As a parent or supporter of a prospective university student, you may have some questions about Clearing. We know you want the best for the person you’re supporting, and it’s natural to feel nervous around this time. We’ve designed this guide to tell you everything you need to know about Clearing and help you feel well-equipped in supporting someone through the process.
What is UCAS Clearing?
Clearing offers students a final chance to apply to university for the current year of entry, allowing them to make the most of their results. It helps applicants find available spaces on a university course that suits them.
It isn't a "last resort". Every year, more than 50,000 students use it to find courses that are a great fit for them ().
Official key dates for Clearing 2026
| Thursday 2 July | Clearing opens If your student already has their results, they can apply from this point. |
| Thursday 13 August | Level 3 results day (e.g. A levels and BTEC) – the busiest day during Clearing Results will be released from 8am from the student’s school or college, and their application status on their UCAS Hub will be updated at the same time. |
| Monday 19 October | Clearing closes Please note that universities typically stop receiving Clearing applications when their courses are full, which may be before this date. |
Who is eligible for Clearing?
Many students come through Clearing each year for a wide range of reasons, not just missing grades. It’s often a chance to reconsider their options and make a more confident choice.
Students can apply through Clearing if they:
- Don’t get the grades they need for their firm or insurance choice
- Haven’t received any offers (or any that they want to accept)
- Change their mind about what or where they want to study
- Are applying after 30 June
How can you help your child prepare for the Clearing process?
You don’t need to be a Clearing expert to support them. Simply being there to listen and talk things through can make a big difference.
Here are three ways you can help them prepare:
1. Help them find available courses
University websites are a good place to start when it comes to finding the right course for your child. Lancaster’s courses with places available through Clearing will be live on our website from 2 July. You can also use websites like and to compare courses at different universities.
It’s ultimately their decision, but your help during this step will be really valuable.
You can help them think about:
- What they enjoy studying and their future goals
- The course content and options (like placements and study abroad variants)
- How different universities structure similar courses
They don’t have to apply for the same course they applied to in the main cycle (if they applied).
2. Assist with researching universities
With so many options, choosing universities to apply to through Clearing can feel overwhelming. Going through these questions together can help them assess their priorities and decide which universities would be a good fit for them.
Would they prefer a campus university or a city university?
Campus universities are self-contained with everything in one place, while city universities have their buildings spread across a city.
What sort of location would they prefer?
They should think about the distance from home, rural vs urban locations, the size of the city/town, and what there is to do there.
What accommodation do they offer?
Help them check which accommodation is on offer, looking at room types, location and price.
What do current students say about the university?
Looking at social media and review websites (like ) can help give a realistic picture of what studying at a university is really like.
“What really drew me to Â鶹¹ÙÍø was the campus and the collegiate system. Both create such a warm, friendly, welcoming environment. Our campus is so safe and fosters community with so many social spaces and food spots, as well as gorgeous green spaces.” – Izzi Gittins, English language and linguistics student.
Are there any online events they could attend?
Webinars and online events are a great way for students to find out more about a university and ask any questions they might have, all from the comfort of their own home. At Lancaster, we’ll be running events including:
- ‘What is Clearing?’ webinars
- Live stream campus and city tours
- Student life sessions, covering topics like campus, accommodation, colleges, societies and the local area
- UK Foundation Year courses webinars
- ‘Discover Lancaster’ talks and tours
3. Encourage them to gather the important details
If your child decides to apply to university through Clearing, they’ll need a few details on hand when they’re speaking to university call handlers. Having this information written in a notebook will help make the process much smoother.
Use our handy Clearing checklist:
- UCAS Clearing ID number (if they have one)
- UCAS personal ID number (if they have one)
- Their Level 3 grades (like A levels or BTECs) and GCSE mathematics and English grades
- Course titles and UCAS codes for the courses they’re interested in
- Reasons why they want to study that course: perhaps they enjoyed it at school, or it aligns with their career aspirations
- Clearing hotline phone numbers for the universities they’re interested in - most universities publish their phone number on their website, but this information can also be found on UCAS
How does the Clearing process work?
Entering Clearing
If a student doesn’t get the results they need, the status of their offers on their UCAS Hub profile will change to unsuccessful.
Similarly, if they haven’t received any offers, they will automatically be placed into Clearing.
If a student is applying to university after 30 June, they must register with UCAS and submit an application. Students can still contact universities about Clearing places before they’ve completed this.
If a student changes their mind about what or where they want to study, they can still enquire about Clearing places.
When a student enters Clearing, their UCAS Hub profile will clearly state ‘you are in Clearing’ and provide a unique Clearing ID number.
Making phone calls
Once they have their results, you can encourage your child to start calling universities.
It’s completely normal for you both to have some nerves at this stage. University admissions teams understand this and will guide your child through the whole process.
On the call, students will usually:
- Ask if the course is available
- Share their personal details and exam results
- Talk briefly about their interests
The call handler will clearly explain the next steps – they don’t need to have all the answers in advance.
