Clearing Advice for Parents and Guardians

We cannot discuss your son or daughter's application unless you have been nominated on their UCAS application, or have their permission. 

However, with that permission we can advise you directly on accommodation, the kind of support they will have when they arrive here, and general information about the University, Swansea and the surrounding area.

Clearing is the UCAS process of matching universities with course vacancies to students without a place at university.  Places fill quickly so get your son or daughter to call on results day so they can secure themselves a place.

They can register their interest in Clearing at Swansea University now to ensure they are prepared leading up to results day. They will be the first to know about our clearing vacancies, events, hints, tips, and reminders to secure their place at university.

Talk to an adviser at your child’s school, college, centre or careers office – they will reassure them and be able to talk through options.

You can find a list of course vacancies on the UCAS website, alternatively you can see what we have available at Swansea University on our Clearing vacancies page. Sit down with your child and make a list of potential universities or courses they might be interested in applying to.

Remember, your son or daughter needs to be happy with the course and university they go to, so don’t let them feel under pressure to choose an option they aren’t entirely comfortable with.

Your child will have to make the call; Universities want to see that their potential students are independent, and they might find they have lots of questions when they start talking. Swansea’s Clearing number is 0808 175 3071

When your child calls our Helpline Team, they will be asked for:

1. UCAS number (if they are already in the UCAS system for this cycle)
2. The name of the course (or type of course) they are interested in
3. Details of their qualifications
4. A valid email address as they will be sent an email if they are offered a place

Make sure they have all of the above information before they make the call.

University phone lines can get very busy so be patient and keep trying. Alternatively, many universities have online Clearing application forms so they can also submit the application that way. Admissions Tutors will be constantly checking applications so they should get a decision quickly.

Once your child has secured an offer they will have to go on to UCAS to refer themselves to their chosen institution and course; it’s not possible to add a Clearing choice until the afternoon of Results Day, on Thursday 15th August.

Once the place has been confirmed, you can then go ahead with preparing for enrolment; you'll need to tell the people who deal with your application for student finance. This could be Student Finance England, if you’re based in England – or Student Finance Wales, if you’re based in Wales.  They can then make the necessary amendments for any financial help you're entitled to.

You will also need to organise accommodation if your child is going away to study. Clearing students don’t tend to get priority when applying to most universities for accommodation but rest assured, if your child accepts an offer from Swansea University they will be guaranteed a place at university accommodation. Apply for University managed accommodation by 20th of August to get a guaranteed offer of accommodation. View our accommodation information page.

Applicants can’t formally apply through Clearing if they are holding a place at another University. But, if your child has a change of heart and would like to come to Swansea University instead, they are welcome to contact us to find out if we can offer them a place and then they can decline their current University by self-releasing into Clearing.

You are able to appeal your child’s grades.

We'd recommend speaking to your school initially, who will be able to advise you on the next steps to take.

Swansea University prides itself on its flexibility and we treat each applicant as an individual. If we have made a change of course offer to a foundation or other alternative course, and your child is appealing their assigned grades, we can move them onto their preferred course if their new grades meet our current entry requirements for that course. If we receive their new grades before term starts, they can start their preferred course. If we receive their grades after the course starts and before 15 October, we can move them onto their preferred course during that time. They will need to accept their change course offer on UCAS to be able to do this, and to secure their accommodation. Please note that this excludes any commissioned/clinical courses which are funded by Welsh Government.

If your child is applying via clearing, and their current grades do not meet the entry requirements, we may be able to offer them a foundation or alternative course and move them to their preferred course once we receive their new grades.

If we have confirmed their place, they don’t have to defer. They can re-sit their exams while studying at Swansea University, if that's what they wish to do.