Clearing doesn’t need to be complicated, so we asked Karen Pichlmann, Head of Admissions at BU, to give you some advice ahead of your exam results. First things first – think about what courses and universities you might like to approach if you find yourself in Clearing.

“Choosing a place through Clearing is no different from choosing a university place full stop, only it takes place over a shorter period of time – so preparing your Plan B and thinking about who you want to go to is key,” she said.

“At Bournemouth University we’re here to support applicants through that process.

“We’ll have a large team of trained and helpful staff to take calls from potential students.

“We’ll discuss their exam results, what opportunities we have and potentially give them an offer – so there are plenty of people to help and support and encourage students through that process.”

“Once they know they are in Clearing, my top tip would be to get on the phone early to talk to the universities, because some will only have a small number of places and they can go really quickly,” she said.

“Think about why you want to do that course, what interested you about that institution and why you think you’re a good match. We might want to have a chat to you about some of those things.”

The BU Clearing helpline is open now and will also be available from 8am until 8pm on A-level results day, 8am until 6pm on Friday 14 August and from 10am to 4pm over the weekend. Call us on 01202 966777 to speak to one of our friendly advisers. You can find out more about Clearing on our website.

Good luck!!