Before results day
It's never too early for a student to consider Clearing, even before they receive their results. Whether they're confident they can achieve the results they need or not, it’s worth having a backup plan.
Thousands of students find their university place through Clearing each year – it won't change their experience when they get here. The more you prepare for Clearing, the easier it will be, and we'll be here to help every step of the way.
Sign up to the Parents and carers mailing list
Register your details and we'll send you useful and timely information that will help you to support your young person through the Clearing process.
Join our mailing listTeachers and advisers Clearing workshops
Our Results Day and Clearing workshops are delivered to students in Schools and Colleges from May to July, covering how Clearing works and the transition from sixth form/college into university.
View our workshopsHelp them prepare for Clearing by:
- reading our Clearing pages to understand the process
- supporting with researching courses and universities to build their plan for results day
- working out their finances and which accommodation they can afford.
How to plan for Clearing
Circumstances can change over the months since applying to university. Researching other options ahead of time will help them stay calm and focused, and ensure they can hit the ground running on results day. There are many useful websites to help inform their decision, including UCAS, WhatUni and The Student Room.
You can encourage them to:
1. Explore other courses
What other courses would interest them if their first choice falls through? What are the entry requirements? What careers do those courses typically lead into?
Browse our courses
2. Sign up to NTU Priority
Make sure they're first to hear about important Clearing information, and front of the call queue on results day.
Sign up to NTU Priority
3. Go to an open day
Visiting a university in person is the best way to get a feel for whether the campus and city will be right for you.
Find an open day
Choosing a university
Your young person should consider the most important factors and their non-negotiables. Is it the course content, the ability to specialise, or the course's connections to industry? Is it the sports programme, or a location they can get home to easily with a suitcase full of washing?
Get them to sit down with their chosen courses and universities, and make a simple checklist to rank each factor out of ten. Which ones come out on top? A list of 3-5 options across courses and universities is recommended.
Read our how to compare universities page for more information.
Why choose NTU?
There are many reasons why we think NTU is a great choice. Open days are a great way to see how they feel about the campuses and city for themselves.
Here are a few factors which may matter more to parents when looking at universities:
Employability development
With great industry links, our Employability Promise, and placements available on every undergraduate course.
Our Employability Promise
Student support
We have a wide range of support services accessible throughout their time at university – from mental health and wellbeing to financial, academic, and disability support.
View our student support services
Safety prioritised
From Nottingham’s Purple Flag status for safe nightlife, to our mandatory ‘Consent is Everything’ workshops, 24/7 Security team and dedicated police officers, we strive to make NTU a safe and welcoming place for all our students.
Learn more about our safety initiatives
Opportunities to develop
With 160+ sports clubs and societies, our volunteering programme, regular arts events, competitions, and more that will shape their university experience and help them make friends.
How they can get involved
On results day
When is results day?
- BTEC: on or before Thursday 13 August 2026.
- A-level: Thursday 13 August 2026.
It's natural to feel anxious about results day – it may feel like their entire future hinges on the contents of that envelope. You can’t control the outcome, but you can manage the mood. Help to keep them calm and composed – Clearing is still an option if the results aren't quite what they'd hoped for, or are even better.
As a parent or carer, you should:
- be positive, but practical. Encourage them to have a Plan B in place and to learn about the Clearing processes.
- make sure they’ve got everything ready – from those key telephone numbers to their UCAS log-in details.
- make sure neither of you are on holiday on results day. If any communications are required, universities will want to speak with them directly. Failing that, ensure they’ve given you permission to speak on their behalf.
- most of all, respect and support their decision. Every choice has its merits. Let them make up their own minds, independently and with confidence.
Please note: it’s important that they make their Clearing application themselves. Universities are unable to discuss their application with you or anyone else, as this would breach the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
What they need for Clearing
If your student wants to explore their options through Clearing, they should be ready with:
- their UCAS ID number (and log-in details)
- their UCAS Clearing number – this will be available on UCAS Hub
- contact details for the universities they’re interested in
- their personal statement
- GCSE results – they may be part of the entry requirements on their chosen course
- details of any work experience relevant to the course they wish to apply for
- something to take notes with
- a phone charger
Understanding their results
When they get their results, your young person or student will either be:
- accepted by their firm choice
- accepted by their insurance choice if they don’t get the grades for their firm choice
- automatically entered into Clearing if their results don't meet the conditions of any of their choices.
