News and Events

BU makes Clearing clearer

13 August 2008

Our Clearing Helpdesk opens this Thursday to give vital support and advice.

Please note the is an archive page. For the latest situation regarding places at BU, please visit our homepage during the UK clearing period.

This Thursday, students across the country will be receiving their A-level results, and BU’s dedicated team of education professionals will be on hand to advise students on their Higher Education options on our clearing hotline.

The Clearing Helpdesk (01202 524111) will open at 8.30am on Thursday 14 August 2008, dispensing impartial advice to help students understand just what their A-level results mean, and what steps are available to them next.

For those students who have not achieved the grades they required to confirm their place at university, Clearing can be a stressful time. However the advice from BU is to keep calm, as even disappointing results can be turned into something positive for students still hopeful of attending university.

Being ‘prepared and proactive’ is the key to impressing admissions tutors and securing a place at university, says Sally Butters, who co-ordinates our Clearing Helpdesk: “Students interested in securing a university place through Clearing should check national newspapers and related websites for listings of course vacancies and find the courses that interest them the most,” she says.

Students who have not met the conditions of either their first or insurance choice are eligible for Clearing, and will be sent a Clearing Passport by UCAS. However, Sally recommends students telephone universities they are interested in with their UCAS number in advance, showing a positive initiative until the form arrives, ensuring that they have their A-level results to hand.

Admissions tutors will also want to talk to the student personally: “Clearing is a two way process, so take the opportunity to ask questions about the course,” urges Sally.

The Clearing Helpdesk can also advise people who are considering coming to university in September but aren’t in the Clearing process: “A few places remain on a number of our courses including Law, Accounting, Design, Computing, Nursing, Archaeology and Interactive Media,” says Sally, “so please get in touch and we can discuss individual situations.”