Whether you didn’t get the grades you needed, exceeded all your expectations, or are simply making a late application to uni this year, university Clearing opens a whole new world of possibilities.

It’s your chance to discover what your future could be, which can be incredibly exciting but also a little overwhelming.

That’s where the staff and students at the University of East Anglia (UEA) can help. They’ve all navigated through Clearing in some way before and have kindly agreed to share their top tips for Clearing success with you!

Alix Delaney, Head of Admissions at UEA

1. Be prepared: Most universities will have information about courses available in Clearing online many weeks before A-level results day. Some unis even offer students the chance to pre-register for information from them about their vacancies. We offer this service at UEA and students find it useful.

It’s worth having a look in advance and think about some backup options, just in case you do end up in Clearing. Make a shortlist and a note of the details of who you’d want to contact before the big day.

2. Visit: Most universities hold open day events around Clearing which will give you the chance to visit the campus, meet current students and find out more about life at that institution. It might be worth visiting one or two of your backup options beforehand, or - if you have time - you can visit the uni that makes you an offer during Clearing before deciding to accept it.

3. Access your email: UCAS and universities will likely contact you by email so ensure you have regular access to the email account you entered on your UCAS form. You should also make sure your phone is on and fully charged.

4. Call early: Once you have your results, phone the universities you’re interested in. Places are limited, so talk to the unis you’re interested in as soon as possible. Most Clearing lines will open at 8 am on A-level results day.

5. Have all your details with you: If you are calling, universities will often need to know your UCAS personal ID and details of your results so make sure you have it all to hand.

6. Keep calm: Don’t pick a course or university you don’t know anything about, do as much research as possible. Clearing moves fast, but there is still time to think through your options.

7. Accommodation: Don’t forget to ask if this is guaranteed or what accommodation options are available for the first year. At UEA, we have over 4,300 fully furnished rooms on our campus and you can apply for a place once you’ve accepted your offer.

“Don’t be afraid to change your mind” - Emily Dye, speech and language therapy 

Emily Dye, from Suffolk, used Clearing after a period of work experience made her change her mind about the course she wanted to study. She went on to study speech and language therapy at UEA.

“I was in the position where I knew that I wanted to go into Clearing, even before results day. I’d changed my mind about the linguistics and creative writing course I’d applied for and decided on Speech and Language Therapy after doing some work experience shadowing a therapist.”

Emily phoned UEA the moment she opened her results. “The person on the phone was incredibly efficient and asked me about my grades, then said I'd be accepted for an interview. We exchanged details and I waited to receive confirmation about the interviews and accommodation.

“My advice for students is to just pick up the phone. Waiting for emails to come through can be agonising and adds so much anxiety to an already stressful time. If you have an idea of which unis you'd like to apply for, phone them!

“I chose UEA because it was fairly local to me and I already knew about its good reputation. I’d also visited on an open day which I think is really important for you to pick up on the vibe of a uni.”

“Speak to teachers and advisors” - Gabriel Amida, philosophy, politics and economics 

Gabriel Amida went through the Clearing process after he narrowly missed out on his first choice. He chose the philosophy, politics and economics with a year abroad course.

“When I didn’t get the results to get into my first choice uni, I was ready to explore options which my results would allow, without having to sacrifice quality. I came across UEA through a recommendation from a former teacher, who I really admired. After all, if UEA could produce an individual like him, then what would it do for me?”

So, what is Gabriel’s advice? “Don’t panic. Thousands of people up and down the country go through this each year so it’s nothing to worry about. Instead, get to work to find out what’s out there and if you’re smart you’ll still be able to get your chosen course in an environment that could be even better suited to you than any of your other choices.

“UEA was one of my initial choices so it was always on the cards. But it was only after I was placed in Clearing I was pushed to find out more about the place. Research is key!”

“Consider a foundation year” - Ella Depledge, intercultural communications with business management 

Ella Depledge applied to study social work at UEA but entered Clearing after falling slightly short of her grades. She switched to intercultural communications with business management which included a foundation year, as the grade requirements were lower.

Foundation year courses are designed to allow students to prepare for an undergraduate degree, but who lack the typical academic qualifications. They usually consist of a one-year course which bolts onto the front of the degree.

Ella had considered both social work and business courses when she was applying and had her heart set on studying at UEA. She wasn’t aware that doing a course with a foundation year was possible and was surprised at how many courses have this option.

She says: “My main advice for anybody getting their results this year is not to stress because there are always other ways to still go to a university even if that isn’t the way you planned. I chose UEA because when visiting this university I saw myself there. It’s a beautiful campus full of nature which is important to me, as well as having a good nightlife which is even more preferable.”

Ella feels like this foundation year has helped her prepare for studying in a more independent way: “At GCSE and A-level we’re very used to being spoon-fed the content and told what to revise. At degree level, it's more independent so I now feel prepared for the different style of learning.”

“Prepare for interviews if you know your course requires it” - Maryam Ejaz, pharmacy 

At the majority of universities, if you're offered a place through Clearing on courses like nursing, pharmacy and physiotherapy, it's on the condition you give a good interview – whether that’s face-to-face or over the phone – usually arranged for a day or two afterwards.

Maryam, who went through Clearing in 2015 and graduated after studying for a four-year pharmacy degree, says: “No one wants to think about falling short of your grades, but you can’t predict what will be in that envelope on results day. If you’re serious about studying your chosen course, you have to prepare for the chance you could be applying for places in Clearing.

“You might want to refresh your memory of your personal statement and think back to some of the questions you’ve been asked at university interviews you’ve done during the application process. You may achieve your grades and not have to use the preparation, but at least you’ll feel less panicked if you do.

“I feared it could be quite a drawn-out process but once I’d been asked some questions, I’d been offered a place within about 10 minutes. I did a phone interview the same day and then I received final confirmation of my place, which I was ecstatic about.”

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