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What to say when contacting our Clearing call centre

Find out what to say when you contact us about Clearing. Our guide includes tips on what to prepare in advance of the day and what you'll need to hand when you call us.

What to say when you contact us

Deciding to apply for a university place through Clearing can be daunting. We'll want to speak directly to you, so being prepared, doing your research and having an idea of what you want to say before you contact us can help you feel more confident.

See our tips for what to say when you contact our Clearing team below. We know you won't just be contacting us, so you may be able to apply some of our tips below to other universities too.

1. Prepare what you can in advance

   If you think you might enter Clearing, why not do some preparation in advance of results day. Shortlist alternative universities/courses, browse university Clearing sites and think about the kind of things that are important to you when selecting a university. If you have a shortlist of alternative universities to contact, it may help you save time on the day. You can use our guides to help you plan, we have advice on what to do if you don't get the results you need, how to apply through Clearing and how to choose a course and university.
   
   If you think you might want to contact us at Sussex, why not look at our Clearing site and learn more about the university by browsing our accommodation and student life pages. You can also read real student experiences.
   
   It's also a good idea to make sure your phone is fully charged and that you have a pen and paper to hand in case you need to write any important information down.

2. Check entry requirements

   If you are interested in Clearing places at Sussex, we recommend you check you meet our entry requirements for the course you'd like to study before contacting us. This will help save you a lot of time on the day. 
   
   We will begin listing vacancies for UK students and International students when Clearing opens in July.

   In the meantime, you can get an idea of the type of courses we offer on our undergraduate course pages.

3. Have important information to hand

   You'll need your UCAS ID number. This is the first thing you'll be asked for when you contact us.
   
   You should also say the course or subject area you are interested in (if you have the course code, that's even better), and the grades you have achieved. If you're an international student, you may also need your English language qualification.
   
   You'll also need to give your name, date of birth and potentially your email address and phone number.

4. Take notes 

   Write down any important information we give you, and, if we decide to make you an offer, ask us to repeat your contact details back to you, so you know we've taken them down correctly. 
   
   If we make you an offer, you'll receive an email from us that will explain when you need to accept it by. It will also explain how to accept your offer via . You may be contacting several universities and receive several offers. Don't feel pressured to accept the first offer you receive.

   It is important not to rush a decision. Take your time looking at the pros and cons of each course and university.

   You may also be invited to an Open Day so that you can get a feel for the campus or city. You’ll normally be given a date for when you need to accept your offer, so use all of the time available to you.

5. Be positive  

   Try to be positive and enthusiastic. Try to stay calm so that you can listen carefully to what you are being told.
   
   If you are feeling upset about your grades, it may be better to wait until you are ready to talk. See our tips for coping on results day.
   

6. Ask questions  

   Don't be afraid to ask us to clarify anything you are unsure about. We know contacting several universities can be stressful and nerve-wracking so if you need us to, we don't mind repeating information. 
   
   At Sussex, Clearing applicants can get a call from the admissions tutor of the course they are interested in studying. So if you feel you'd like more information about the course before accepting an offer, we may be able to arrange this for you. Alternatively, you can find information about courses and Sussex more generally on our website. You can also see common Clearing questions answered by our experts.

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You might also be interested in:

• Clearing FAQ: your questions answered by our experts
• accommodation
• student life
• Brighton.