Parent and carer guide to Clearing
Clearing is now open! Register for updates today
Here to help you support them through Clearing - and a few reasons to choose us..
Award-winning support, including our free £5,000 for all UK full-time undergraduates, excellent employer links, world-class training facilities and a location in the centre of buzzing Birmingham, what's not to love?
If your child has missed the UCAS deadline for applications, but has their heart set on our degrees, they don't need to panic!
They get another bite of the cherry through Clearing, which is now open and stays open until 20 October, and they can apply through UCAS or direct. We hope our guide helps you support your child. Register for updates and we'll keep you posted.
£5k to support their studies - plus more financial help
If your child becomes a student at University College Birmingham, they shouldn't feel like the cost of living will stop them reaching their goals. We don't want them, or you, to worry, which is why we are giving our undergraduates £5,000 cash each to help with everything from food and bills to transport - which doesn't have to be paid back.
To receive the £5k, they need to be a full-time UK undergraduate starting in September 2025 and paying their tuition fees with a student loan. No catch, just some extra support. We hope it makes life a little easier.
What is Clearing?
Clearing gives universities the chance to fill any places they still have left on their courses in the final few months before the new academic year starts. There are many reasons why your child might go through Clearing:
- They are worried about their results and need a back-up plan
- They missed out on the entry requirements for conditional offers
- They changed their mind about what or where they'd like to study
- They are applying late
If this applies to your child, then UCAS Clearing is their additional opportunity to secure a place on a university course for September 2025.
Did you know...
You or your child can contact us in these ways:
- Call us on 0121 604 1040 (or request a callback)
- Live chat
- Submit an enquiry
Clearing FAQs for parents and carers
When does Clearing start and end?
UCAS Clearing is open from Saturday 5 July 2025 and closes on Monday 20 October 2025.
Is my child eligible to apply through Clearing?
Your child can apply for university Clearing courses if:
- They are applying for university late (after 30 June)
- They have not met the conditions of their offers
- They are not holding any offers (or chose not to receive any that they did)
- They have changed their mind about where or what they want to study (and have chosen to decline their firm offer using the ‘Decline my place’ button on UCAS Hub (formerly UCAS Track).
- The application fee for 2025 entry is £28.50
Clearing is not just for A-level students. BTEC, IB, access, mature, international students and others can apply through Clearing too.
We suggest that you child begins their search as early as possible. To find out more about our university Clearing courses, register for updates.
Read further FAQs about if your child has accepted a place at another university, but wants to come to University College Birmingham instead lower down this page. This includes if they want to apply for an adjustment to University College Birmingham if they have met and exceeded their original conditional firm offer conditions.
What courses can my child apply to through Clearing?
You can check which University College Birmingham undergraduate courses have places left by clicking 'Find a course’ buttons on this page, from which you can search and view each undergraduate course page. You can also find vacancies on our courses using the UCAS search tool from July.
How does my child apply?
Your and your child can sign up now for updates and guidance from University College Birmingham's friendly, knowledgeable Admissions team – who will give you more information on the Clearing process.
Just fill in our quick form so we know the best way to get in touch!
Or, if you’d rather call us directly - our Admissions team are ready and waiting to speak to you on 0121 604 1040.*
*Calls to our Admission team number are free of charge.
When Clearing opens, make sure your child has got all the correct documentation together, including their UCAS personal ID, academic results etc. This should all help to make it as stress free as possible.
To help your child decide if University College Birmingham is the right choice for them, why not attend our Clearing Open Day together. You can also take our virtual tour.
Can my child apply through Clearing before results day?
If your child is waiting to receive their exam results and are worried they might not get the results they need to get into their first or second choice universities, can they apply through Clearing before results day?
Although they will need to wait until they receive their exam results before they can officially apply through Clearing, they can still prepare now and find the course that is right for them, as well as do the necessary research into things such as accommodation, Student Finance and their new uni city, ensuring they are fully prepared to avoid the rush of results day and take their application forwards quickly and stress-free.
If they already have their results, but aren't holding an offer from a university, they can apply anytime from Saturday 5 July when our Clearing opens. They can give our friendly Admissions team a call on 0121 604 1040, or fill out our form to register their interest.
My child has accepted a place at another university, but would like to come to University College Birmingham. What do they need to do now?
If your child's place is confirmed with another university, we can only offer them a place if they are released from their original course choice into Clearing or they are eligible for adjustment.
To be released, they will need to contact their firm choice university and ask them to release them into Clearing. This will be at their discretion.
What is adjustment and how does my child make an adjustment to University College Birmingham?
