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Be prepared for Clearing

The essential guide

Get set for Clearing

Prepare now so you're ready for clearing. The main thing is not to worry - with just a little work in advance you'll be perfectly placed to achieve a high-quality university place.

In fact, BPP University still has places available. Plus, we're different from most universities - we specialise in accountancy, law, business and health and concentrate as much on preparing you to impress employers as on your degree - as well as being more affordable and more flexible. So rather than being the end of the world, going through clearing for your university place could actually be the start of your fantastic career.

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  1. Prepare your back-up plan Before results day, follow our four simple steps so you're ready for whatever results day brings.
  2. What to do on results day Results day can be stressful – especially if you miss out on your first-choice place. Follow the nine steps and you’ll get through Results Day – helping you secure a university place with minimal stress.
  3. Your results day checklist To help you prepare before results day, we’ve put together a results day checklist.
  4. Clearing Sorted. What Next Take inspiration from our mini guide to summer work, travel, volunteering and preparing for university – including tips and advice about student life, living costs and accommodation.

Prepare your back-up plan

Before A-level Results Day, think about what you actually want from your university education. If you miss out on your firm and insurance choices, maybe BPP University’s professional and employment-focussed approach is what you need? To help you prepare for Clearing, simply follow the four steps below – you can get started on these right away.

  1. Review your course choice Do you still want to study your chosen course or change direction? Maybe, instead of a more traditional subject, you’re looking for a vocational course.
  2. Does BPP University College offer that course? Check our website at www.bpp.com/ug to review the course content, entry requirements, facilities, our low fees and more.
  3. Call and talk A quick phone call enables you to get answers to all the questions you may have about BPP University and your chosen course.
  4. Secure your place before results day. We can secure your place before A-level results day, so take the pressure off and call us now.

Things to consider

When deciding on your Clearing shortlist, it’s important to consider much more than just which institutions are likely to have places available. Here’s a list of what else to bear in mind.

Location.

Decide if you want to study in a particular town or city. Or maybe you’d prefer distance learning allowing you to live at home while studying, and even to study part-time while you work and earn money.

Duration and intensity.

Maybe you wish to study full-time for 3 years. Or perhaps you’d rather fast-track your tuition, with a 2 year degree, or learn part-time over a longer period?

Career prospects.

How well will your degree prepare you for your chosen career?

Quality of tuition and facilities.

Consider the experience of the people who’ll teach you. Will they, and the institution’s other resources, enable you to fulfil your potential?

Reputation.

What’s the institution’s pass record like?

Student life.

Do you want to study in a campus or a city-based environment?

Affordability.

Tuition fees now vary (sometimes quite dramatically) between universities, so make sure you check the fees for your course before you apply to another university. This will affect how quickly you’ll be able to pay off any student debts you’ve accrued whilst studying. Also check out the ‘Clearing sorted – what next?’ section to help with tips and advice about student life, living costs and accommodation.

What to do on results day

Results Day can be stressful – especially if you miss out on your firm and insurance places and need to go through Clearing. Follow the nine steps in this section, and you’ll get through your Results Day.

  1. Check your results Log-on to UCAS Track to see if you’ve been accepted at your firm or insurance choice. Alternatively you might collect your results from your school or college. If you’ve missed your requirements for your firm choice, follow the steps below.
  2. Call your firm choice There may still be a chance you could be accepted even if you didn’t get the results you were planning for. If your firm choice won’t accept you, your application will be released to your insurance choice for consideration. In some cases, your firm institution may not yet have decided whether to accept you or not. They might be waiting to see how many places they have available. If you don’t wish to wait for an answer, you will have to request to be released, in which case your application will go straight to your insurance choice, or you’ll become eligible for Clearing if you didn’t choose an insurance choice.
  3. Call your insurance choice If you've met the conditions of your insurance choice then your place there is secure. If you have missed your conditions, your insurance choice may still accept you. Either way, if your place is confirmed at your insurance choice but you have decided you do not wish to attend, you must ask to be released into Clearing to find a place elsewhere. Consider this carefully as once released you are no longer entitled to your place. Please note that being released may not happen immediately, so check your UCAS Track account regularly. Your insurance choice might not be able to make an immediate decision on accepting you, if you’re not prepared to wait, you’ll need to ask to be released.
  4. Get your clearing number Once you’re eligible for Clearing, your unique Clearing number will be visible on your UCAS Track page and you’ll have the option to ‘Add Clearing Choice’. Make a note of your Clearing number as you’ll need this for the next step.
  5. Check availability On results day BPP University’s clearing places will be listed on the UCAS website and in the Telegraph newspaper.
  6. Make that call Phone BPP University. Phone lines may be busy, but perservere. It is a stressful time, but stay positive, focussed and ready to answer any questions. Be prepared to talk about yourself, your grades, why you’ve chosen your particular course.
  7. Secure offers If you are offered a place you need to make a decision as quickly as possible as courses fill up fast. You will need the course code and institution code so you can add your BPP University place onto UCAS Track.
  8. Add your Clearing choice When you’ve chosen to accept an offer, log on to UCAS Track and add the details of your clearing choice. You should only add a choice if you have spoken to a university and received a provisional offer.
  9. Track your progress Once your Clearing choice has been added, your university of choice will receive an alert to review your application. If the university accepts you, your status on UCAS Track will change and you will receive formal confirmation of your place from the university. If you are unsuccessful, you will be able to add another Clearing choice.

Clearing sorted - Enjoy your holiday

Earn some extra cash

A summer job is the perfect way to get some cash in your pocket. It will also help develop the self confidence and communication and customer-service skills you’ll need later in your career.

Many employers hire extra staff during the summer months to work in places like shops, bars and garden centres. So check-out the jobs sections in newspapers, or contact the career service at the school you’re leaving or college you’re joining. Ask your family and friends too – networking isn’t just for permanent work, and getting your name out there can only help.

You might also want to look for an internship – these tend to be unpaid, but allow you the chance to gain invaluable experience in areas related to your degree. University career websites or the companies offering internships will have details of these. Also be sure to research the companies and roles you’re applying for. That way you’ll have a good idea of what the work entails, and be able to impress if there’s an interview stage later on.

Volunteer

Volunteering gives you the satisfaction of time and effort well spent. You’ll also build up invaluable experience and priceless memories. It could even change your perspective on life.

The range of UK and overseas volunteering opportunities is huge. Whatever your interest skills or experience, there’s something fun and useful you can do to help.

You’ll normally receive payment for your out-of-pocket expenses, clear guidance on your role, and appropriate training and support. A good place to look for volunteering opportunities is the do-it website. www.do-it.org.uk.