Kent's Clearing guide for parents
Clearing guide for parents and carers
Every year, thousands of students use Clearing to make decisions and changes that benefit their future. This guide takes you through the ins and outs of the process and what you can do to support your child if they decide to use Clearing.
Kent's On Demand Clearing Online Information Event is now available to view. Sign up below to review the content and discover where you’ll be living and studying. Why not visit us in person and take a campus tour?
Clearing 2022
Results day can be a nerve-racking time for students. Whether you’re a parent, legal guardian, supporter, carer or step-parent, we’re here to help you support them.
How will I know if my child is eligible for Clearing?
Your child can use Clearing if they:
- have had a change of heart since they applied to UCAS and want to explore other options
- have received unexpected exam results and need to look for alternative courses
- haven’t applied through UCAS before
- applied through UCAS but didn’t receive any offers by 30 June 2022.
When does Clearing start?
Clearing will open on 5 July 2022. If your child is taking A levels, they will be able to use it from results day on 18 August 2022. Students taking BTECs or other qualifications can enter as soon as they receive their exam results, usually in July or August.
If they receive an offer they would like to accept, they need to head to their UCAS Hub (formerly UCAS Track) and add the course as a Clearing choice. Encourage them to carefully consider their decision as they can only enter one choice at a time.
Clearing at Kent
Our Clearing hotline will be open between 08:00 and 20:00 on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 August, and for extended periods until Friday 26 August 2022. Your child can make a Clearing application online, or they can call our hotline on 01227 768896 to speak to one of our operators. If they meet the entry requirements for their chosen course, we will make them a verbal offer over the phone, which will be confirmed via email on completion of our application form.
To find our hotline opening hours, please visit our contact page.
Stay in-the-know
Sign up for our emails to receive further information, reminders and updates about the Clearing process.
How do we look out for your child?
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Personal support
Our professionals provide confidential spaces where your child can get the help they need.
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Academic support
Our Student Learning Advisory Service helps your child with the academic transition to university.
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Campus security
Our campuses are safe places with security teams that stay on duty 24/7, 365 days a year.
Top tips for supporting your child in Clearing
1. Help them prepare
Clearing moves at a fast pace, so being able to make a beeline for their preferred course will be key to your child’s Clearing success. Most universities will publish their course vacancies on 5 July 2022, giving your child plenty of time to research and decide which courses they like the look of. Encourage them to get into the nitty-gritty detail, such as module content, methods of assessment, graduate opportunities and sandwich years.
They should look at the student experience at each university too. What is the accommodation like? Are there opportunities for part-time work? Which societies do they like the sound of?
2. Support with their Clearing admin
Before your child starts calling university hotlines, help them to gather some essential info. They’ll need their UCAS Personal ID, details of their qualifications (including GCSE and equivalent results), and examination bodies.
Although you can’t call on their behalf, you can help them prepare for possible questions, read and remind them of what’s included in their personal statement and stay with them for moral support as they call around.
3. Keep them going
Clearing can still be overwhelming, even if your child has done everything they can to prepare. To help maintain their momentum, be on hand to provide meals and snacks and encourage them to take regular breaks. They might not want to move an inch from their computer for fear of missing out, but it’s important to have time away from their screen. Giving them a space that is quiet and free from distractions is really helpful too.
4. Visit a Clearing Open Event
Clearing Open Events are usually held the weekend following results day, but a few universities, like Kent, will have early information events too. These are opportunities for your child to see if a university is right for them and can help them feel more confident about their decisions.
Don't worry if you’re unable to make the journey - there are many other ways for your child to get a feel for a place. Suggest that they look at a university’s social media accounts, such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Socials are great for flicking through videos and photos of student life, or your child could head to the university’s website where there might be a virtual tour of the campus.
Come along to Kent's Clearing Information Event on 3 and 4 August 2022 to find out more about our courses, campus and the Clearing process.
Campus tours and on-demand events
Choosing a university is a big decision, and we know it’s reassuring to see where your child might spend three or more years of their life. Our Clearing Information Event is now available to view online, and you can book to take a Campus Tour from Friday 19 August.
Quotation
I felt very safe at Kent. Campus Security look out for you and will even walk you back to your room at night if you’re studying late in the library, for example. I was taken care of and that made the transition to university far easier.