Clearing - top tips transcript

00:00

Running early July through to September, Clearing is the last opportunity to apply to university before term begins.

Student Pietro in our Spark building atrium, talking to camera.

00:06

Places on specific courses are limited, so it helps to apply as early as possible – and to have a plan for when you do.

Student Katie in our Spark building atrium, talking to camera.

00:12

If you’re applying to uni through Clearing this year, check out our top tips of how to get through the process.

Student Pietro in our Spark building atrium, talking to camera.

00:17

Clearing is normal. Don’t panic - you’re not alone, thousands of students go through clearing each year. Whatever area you’re interested in studying, you’ll be able to find a course that fits.

Student Katie standing between shelves of textbooks in our library, talking to camera.

00:27

Keep an open mind. Popular degrees can fill up fast, so you might not always be able to get a place on a specific course. But there are usually similar options available, so keep an open mind – look for courses with similar names or which offer the same kind of skills and knowledge. Clearing advisors can help you out – give them a call and ask about alternatives.

Student Katie standing in one of our multi-purpose sports halls, talking to camera.

00:46

Research unis, not just courses. Look on UCAS, and visit the websites of unis offering courses you’re interested in. Talk to any friends that may already be at the unis, visit websites like The Student Room for honest reviews and advice, or ask what your teachers think.

Student Katie standing in our dedicated newsroom/studio, in front of banks of Apple computers, talking to camera. A journalism student is working behind her.

01:02

Be prepared. When you’re ready to call a clearing hotline, have everything ready to go. Have all of your qualifications to hand, including your GCSEs, and be prepared to say why you want to go to that uni. Have your personal statement with you which you can refer to as well.

Student Katie standing in East Park, one of several parks surrounding the Solent campus, talking to camera. Behind her is a stretch of open grass, large beautiful trees, and a path lined with old-fashioned street lamps.

01:16

When you call, ask questions! Many institutions have real students working on their clearing hotlines, so it’s a great chance to get their take on things like accommodation, campus and what it’s like to be a student studying there.

Student Pietro standing in front of the mural outside our HC building, talking to camera. The mural is made up of brightly coloured panels and images of student art, fashion, make-up and photography work.

01:30

Visit universities. Once you’ve got your clearing offer, ask if there’s a chance to visit your chosen uni. Lots of unis run open days for students coming through clearing, so you can get a real feel of what the university is like, meet other new students, ask questions and explore the campus.

Student Katie standing in our brand new arts studios, talking to camera. Behind her arts students are working and socialising at tables and work areas, or discussing their projects with staff.

01:45

Don’t rush. Take your time to find a course that’s really right for you – don’t rush into accepting a course if you’re unsure about anything. There are many courses and opportunities available through clearing, so don’t feel pressurised into making a decision.

Student Pietro standing in front of a mural of cartoon faces inside our HC building, talking to camera. The mural is made up of hundreds of unique and brightly coloured cartoon-style faces, and was painted by artist and Solent alumnus Kev Munday.

01:58

If you have any questions, you can get in touch with Solent’s friendly clearing team by email or phone. Thank you for listening, I hope that helped, and best of luck!

Student Katie in our Spark building atrium, talking to camera. Text on-screen displays email and phone numbers for Solent's clearing team, as follows: clearing@solent.ac.uk, and 02380011722

02:06

Solent's brand graphic. A red wave made of multiple thin strips appears from left of screen, rippling across left to right, before curving back across the camera and filling the screen with red. The red shrinks down to the Solent logo in centre screen: a red circle with white text reading Solent University, Southampton.