“In the Admissions Team, we completely understand that results day can be a really anxious time, for students as well as their families. We are absolutely here to help! You might have lots of questions, or you might need to make some quick decisions. Even if the person you’re supporting has got the results they want, they might still be uncertain or they might be thinking about changing their course. We have a dedicated phone line for any questions at all about results or Clearing – please just give us a call and there will be someone friendly and understanding on the other end of the line who will do their very best to help you.”
Dr Claire Roberts, Undergraduate Admissions Manager at Â鶹¹ÙÍø.
Lancaster’s Clearing hotline
From within the UK: 0800 298 9542
From outside the UK: +44 1524 931300
Adding the university as a Clearing choice on UCAS
If they’ve been made an offer they want to accept, they’ll need to log onto their UCAS Hub profile and add the university as a Clearing choice. This is the final step to confirm their place.
If they’re already holding a place somewhere else, they can use the ‘Decline My Place’ button to release themselves into Clearing.
“Having my UCAS ID and grades ready beforehand helped significantly. The most challenging part was navigating the fast-paced nature of the day, but the clarity of Lancaster’s communication made the transition from research to application feel relieving.”
Dan Nguyen, business economics student.
How can you support your child on and before results day?
Before results day
These easy steps can help you both feel calmer in the run-up to results day.
- Understand how Clearing works (you’re already a step ahead by reading this guide!)
- Help them research and create a shortlist of universities and courses
- Suggest they check that they can access their UCAS account and that their contact details are correct
- Encourage them to keep checking their UCAS application for updates
- Recommend that they chat to current students to learn more about their experiences
- Check how they’ll receive their Level 3 results from their school, college or exam centre
On results day
Results day can bring a mix of emotions, whether it’s excitement, relief, disappointment or confusion. Whatever the outcome, your reaction can help set the tone.
- Be there for them – if you’re able to, just being around on the day to provide a listening ear can be a huge support system for your child.
- Try to stay calm – if the outcome isn’t what they’d hoped for, try to give them a moment to process before jumping into next steps. This can help them feel more in control.
- Provide reassurance – do your best to stay positive, remind them that you’re proud of them and that you have confidence in them to succeed.
- Encourage them to make phone calls – universities need to speak directly to Clearing applicants, and phone calls are the best way to do this.
- Motivate them – they might feel disheartened if they aren’t made an offer on the first phone call, but this doesn’t mean the process is over. Remind them that there are plenty of other options to explore.
“The process was simple and thorough. I cannot stress enough how polite and reassuring the team were. I had gone into the call feeling devastated about my grades and panicked at being entered into Clearing. Leaving those calls, I felt secure in my choice of picking Lancaster, and I truly felt better knowing that the process to enrol onto a course unexpectedly was not difficult at all.”
Amileah Afzal, biomedical science student.
What should students do after they’ve accepted their Clearing offer?
It’s normal to feel nervous after making a quick decision through Clearing, but universities will support students as they settle in.
After your child has secured a place through Clearing, you can encourage them to take these next steps:
Move student finance
If they’ve already applied for through the UK Government, they’ll need to log in and update their details of university and course. If they haven’t yet applied for student finance, they should do this as soon as possible.
Visit the university
If you’re able to, accompanying them to an open day or campus tour can help you both feel reassured about their decision. Visiting in person is the best way to see what it would be like for them to live and learn there.
If they can’t make it onto campus, we’re running plenty of online Clearing events for students.
Arrange accommodation
You and your child might be worried about finding them high-quality student accommodation at this point in the process, but many universities still have availability. At Lancaster, we guarantee on-campus accommodation to all students who join us through Clearing.
Pack and prepare for the move
If they’ll be living in student accommodation at university, they’re sure to appreciate your help with packing. Make a list together, including daily essentials, study materials, and items to help make their room feel homely.
It’s also a good idea to help teach them essential skills like cooking, cleaning and using a washing machine before they leave. This will help make their transition to independent living much smoother.
Hear from other parents and supporters
“Â鶹¹ÙÍø seems to put real effort into welcoming students. The campus environment feels safe and close-knit, which makes the transition easier. The college system and welcome activities appear to help students form connections quickly. As a parent, knowing that my child arrived somewhere structured and organised gave me peace of mind.”
Mehjabeen, parent of current student Alisha.
“From my perspective, the students’ union and wider university support systems seem very strong. There are clear efforts to support students with wellbeing, finances and challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis, which is reassuring as a parent.”
Dorota, parent of current student Majka.
“Trust your young person to do the research - gently ask the kinds of questions they might not have thought of, but let them make their own choices, and take the advice of the team at their college/school.”
Alexandra, parent of current student Martha.
How to find out more
If you have any further questions, our friendly Admissions Team will be happy to help. Email ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk or call +44 (0)1524 592028.
You can also sign up to our email newsletter for parents and supporters to keep up to date with need-to-know information about applying to Â鶹¹ÙÍø through Clearing.
Please note: we use the term ‘your child’ throughout this content for simplicity, but this refers to any prospective student you may be supporting.