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Preparing your child for a Clearing call in three easy steps

Is your child feeling unprepared for the Clearing call? Are they unsure of what to expect? Here are three easy steps to talk them through it and help them to secure their place at Birmingham City University.

Preparing for hotline parent primary

Step1 Prepare them

A lot of students think that calling the Clearing hotline is going to be a horrifying interview, but actually it's a lot simpler than that. It's more like filling out an online form. 

What will they be asked on the phone?

  • To provide their personal details (name/email/phone number/UCAS ID)
  • To provide their GCSE and A Level/BTEC results and any other relevant qualifications
  • The course you want to apply for
  • How many UCAS points they have (if they don't know this try out our tariff calculator)
  • If they’re a UK/EU or international student

Here's a quick checklist for their call:

  • Keep their UCAS number and grades close to hand.
  • Have a pen and paper at the ready, to write down names, numbers and times to call back.
  • Make notes of what they want to say and a list of numbers nearby.
  • Re-read their personal statement. If they need to speak to any course tutors they can refer to this on the call.
  • Head to a quiet room where they won't be disturbed.
  • Keep their phone charged in case they are in a queue or require a call back.

Step2 Making the call

It goes without saying that they need to find the Clearing hotline number, which will be all over the university website, but make sure they phone the right university. You'd be surprised how often people call the wrong number! The number for the Birmingham City University hotline is: 0121 331 6777

During the call, they’ll be asked a lot of really easy questions, and if they’ve followed the instructions above they will have all the answers to hand. The hotline staff will see if they’re eligible for the course. For a lot of courses, the hotline staff will be able to make them an offer, but for some courses they’ll be passed on to a course tutor...

...don't panic

Like the hotline staff, the tutors are there to make sure your child is a good fit for the course, which is where their personal statement comes in handy. They can tell the tutor why they're interested in the course and use their personal statement to help you answer the questions. This is also a great time for them to ask some questions! They can find out a bit more about the course from the faculty expert on the phone.

Some courses will require a face-to-face interview, but these will be scheduled after results day so they’ll have plenty of time to prepare for this too.

Step3 After the call

If your son or daughter is offered a place, they will receive an email about next steps like accommodation and student finance, so just get them to follow the instructions and keep an eye on their emails. If they do have to attend an interview, their place will be reserved until the interview is all done and dusted.

Things to be aware of: 

  • Clearing is a really busy time so there may be queues on the phone lines. 
  • Very occasionally people get disconnected. If this happens then don't worry! All information will be saved on the system so they can phone back and pick up where they left off. Remind them to make a note of who they’re speaking to as they may be able to pick back up with them directly.
  • Making a Clearing call can be really daunting but the hotline staff are here to help. Tell your child to take their time and we’ll support them every step of the way.