What is Clearing?
Clearing is run by UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Services) and connects your young person with universities and colleges that still have places available for September, so they can find the right fit for the next chapter of their life.
Clearing could be right for your young person if:
- Their results were different from what they expected, and their original offers hadn’t worked out
- They applied to UCAS after 30 June
- They’re applying for the first time and ready to get started
- They’ve rethought what they want from their university experience.
When is Clearing?
- Clearing is open between July and October
- From Monday 29 June, your young person can get ahead and start their BU application
- Our Clearing helpline opens on Wednesday 1 July. We’ll be ready to talk through their options and answer any questions
- Monday 6 July: International Baccalaureate (IB) results released
- Thursday 13 August: A-level results day (JCQ results). This is the busiest day for Clearing. Your young person can add a Clearing choice in UCAS Hub from 10:00
- Mid-October: Clearing closes.
Preparing for Clearing
Before results day:
- Get familiar with Clearing together. Understanding how it works, the key dates, and what to expect on results day will help everyone feel calmer
- Sign up for our Clearing updates for parents and supporters for the latest advice to help support your young person
- Have an open conversation. Talk through different options with your young person and explore what they’d do if plans shift
- Prepare the essentials. Encourage them to gather their UCAS ID, Personal Statement, GCSE and A-level results, and contact details. A shortlist of universities and courses they're curious about, along with questions on course content, placements, accommodation, and support, will help conversations flow smoothly
- Note down key contacts, including BU's Clearing helpline, and make sure devices are charged and the internet is working. Connecting with current students can also give them a real sense of what university life feels like.
On results day:
- Stay calm and be present. Your support matters but let your young person take the lead on calls and decisions. Clearing places move quickly, so encourage them to reach out or apply online early
- Explore options together. Search university websites and UCAS for courses that match their results. Universities often show flexibility with entry requirements during Clearing, which can mean unexpected good news, including offers from their original choices
- Think beyond the course. Help them consider questions about support services, location, and accommodation. If Bournemouth University feels like the right fit, they can call our Clearing helpline on +44 (0)1202 966777 (open from Wednesday 1 July) or apply online.
After a Clearing offer is made:
- Review the offer together. Talk through the course, the university, the location, and what comes next
- Support the practicalities. Help them to add their Clearing choice on UCAS and confirm their offer, arrange accommodation and student finance
- Look ahead with excitement. This is the start of something new. Chat about preparing for university life, budgeting, and Welcome Week, because this next chapter is theirs to shape.
How to apply through Clearing
If they've already applied through UCAS, your young person can check their Hub page to see if they're in Clearing. Look for a status saying, 'You are in Clearing' or 'Clearing has started'. This is also where they'll find their Clearing number (universities need this to access their application) and the 'Add a Clearing choice' button.
Haven't applied through UCAS yet this year? No problem. There are three straightforward routes:
- Start fresh through UCAS Apply. Their application goes straight into Clearing and they’ll be given a Clearing number which they can use when calling different universities and secure an offer over the phone. Once they've found the right fit, they head to 'Your choices' in UCAS, click 'Add Clearing choice', and enter the course details
- Let us start an application for them. At BU, we can do this by completing a 'record of prior acceptance' form on their behalf
- Whether or not they've applied elsewhere this year, they can complete our online application form directly. They can also call us to talk through courses and check eligibility. We're here to make everything as simple as possible.
What is UCAS self-release?
- If your young person has changed their mind about their firm choice uni, they can use the ‘decline your place’ button in their UCAS Hub – no need to contact the university and wait to be released into Clearing
- This option gives them more control over their applications.
What happens after a Clearing offer?
Once we've offered your young person a place with us, we'll send them an email confirming the good news. This email includes everything they need to take the next step. Here’s what will happen:
- They'll head to the 'Your choices' section of their UCAS application and click 'Add Clearing choice.' From there, they enter the course details (our institution code is B50), and we'll give them a clear deadline
- Once that's done, the offer is officially accepted, and it'll show as 'accepted' on their choices page
- Then the exciting part begins. UCAS will send a confirmation letter, and we'll send a Welcome Pack to help them start picturing life at BU.
What about student finance?
- If they haven’t applied for student finance yet, now’s the time. The sooner the application is in, the smoother the start to term will be
- With a late application, there’s a chance funding might not arrive before term begins. It’s worth having a conversation about how they could bridge any short gaps, just in case
- If your young person is switching university or updating where they’ll live (perhaps staying at home instead of halls), they need to update Student Finance England with the new details.
Why BU?
A place to call home
- Guaranteed accommodation for first-year students (terms and conditions apply)
- Secure, supportive, modern and comfortable living environments
- ResLifeBU – exclusive to BU halls of residence, designed to help your young person settle in, meet other students and feel at home from day one
- Easy access to our campuses, the town centre, Bournemouth beach, shops, transport and nightlife
- Fast WiFi, spacious kitchens and laundry facilities
- All utility bills and an optional bus pass included in their rent.
Student life
- A lively student community with more than 80 clubs and societies
- A range of art, music and sport offerings and several places to eat and drink
- Diverse and inclusive culture
- Events and activities year-round.
Health and wellbeing
- Dedicated wellbeing services for every student, as well as 24/7 security teams on campus and in BU accommodation
- On-campus Medical Centre and award-winning mental health support
- Inclusive services for all backgrounds and needs.
Academic support
- Lots of teams who can help when it comes to making sure your young person fulfils their potential
- These include: personal tutor, programme team, library and learning support, disability and additional learning support, IT services, wider academic support services (if they’re experiencing personal issues that might impact their studies).
Facilities and equipment to get career-ready
- Modern lecture theatres and seminar rooms
- Live streaming equipment
- Outstanding specialist facilities, from TV studios to motion capture labs, clinical simulation labs with an operating theatre and hospital wards, and lots more
- Hardware and software that mirror developments in industry.
Placement opportunities for every student
- Placements range from a year to two weeks, and could be a requirement of their course or an optional extra
- They'll develop their skillset (such as using industry-level equipment and working on real projects) and networking skills, and ultimately enhance their CV.
Lifetime career support
- While graduation seems a long way off, it’ll be here before you know it. But it won’t be the end of your young person’s connection with BU
- They’ll have lifetime career support, access to myHub, our online careers portal, for up to three years after they graduate, and the opportunity to join our thriving graduate community.
It’s an immense weight off parents’ shoulders to know that there is support on-hand at BU in various forms. Katy’s dad
