Kingston University admissions expert urges applicants to plan ahead and be well prepared for Clearing as A-level results day nears

Posted Monday 12 August 2024

More than 250 hotline operators will be on hand to take calls from eager applicants on A-level results day.

As thousands of eager applicants across the country get set to call Clearing hotlines on A-level results day on Thursday 15 August, a senior admissions expert from Kingston University has issued a reminder to aspiring undergraduates to make sure they're well prepared for the big day.

With high levels of demand expected for remaining places on degree courses, the University's UK Student Admissions Manager, Ed Beales, has stressed the importance of potential applicants making sure they have done their homework to narrow down subjects they would most like to study to ensure they are ready to swing into action to secure a place as soon as Clearing lines open.

Applicants might opt to enter the Clearing process for any number of reasons once they receive their results, Mr Beales said. For some, that might entail a change of heart about what or where they want to study. Others might have done better than expected in their A-levels, while some may have just missed out on the grades they were hoping for.

"It's essential students receiving their results have a back-up plan so they are fully prepared for whatever news results day brings," Mr Beales advised. "It's not unusual for prospective applicants to change their minds about the courses they want to complete and where they see their careers taking them. The grades they receive could also open new doors to a completely different subject area. The key to dealing with whatever unfolds is being well prepared and doing as much research as possible in advance to find out more about different universities and what they have to offer."

Kingston University's Clearing hotline operation is once again expecting to receive thousands of calls from applicants eager to secure one of the remaining spots on its degree courses, following the University being awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework last year. More than 250 hotline operators – some of them current students who came to the University through Clearing themselves – will be on hand to answer calls when the phone lines go live at 8.00am on A-level results day.

Mr Beales recommended applicants calling Kingston's hotline should keep an open mind about different courses still available. "I'd urge them to find out as much as they can about a range of degrees they might be interested in and identify a few alternatives as some programmes may already be full," he added. "Applicants should also be ready to phone as soon as they can as we're expecting lines to get busy very quickly."

Operators on hand to help callers secure a University place include a mix of course leaders, lecturers, professional services staff, alumni and current students. They will guide applicants through the process step by step, providing a friendly, reassuring ear and answering questions about everything from accommodation to campus life. They expect to speak to callers in a variety of different situations, including those returning from a gap year, mature students coming back to education or those who may have had second thoughts about the subject they want to study.

"Clearing is no longer just for people who may not quite have achieved the grades they had hoped for. It's increasingly a shop window for people who have changed their minds and want to see what opportunities are out there," Mr Beales said. "Our friendly hotline operators are here to help applicants navigate this as efficiently as possible."

When calling the hotline, applicants are advised to have their UCAS identification, if they have one, ready along with full details of their qualifications, including the subjects they have studied, the grades they have achieved, dates they were obtained and their exam boards.

Mr Beales also suggested applicants should note down a handful of questions to ask the hotline operators they were put through to or admissions tutors who are calling successful candidates to ensure they are fully equipped with all the relevant course information they require. "Speaking to our admissions tutors is a great opportunity to show enthusiasm and passion for a subject and get full understanding of what being on the course entails. Talking about why a particular course is so appealing and any relevant work experience can really show an applicant's potential and eagerness to develop through higher education," he said.

There will also be an opportunity for callers to find out more about Kingston University's sector-leading Future Skills programme, which all its new undergraduates will automatically be enrolled on when they start their degrees. Designed to prepare students for career success in a rapidly evolving, digital-first world, the Future Skills curriculum supports them to develop a set of nine core graduate attributes – creative problem solving, digital competency, being enterprising, having a questioning mindset, adaptability, empathy, collaboration, resilience and self-awareness – alongside their subject-specific learning.

Kingston University's Clearing hotline is open from 8am to 7pm on Thursday 15 August, from 8.30am to 6pm on Friday 16 August, from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 17 August and then Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm until the start of term, excluding Bank Holiday on Monday 26 August.
Potential students should call 0800 0483 334, or +44 20 8328 1149 from outside the UK, to speak to one of the University's friendly hotline operators.
Calls are free from landlines and mobiles in the UK. International call costs may vary and callers should check with their network providers.
Students are advised to have their UCAS identification, if they have one, to hand along with full details of qualifications, including subjects, grades, dates they were obtained and exam boards before calling the hotline.
Applicants eager to explore Kingston University for themselves can also book on to its special Clearing advice day taking place between 10am and 2pm on Saturday 17 August at its Penrhyn Road campus.