Kent advice for Clearing and Adjustment

As always, Kent will have a dedicated team on hand to answer enquiries once results are out and the University’s call centre hotline is expected to be busy as soon as it opens at 8am.

Students who find themselves in Clearing on 17 August after getting grades below those anticipated or expected are being advised to stay calm and think of the situation as an opportunity.

Entering Clearing – the process by which students looking for a place can search for degree courses that still have places – need not be too stressful, the University says.

Top of the list of do’s and don’ts is that students shouldn’t panic. Clearing represents an excellent opportunity to find a degree place that is appropriate, says Head of Recruitment and Admissions Steven Holdcroft.

Organisation is the key to successfully negotiating the process. Shortlists of courses should be drawn up – but flexibility is also important. Students should keep in mind the subjects they studied at A level but also think about their wider academic interests.

Students who achieve better than expected or predicted grades at A level can enter a process known as Adjustment. This provides an opportunity for students who have not only met the conditions of their firm choice but have exceeded them to reconsider where, and what, to study.

Above all, students finding themselves in either situation should not feel rushed or pressured. They should take time to think carefully about offers and plan a visit to the university they are considering.

Many, such as Kent, will offer campus tours after A level results are announced. Kent will be holding tours of its Canterbury and Medway campuses on Saturday 19 August.