Teachers and advisors - Staffordshire University

We know that on results day, plans can change rapidly, and emotions can be high. This Clearing guide for teachers and advisors aims to help you prepare your students for any outcome to ensure their college experience ends on a high.

Clearing has evolved into a popular path to university, offering plenty of advantages. During Clearing, universities can be more flexible with entry requirements, and the application process is much quicker compared to the main cycle.

What do we know about Clearing 2023?

Of the applicants polled...

93% believe they will get a place at university in 2023

UCAS

86% are confident they will get the required results

UCAS

64% are committed to their first choice university

UCAS

We know 2023 has the potential to be even trickier to navigate than previous years. According to UCAS, year on year, applicants are increasingly confident that they will get a place at university. While this isn’t surprising given the uncertainty that 2022 applicants had with exams vs Teacher Assessed Grades and the disruption to their studies due to the COVID pandemic, it may be a misplaced confidence.

As we know, with a shift in A-level grade boundaries (back to a pre-pandemic level) planned for this year, some may miss out on their predicted grades and be entered into Clearing. This may result in disappointed students come results day when they either don’t get a place their first choice, or even into University at all.

At Staffordshire University, we are here for all students. Our team are experienced in finding the best course for your students and helping you to guide them through what is a potentially distressing time.

If you have any questions during this time, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with your key account manager or give us a call on 0800 590 830 – it’s the same number for students who find themselves looking for a new course – they can also message us on their preferred social channel or head online to input their grades into the offer calculator and find out if we can make them an offer.

If this is your first Clearing

If you're new to Clearing, then here are our top tips to support your learners. You may also want to check out our step-by-step guide to how Clearing works.

A group of students at Staffordshire University

Preparation is key

It's important to educate your students about the Clearing process as early as possible. If any of your students might find themselves in Clearing, or if some haven't applied yet, let's guide them in the right direction.

Support your learners by encouraging them to explore alternative options, including different courses and alternative pathways to study.

Encourage them to think about:

What matters more to them: the specific course or the university?
Are there other courses available at their chosen institution?
Does their desired course offer a foundation year?
Which other universities offer similar choices?

A pair of students and a member of staff at Staffordshire University

Get results day ready

Let's get them ready for results day. It can sneak up on us all, and when it arrives, it can be quite a rollercoaster. So, it's wise for students to prepare everything they might need in advance. Suggest they jot down a list of universities they might want to contact on the day, along with the respective clearing phone lines.

For Staffordshire University, they can reach the clearing hotline at 0800 590 830.

Also, encourage them to review their UCAS personal statement. Universities may ask them questions around why they want to study a particular course at that university. Help them prepare well-crafted answers in advance. It might be helpful to have them role-play phone interviews so they can feel confident when the time comes.

Some universities might be able to confirm in advance what their entry criteria is during clearing, at Staffordshire University, we’re transparent with our expectations, allowing students to check in advance if they might get an offer, by using our Offer Calculator.

A-level results day

Thursday 17 August 2023

While this can be a nerve-wracking day, remind your students that there are still plenty of options available to them.

Once they receive their results, have them log in to their UCAS hub to check the status of their offers. It's important that they don't jump to conclusions and assume they've lost their place if they haven't met all the conditions of their offers.

Encourage students to reach out to the universities they're interested in as soon as possible. Remember, universities need to speak directly with the applicant, so they'll have to handle the communication themselves. Unfortunately, we can't discuss a student's application with you.

Before they make contact, remind them to gather the following information:

Results
UCAS personal ID number
UCAS Clearing ID (found on the UCAS hub if they've had an offer rejected)
UCAS Personal Statement
CV, if they have one

Also, ask them to prepare a list of questions they might want to ask about the university, their preferred courses, or any aspect of student life like accommodation and support services.

And finally...

It's important to reassure your students. Clearing can sometimes carry misconceptions, but there's absolutely no stigma attached to it. When students begin their university studies, no one will know whether they entered through the main cycle or clearing.

If you need any assistance or if we can support you in any way, please feel free to reach out to your dedicated Staffordshire University liaison officer. We're here to help!