Adjustment is for students who have met and exceeded their original conditional firm offer conditions and want to look for a place at a different university based on these higher results. Adjustment is available from A-level results day until 31 August. To apply for adjustment to University College Birmingham, your child should call our Clearing hotline on 0121 604 1040.
Do universities accept lower grades through Clearing?
Clearing is about matching your child up with a course that is available and suited to their aspirations, as much as it is their grades. So they should not panic if they do not get the grades they had hoped for.
We will take other things into consideration such as their reasons for wanting to join the course, their passion for doing so, the UCAS points they have accumulated, their personal statement, and the way that they approach speaking with our Admissions team.
How can I help my child cope with the potential stress of Clearing?
First;y, they should make a plan. Just in case they do not get the grades they need for their firm or insurance choices. And prepare them for the possibility of things not going the way they'd like them to.
Encourage them to start researching Clearing courses early, so they can create a shortlist and approach universities early too. They will no doubt have teams in place to answer any of questions and help your child along their Clearing journey.
Being prepared and getting everything in order ahead of results day will make the day much less stressful – and mean that your child is already sure of what they want to do should they not get the grades they were hoping for.
There are also lots of mental health resources they can access for free from organisations such as Student Minds – the UK’s student mental health charity. They specialise in student wellbeing and have created Student Space to help young people manage stress and anxiety, and find support.
How does my child secure student finance after Clearing?
If your child does accept an offer through Clearing, they will need to make sure they get their student loan.
The process for this will be different depending on if they are using Clearing for their first application, or if they previously applied for university, and for funding, in the initial application phase.
If they have already applied for funding, but have changed their university or course choice, they will need to let Student Finance know as soon as possible so they receive thir full entitlement. It is fairly simple to update their details. They need to:
- Log into their Student Finance account
- Go to ‘Your Account’, and select ‘Change your Application’
- Select ‘University / College and Course’ to make the change
If this is their first application to university this year, and they haven’t applied for finance previously, they will need to apply as soon as possible to give themselves the best chance of receiving their loan in time for the start of their course.
They can also register and apply at the Gov website.
If they do face a delay in getting their funding, contact the university to let us know.
Students from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales will need to apply or update their Student Finance details at their respective websites.
The GOV website is the best place to go for the most up-to-date information and guidance.
Where can my child find their Clearing number?
How does my child reply to a Clearing offer on UCAS?
Why hasn't UCAS Hub updated?
Can my child swap their firm and insurance choices?
My child is holding a place at University College Birmingham, but wants to be released into Clearing. What do they do?
What happens after my child has been given an unconditional offer at University College Birmingham?
At the end of July, your child will receive their online welcome information for their chosen course. This includes the following:
- Welcome information, including lots of information on University College Birmingham
- Enrolment and induction information specifically for their course
- Uniform and equipment information they need for their course
- Specific course information
- Any pre-reading their year manager would like them to read before starting the course
- Information for courses that require a DBS check
- Information for courses that require Fitness to Practice
We can't wait to welcome your child to our university!
How we will support your child during their studies
There are many places your child can find support at University College Birmingham. And while university is a time of independence, your child may need some encouragement from you to seek help.
As just a few areas of support, your child can call on their own personal tutor and CASE (our Centre for Academic Skills and English) for academic help, our health and wellbeing, disability and neurodiversity, finance and careers support teams and our Guild of Students, who can help your child adjust to university life.
Your child may ask you questions during a call or a visit home, and in our experience, concern usually arises from not knowing the answers. We can show you how to signpost them to the best support while at university.
Your child is considering us, but who are we?
University College Birmingham is a centre of excellence offering a whole range of undergraduate degrees in a wide variety of fields.
Where we differ from many universities is that most of our degrees are vocational, which may suit your child better than very academic degrees, and we cover everything from food and finance to engineering. We also offer two-year foundation degrees, which often require lower grades, after which your child can top up to a full honours degree, if they choose.
What can I do next?
Join our Clearing webinar
Join us for a free virtual webinar hosted by University College Birmingham's specialist Clearing advisors, who will guide you through the whole process, step-by-step.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity for your child to feel empowered and prepared for Clearing and for you to get some guidance as your child starts this next chapter.
Book onto our Clearing open day
We are holding our Clearing open day between 10am and 2pm on August 16, giving you and your child the chance to have a campus tour, explore our cutting-edge facilities and chat with our students. We look forward to meeting you!
When your child comes to the end of their Level 3 course or A-levels, they may start wondering what direction to take. Designed for parents and carers, this Guide to University will help to clarify what is coming next.
Is your child ready to apply now?
Clearing is one route, but your child might be ready to apply now. Join our open day on Saturday 28 June and learn what it it will be like for them study with us. Our friendly student ambassadors will show you and your child around our campuses and tell you all about student life.