Below are some of the potential scenarios and what they may need to do next based on their results.
Mission accomplished, and congratulations – it’s time to celebrate! Their university place will be confirmed online via UCAS, and a confirmation letter will be sent in the post. Keep hold of that letter – it explains what to do next.
If they meet and exceed the conditions of their first choice, they can explore an alternative choice through UCAS Clearing. They could stick with their firm choice, or they may want to consider a different course, or even a different university. Enquiring with other universities during Clearing is a no-risk option – their original offer will remain in place until they confirm an alternative choice.
It’s an exciting opportunity, but a big decision – encourage them to think clearly and practically. What’s the accommodation situation at their new option? Have they visited the university before?
Try not to panic – set the tone with enthusiasm, a calm head, and a clear plan of action.
In the case of a near-miss, we recommend contacting the University – they could still be accepted or offered an alternative course. If they’re set on that particular course, other possibilities include re-marking, re-sitting, or even re-applying in the next academic year.
Failing that, they could find new opportunities through Clearing. It's a contingency, not a consolation, so be positive about it – help them to understand that the power of choice is still in their hands. For more information and guidance around Clearing, visit UCAS’ Clearing page or NTU's guide to the process.
UCAS run their Clearing scheme every year, matching students to university places across the UK. As well as missed grades, it’s also useful when:
- they’ve applied to universities, but haven’t received any offers
- they’ve declined all of their offers
- they haven’t yet applied for a course
- they’ve missed the UCAS deadline date.
A gap year, related work experience, or just a change of heart – they will need to inform the university’s admissions office. Make sure that they’re 100% certain about their choice. It’s a decision that should be made before results day, and not in the heat of the moment.
Frequently asked questions
Students can apply to university through Clearing if:
- they haven’t got a place at their firm and insurance choices
- they've changed their mind about what or where they want to study
- they didn't apply to university before receiving their results and are now assessing their options
- they've done even better than expected and want to explore new opportunities.
If they've already been accepted on a course but want to find a different course or university better suited to their interests, they can do so through Clearing. Just make sure that they don’t decline their original place before they have another offer lined up.
If they hold an unconditional firm (status UF) place and request to be released, this offer – and their insurance choice – will be withdrawn and they will then enter Clearing.
Entry requirements are often lowered during Clearing, however, if your young person still doesn't meet those requirements, some subjects offer Foundation year courses to help bring them up to speed, or they could look for an access course outside of NTU, which may help them reach the requirements the following year.
Not at all! Students who go to university through Clearing have the exact same experience as everyone else. Our team will look at the student's suitability to their preferred course choice, and can suggest alternatives if they don't meet the requirements, but there's no obligation to accept that offer.
Your questions answered
Our team have answered some of the most common questions about Clearing to help you and your young person prepare for results day.
Preparing for life at university
It's good to have an idea of their preferred accommodation and how they're going to fund uni life ahead of results day. If this is your student's first steps towards independence, your practical guidance around budgeting and accommodation requirements will be invaluable.
Research accommodation options
Explore accommodation options with a list of requirements:
- do they need a private bathroom and kitchen?
- do they have access requirements?
- what's their maximum budget?
- how far away is the campus they'll be taught at?
NTU accommodation is guaranteed for first year students.
Figure out their fees and funding
Consider:
- how will they pay their tuition fees?
- how will they cover their living costs?
- are they eligible for student loans?
- are they eligible for any scholarships or bursaries?
Read our funding guides to find out more.
Additional information
Parent and carer guide
How to be there for your student as they're preparing to go to uni, from A-level results day, right through to the day they arrive at NTU.
Information for teachers and careers advisers
Our Schools and Colleges Liaison team works closely with schools, sixth forms and colleges across the UK. We deliver interactive workshops to support students with their journey to higher education.
Student support
We offer personal and discreet support to our students and alumni, including health and mental wellbeing, financial and academic support, and more.
Accommodation
We've put together a step-by-step guide to help your student book their accommodation at NTU.