Clementine Wade
University and school coach
Clem has worked as a teacher, examiner and uni coach since 2005. She specialises in Key Stage 5 qualifications and super selective universities. You can find her on social media @clemwadeeducation.
Your pocket careers adviser: Results day and Clearing support
We've worked with university and school coach, Clementine Wade, to create articles, videos, and email tips to help you understand results day and Clearing, and get to grips with what you should be doing when to best support your child through the process.
What's on this page?
Sign up to get handy tips and exclusive advice
Get updates and tips sent to your inbox during Clearing, including exclusive tips from Clem.
Your guidance for results day and Clearing
Check out these short videos and helpful articles by Clem to support both you and your loved one as results day approaches.
Five ways you can help prepare for results day
Dispelling myths about results day and Clearing
Making the Clearing phone call
The do's and don'ts of results day
Clearing toolkit for parents
Get more detail on the dates you need to be aware of, and practical things you can be doing to help your child prepare ahead of results day and Clearing.
Results day and Clearing FAQs
What are the embargo dates?
Embargo dates refer to the period before SQA and A-level results (JCQ) are released when universities and advisers can see results in advance but must not share them with students or parents. For 2025, the embargo periods are:
- SQA: From 18:00 on 28 July until 09:00 5 August
- JCQ: From 08:00 on 8 August until 08:00 14 August
What if my child wants to now accept their insurance offer rather than the conditional? What should we do?
If your child meets the conditions of both offers and wants to choose the insurance one instead of the firm, they’ll need to contact the insurance university directly to ask if they will still accept them. If their place at their insurance choice is agreed, the student can release themselves into Clearing using the 'Decline my place' button in their Hub account. Once in Clearing, your child can add the insurance choice as a Clearing choice.
How often are Clearing vacancies updated?
Clearing vacancies are updated regularly by universities. It’s best to check the UCAS Clearing search tool often, as course availability can change quickly depending on demand.
Where can we find university and college contact details?
Contact details for universities and colleges can be found:
- On the UCAS Clearing search tool
- On each university’s official website under Admissions or Clearing
- In the UCAS Hub under the course or provider listings
How do we update my child’s nominated access?
Your child can update their nominated access (e.g., a parent or guardian) by logging into their UCAS Hub account, going to Personal Details, and editing the ‘Nominated Access’ section. Or they can call us on 0371 468 0 468. Only the student can do this.
Do entry requirements for grades for Clearing places tend to go down, compared to the prospectus grade requirements?
In Clearing, universities may have different entry requirements compared to what's published in the prospectus or on their website to fill remaining places. However, this varies by course and university.
Do Oxford and Cambridge go through Clearing?
They may sometimes have vacancies in Clearing, however this changes every year and you’d need to speak to the relevant university to see if they have vacancies.
Where would they find their Clearing number?
Once a student becomes eligible for Clearing, their Clearing number appears automatically in their UCAS Hub dashboard. It’s under the “Your choices” or “Clearing” section.
Is the Clearing number the same as UCAS number?
No. The UCAS ID (or Personal ID) is a 10-digit number every applicant has. The Clearing number is separate and only appears if you're eligible for Clearing.
Do you have to use UCAS to go through Clearing?
Yes, students must go through UCAS to formally accept a Clearing offer. They’ll need to add the Clearing choice in their UCAS Hub once they’ve received a verbal offer from a university.
When students get a verbal offer is it binding?
A verbal Clearing offer is not legally binding, but it’s usually honoured. The student must add the offer in their UCAS Hub account to make it official. The university will then confirm the offer.
What do we ask when we call universities about Clearing vacancies?
Ask about:
- Availability of the course
- Entry requirements
- Whether they’ll accept your child’s grades
- Whether accommodation is still available, if needed
- If you can receive a verbal offer
- What the next steps are if an offer is given
Make sure your child has their UCAS ID, Clearing number, and exam results ready.