Clearing is when universities advertise any remaining places they have available on their undergraduate degree courses. The word can often strike panic into the hearts of both student and parent/guardian but it doesn’t need to be a negative experience.

Here are our top tips for a successful day:

1. Don’t panic! Make a cup of tea and take a breath.
2. Obviously your first and foremost consideration is giving your child positive emotional support if their results are not what they expected and their university plans need to change.
3. Go on to the UCAS website www.ucas.com to find out what places are available for their subject of interest.
4. Revisit the universities that they declined - the three that were part of the original five on their UCAS application. Check to see if they have places available.
5. Make a shortlist of the top most relevant options available including telephone numbers as your child will usually need to call (not email) the university's Clearing hotline themselves.
6. If they are nervous about calling, reassure them that everyone they speak to will be friendly and supportive. Maybe try a practice phone call with them.
7. Get them to note down specific details about the conversation: have they been offered a place; is accommodation available if needed; what is the deadline for referral? Usually they will need to refer themselves on their UCAS Hub to their course of choice by early the following morning so they are allowed a few hours' thinking time.
8. Look into the logistics: how far away is the university? Does it have easy access to public transport? Does it meet their expectations of attending a campus or city university?
9. Consider the options: there may be other types of courses available that haven’t been considered previously. Maybe they could take a gap year and work or travel and reapply next year? Is retaking their exams a logical option?
10. Check out our Clearing advice page for more ideas.