applying for a course through Clearing

Helping your child prepare for university is exciting but it can also be daunting. We've put together a list to help you guide them through their next steps before they join us in September.
Help your child leave home with confidence by teaching them key skills to live independently.
We're here to help you understand your child's university journey, from application to graduation.

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

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

A man and a woman with their daughter at a USW Open Day

Preparing for university

Skills to help them thrive

Everything you need to know about university

Five top tips to help your child through Clearing

If your child needs to contact a university to enquire about a place – they must do it 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.
Take part in Open Days – USW runs Open Days and live events throughout the Clearing period. By attending one of our events, your child can find out more about the campus, talk to the lecturers and discover their accommodation options.
Have an open mind – be prepared to look at options that you or your child may not have considered before. You never know, your child may discover their dream course!
Be encouraging and reassuring – it’s important that you reassure and encourage your child 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 for your child. 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.
Take time to research – it can feel overwhelming once the situation has changed, however, there are plenty of new options for your child. 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.