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028 9244 3498

Queen's University Belfast

Clearing

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Clearing Guide: Advice for Parents

As a parent, we know you want to do everything you can to help your child navigate the challenging university application process.

Results day can be a particularly nerve-wracking time, especially if your child does not get the outcome they had hoped for. While it can feel like all their future plans have been derailed, it's important to stay calm and bear in mind that your child still has plenty of options available to them.

With the opportunities offered through Queen's Clearing process, there is no reason your child can't go on to have a fantastic student experience at one of the best universities in the world.

Hear what parents say about Queen's

Find out what Liza Rossiter, a parent from the Isle of Man, has to say about helping her daughter secure a place studying English Literature at Queen’s through Clearing.

  1. Check your child's application status

    If your child is close to meeting the grades for their conditional offer, they may still be accepted onto their first choice course. Log on to UCAS Track to check the progress of their application.

  2. Enter the Clearing process

    Once you have established that your child will not be accepted onto their preferred programme(s), they will be released into Clearing – a process which matches unplaced students with available courses.

  3. Get comfy near a phone and computer

    Be prepared to make plenty of phone calls and research alternative courses online. Most universities – including Queen's – publish available course places online, and UCAS update their website as places are filled.

  4. Think outside the box

    You may not have previously considered the idea of your child living and studying in Northern Ireland. But as a Russell Group University, Queen's can offer your child a world-class degree in one of the UK's safest cities – and we're just around an hour from all major UK airports.

  5. Know that you are not alone

    Don't think your child has been left scraping the barrel on a course nobody wants: 64,300 UK students obtained places through Clearing last year. Many of these places are at top universities like Queen's and on highly sought-after courses, so stay positive. Getting a place through Clearing can actually be exciting.

  6. Call us as soon as you can

    If you see a course that your son or daughter might be interested in, they should contact us through our Clearing hotline +44 (0)28 9244 3498 or live chat service and we'll do our best to help them. They'll need their Clearing number and Personal ID to hand.

  7. Find out more about Queen's

    Don’t feel rushed into a decision. Do your research on living and studying in Belfast. If your child is coming from outside Northern Ireland, they will be guaranteed a place in our quality accommodation and we’ll do all we can to help them settle in and make friends. Many parents are surprised to discover what a safe, friendly and affordable student city Belfast is.

  8. Accept the offer

    Once we’ve accepted your son or daughter on to a course over the phone, they can click ‘Add Clearing Choice’ on the UCAS tracker – which is their formal acceptance of the offer. They are free to apply for other courses until we confirm their details and the offer is marked as ‘accepted’ on the ‘Choices’ page.