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If your young person goes through Clearing, you may not be sure what happens or how involved you should be. This guide will help you support them confidently through the decisions ahead.
Register for Clearing updatesUCAS Clearing is how students find a university place if they haven't got an offer, don’t meet their conditions, apply late, or decide to change subject or university. It runs from July to October, though many courses fill much earlier. Clearing gives access to courses that still have places available. Most activity happens on results day, when students receive their results.
Clearing isn’t a last resort; it’s a different path to university that many students use successfully every year. For more information on the process, read our FAQs.
Many young people reconsider their plans as they approach the next stage of their education. After exams and a chance to reflect on their future, some students decide that a choice made months earlier may no longer feel like the right fit.
While it can feel uncertain, Clearing gives young people the chance to make a more informed decision based on their results, priorities, and what they want next.
It’s a common route; one in six of our undergraduate students came through Clearing in 2025 – and they have the same experience once they're here as anyone else.
Clearing can feel high-stakes and fast-moving. The way you show up can help your young person stay calm and prepared to make a decision they feel confident with.
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Before results day, help your young person explore alternative courses they’d consider, whether that’s preparing for a different outcome or finding a better fit. Having a shortlist of options and a few key questions ready can make decisions easier on the day. Encourage them to note down 2-3 courses they’d want to call about if plans change.
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Agree in advance how the day will work. Make sure phones are charged, and they know how they'll access their results. Your child will need to make their own calls, so a simple plan can reduce stress.
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Feeling prepared can make those first calls much easier. Make sure they have the key information to hand:
Level 3 results (A Level, BTEC or equivalent)
GCSE grades (English, Maths and possibly Sciences)
UCAS ID
Keep this written down or saved on their phone so they don’t have to search for it mid-call.
Here are the Clearing dates that matter. For detail, see our step-by-step guide to Clearing (and share it with your young person!)
2 July – Clearing is open: UCAS lists courses with available places so your young person can explore options before results day. UEA Clearing vacancies are live now.
13 August – results day: Most decisions happen today. Students get their results and start calling universities in the morning. UEA’s Clearing hotline opens at 8am.
11-18 September – UEA arrivals and Welcome Week: Students settle into UEA with a week of inductions, support and social activities to help them build connections and get ready to start studying.
19 October – Clearing officially closes: Many courses will have filled earlier so it’s best to act quickly.
Results day moves quickly, but a clear approach will help you and your young person stay focused. It’s completely normal if your child feels overwhelmed or unsure once results are in.
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Start by reviewing results and checking their UCAS Hub to understand their situation – whether they’ve been accepted or moved into Clearing. If they haven’t met their offer, they will usually be placed into Clearing. If they don’t want their firm or insurance choice, they can decline their place to enter Clearing. Releasing a place is final, so it’s best not to do this until they have another offer.
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Once they’re ready, encourage them to start calling the universities they’ve shortlisted. Most open from 8am. Places can fill quickly, especially on popular courses. If they’ve only just missed their conditional offer, it’s worth contacting their firm choice to see if there is a foundation year or similar course.
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Use a notebook or notes app to record each university, course and offer deadline. This will make it easier to compare options.
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Students can gather multiple offers and, while each will have a deadline, there is usually time to step back once initial calls are complete. Help your child weigh up what matters most; course content, location and overall fit, rather than rushing to accept the first offer. Comparing courses side by side and talking through the pros and cons can make the decision clearer.
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From 1pm on results day, your child can add a Clearing choice in their UCAS Hub. They can only add one at a time. The university will then confirm the place, so it’s worth checking details carefully as once the place is confirmed the decision is final.
Once your young person's place is confirmed, the focus shifts to getting ready to start university.
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If there’s time, visiting a potential university can help your child get their bearings and a sense of what the city is like to live in. Book a UEA campus tour on 6 August, or from 13 August for a Clearing campus tour. Book a Clearing tour.
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The university will explain how to apply for accommodation when they make a formal offer. UEA offers guaranteed accommodation for students who join through Clearing.
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Student finance applications aren’t linked to UCAS, so your child will need to log in and update their university, course, and living details as soon as possible. They can also apply for student finance now if they haven’t already.
Select your subjects from the dropdown or show all courses in Clearing.
Refine your selection for home or international fee paying courses.
If you already have your results, call us on 01603 591515 to talk through your options.
If you have any questions about our courses, please email our Admissions team at admissions@uea.ac.uk.
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