Supporting your young person through Clearing
Clearing can feel fast‑moving. And if things haven’t gone exactly to plan, it can feel uncertain too. But every year, thousands of students find the right university through Clearing. And they go on to have amazing university experiences, build friendships, and graduate with strong degrees. If your young person is thinking about joining Brunel through Clearing, sign up to our mailing list, and we'll help guide you and them through the process, as well as sharing our top tips for navigating Clearing with confidence.
What is Clearing?
Clearing is the UCAS process that connects students with universities that have available places. It’s a great opportunity to explore courses. Your young person might use Clearing if:
- their results are different from what they expected
- they decide to change course or university
- they haven’t applied yet
It’s not a fallback or back-up plan. It’s another opportunity to find the right fit.
Why choose Brunel in Clearing?
Choosing a university through Clearing is about more than finding a place available - it’s about finding the right place.
When your young person joins Brunel, they'll benefit from:
- Our focus on employability and career outcomes including careers advice after graduation
- Career boosting work placement opportunities (available on 95% of undergraduate courses)
- A lively campus with everything within easy reach
- Strong academic, wellbeing and careers support
- Access to London opportunities without the cost of living in central London
Whether they already have Brunel on their shortlist or discover us through Clearing, they'll be joining a university that's focused on helping students thrive academically, professionally and personally.
How to prepare for results day
Before results day, you can help your child get prepared by researching courses and universities they're interested in together. Having a shortlist ready means they'll be able to make decisions more confidently if they enter Clearing. You can look at:
- course content
- placement opportunities
- graduate outcomes
- student support
- campus facilities
- travel connections
- career prospects
Encourage them to keep an open mind
Clearing can open up opportunities they may not have considered before. A different course or university could turn out to be exactly the right fit.
Let them lead the conversation
Universities will usually need to speak directly to the student about their application.
You can help them feel confident when talking to universities by writing down any questions they might want to ask beforehand, such as:
- Is the course I’m interested in accredited (i.e. recognised by the industry they want to work in?)
- What placement opportunities are available?
- What support do you give first-year students?
- What career support will I receive?
- Am I eligible for any scholarships or bursaries?
- What do I need to do if I receive an offer?
- Can I visit the university before deciding?
Visit us - book a Clearing campus tour
If your child or young person is thinking about joining Brunel this September, there's no better way to get a feel for life on campus than seeing it for yourself.
Our campus tours are running on various days throughout August and September, giving you the chance to explore our facilities, see our accommodation, and find out what it's really like to live and study at Brunel.
It's a great opportunity to ask questions, meet our student ambassadors and help your child decide whether Brunel feels like the right fit.
Clearing 2026: Key dates
Timeline of events
Results day: what to expect
Things can move quite quickly on results day, and emotions may be running high. Once your young person has their results, they should log in to UCAS to check the status of their offers. Even if they’ve missed a condition, it’s important not to assume they’ve lost their place.
If they go into Clearing
If your young person doesn’t have a confirmed place, they'll go into Clearing, and they can start contacting universities from their shortlist to see if they have places available.
At Brunel, our Clearing lines are open from early morning to evening on results day and the few days that follow. Once your child has all their results, they can apply online anytime. They can also apply via WhatsApp or speak to our team on 01895 272273 during our Clearing call centre opening hours.
Clearing telephone numbers:
- Please call +44(0)1895 272273
- or apply via WhatsApp
Our Clearing call centre and WhatsApp service will be available:
- Saturday, 15 August: 10am - 4pm (BST)
- Sunday, 16 August: Closed
- Weekdays from Monday, 17 August: 9am - 5pm (BST)
- Monday, 31 August: Closed
Get organised
Before giving us a call, they’ll need:
- their UCAS personal ID
- their exam results
- the course(s) they’re interested in
- an email address
It's also a good idea to have their personal statement notes and a list of questions they might like to ask us. We’ll talk them through their options and next steps.
Top tips on how to make a Clearing call
It's important that students make their own applications or call us themselves and speak to us directly. We can’t share or discuss application details with anyone else without consent due to GDPR regulations.
Encourage them to share any support needs
If your young person has a disability or additional support needs, encourage them to let us know. The more we understand about their needs, the better we can support them.
Remember, there are always options
Whatever the outcome on results day, there is usually more than one route forward. The most successful Clearing students are often those who stay positive, act quickly, and remain open to opportunities.
What happens once they've been given an offer?
Once your child has received a provisional offer from us, we’ll email them to confirm their offer. The offer is held for 24 hours, so they’ll need to add Brunel as a Clearing choice on UCAS within 24 hours of receiving their provisional offer email.
Once they have accepted a place and their offer is confirmed, take a breath and celebrate! It's now time to start thinking ahead for joining Brunel in September. There are a few things they'll need to do next:
- book their accommodation
- plan what to bring and how to prepare for moving in
- find out what's happening during Welcome Week
- get ready to start their course
They may also want to explore part-time jobs, placements and volunteering opportunities we have at Brunel.
Not visited us yet? Or want another look?
If you haven't visited Brunel before, or you'd just like another look around, join us at our Clearing Open Day on Friday, 14 August. It's a great opportunity for you and your child to explore the campus, view our accommodation and facilities, speak to current students and support teams, and find out more about placements, careers and student life. You'll get a real feel for life at Brunel and have the chance to ask any questions before September.
What if they change their mind?
Plans can change - even after results day. If your young person has already accepted a place but wants to explore other options, they can still use Clearing. But we recommend they don't give up their confirmed place until they’ve secured another offer. That way, they always have a safe option.
We’re here to help
Clearing can feel like a big moment for you as well as your child. Sign up for updates, and we'll help guide you and your young person through the process and share our top tips for getting through Clearing.
We're here to help you both feel confident about what comes next.