Helping a student apply through Clearing

Applying through Clearing can be a stressful, confusing or upsetting experience for many students, and may mean rethinking their study plans.

Support and guidance from their family or education professionals can help them get through the process and make a bright start to their university life. 

Our advice

• Prepare – discuss results day plans with your child beforehand and look at possible Clearing options 
• Be supportive and stay positive – together you'll find the right university and course
• Discuss – what does your child or student most want or needs from their university choice?
• Listen – your guidance and support is important but it's the student's own decision to make
• Keep an open mind – they may need to think about alternative courses, universities or cities
• Research – find out as much as you can about the universities, courses and cities you look at

Clearing applications should usually be made by the students themselves rather than parents, agents or other persons. Under UCAS policies and data protection rules, we can only discuss your child's or student's application if you are a nominated contact in their UCAS application. See our privacy policy.

Fast facts about Nottingham

• Top 20 UK university in the QS World University Rankings 2024
• 16th in the UK by The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 
• UK's top 30 universities by The Complete University Guide 2024
• World top 70 university and UK top 10 in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022
• Third most targeted university by top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 by High Fliers Research
• Sports University of the Year by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
• Nottingham city is ranked as the 9th best student city in the UK in the QS Best Student Cities 2025 rankings
• We have an international outlook, offering support and guidance for international students and opportunities to study abroad available for most undergraduate students
• Our campuses are scenic, sustainable and full of cutting-edge facilities for study, sport and leisure
  
• Our Students' Union provides an advice service, student networks and more than 200 student-run clubs and societies
• We have a range of catered and self-catered accommodation options on our campuses and nearby
• The university dates back to 1881, beginning as a civic college, and we have awarded over 300,000 degrees since achieving university status in 1948.