Clearing and results day 2024 guide for parents and guardians: how to best support your child

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Andrea is a parent whose daughter went through Clearing. Hear her story.

Supporting your child through Clearing

Results day isn’t only about students. As a parent, chances are you’ll go through a similar emotional rollercoaster as your child as you find out what grades they got. And if they suddenly find themselves considering Clearing, you’ll have a key role to play.

It’s not an ideal situation but with the right kind of support from you, going through Clearing could well be one of the best decisions your child makes. Tens of thousands of students go through Clearing every year, and countless success stories come out of it. Your main job is to know exactly how Clearing works, encourage and guide your child through it, and help them make the best decisions for their future.

Whatuni has everything to help them get through the Clearing process, from our Clearing course search tool to expert tips and FAQs to guide you both along the way. You can find and compare courses, book open days, find out which unis have places available, and see your child's chance of acceptance, all in one place.

How UCAS Clearing works

Think of Clearing as another opportunity to find a place at university. An increasingly popular option for students, it matches students looking for a place at uni to unis with unfilled places.

When Clearing opens, universities will publish a list of courses with places still available – you can find them using our Clearing tool.

Key dates for Clearing 2024

• 5 July: Clearing opens
• 21 October: Clearing ends

Remember your child can’t enter Clearing before they have their grades.

How to apply for Clearing courses

Your child should follow these four simple steps:

1. Search and compare Clearing courses – register with Whatuni to search, save and compare courses all in one place
2. Contact shortlisted unis through their Clearing hotlines – they'll need to have their UCAS ID, Clearing number, personal statement, results and any questions on hand before calling
3. When your child has a verbal offer, they'll need to add the course on UCAS Hub – the uni will then confirm their offer
4. Start preparing for uni – once their place is confirmed, it’s time for them to update their student finance details and sort out accommodation 

Clearing 2024 helplines

You can call these numbers for more guidance and advice on Clearing:

• UCAS: 0371 468 0468
• For those with hearing difficulties: Text Relay service. Download the app and follow the instructions.
• SQA candidate advice line: 0345 279 1000