Calling universities during Clearing: tips and steps to success

During Clearing you'll need to pick up the phone and call universities. It may feel a bit overwhelming, but it's a fairly easy process.

We'll walk you through everything you need to know when contacting universities during Clearing, and give you some handy preparation tips, including:

Advice from our experts in the call centre team

This video is packed with tips to help you make the most of your Clearing call when applying through Clearing. Mena, a call centre expert, shares her advice on the questions to ask and what to expect during the Clearing process.

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Understanding Clearing calls: why are they important?

Clearing calls are a very important part of the university admissions process for many students. During Clearing, universities fill places on their courses that are still available. Making a successful Clearing call can secure you a place on the course you're interested in.

Who do I call?

Most universities publish a Clearing telephone hotline. This is a phone number you can call to ask about places available in Clearing, and to get helpful information.

Our Clearing call centre is full of friendly students and staff, ready to help you through the process.

How to call us

You can call us on 01273 644 000.

student using a computer to make a call in an office environment

What to say during your Clearing phone call

It's normal to feel nervous about making a Clearing call. Here are some script templates and tips to help you when you pick up the phone.

Starting the call:

“Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I’m calling to enquire about Clearing vacancies for [Course Name].”

3 key questions to ask:

You'll of course have your own questions, but here's three helpful questions to start off with:

  1. “Do you have places on the course?”
  2. “Can I get an offer with my grades?"
  3. “What do I do next if I want to accept my offer?”

 

You may be asked why you think this course is for you. Unsure what to say? Try this:

"I am very interested in [Course Name] because [reason]. I believe I would be a great fit for this course because [personal strengths or relevant experience].”

How to stay calm during your call:

It's fine to feel a little anxious, here's a few simple tips that will help you stay calm:

  • take a deep breath before the call
  • have your notes in front of you
  • remember, the admissions officers are there to help you
  • if they give you a reference number, write it down

What to do after the call

Once the call's finished, here's what you should do next:

  • check your email inbox regularly for messages from the university - remember to also check your junk or spam folder.
  • if you receive a Clearing offer, you'll get advice on how to accept it. There are slightly different ways of accepting your Clearing offer depending on whether or not you applied through UCAS.

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