Northumbria University offers support to Welsh students going through Clearing

NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY, NEWCASTLE, IS INVITING STUDENTS IN WALES
RECEIVING THEIR A LEVEL RESULTS TODAY (THURSDAY 17 AUGUST) TO CALL ITS
CLEARING HOTLINE AS IT OFFERS SUPPORT TO THOSE HOPING TO GAIN A PLACE
AT A UNIVERSITY AND COURSE OF THEIR CHOICE.

A 160-strong team of Northumbria experts are on hand to reassure,
answer questions and guide students through the process of Clearing,
Adjustment and Confirmation. Meanwhile, an independent national survey
carried out on behalf of Northumbria University showed more than three
quarters of students aren’t fully aware of the options available to
them.

Within hours of phone lines opening at 7am today, the University had
already seen huge demand for its courses with thousands of calls from
prospective students.

Northumbria University is also bucking the national trend with an
overall increase of 37% in the number of students from the EU applying
to study at the university, despite a 5% drop nationally.

The University has a limited number of places available through
Clearing for high quality students. The Northumbria team is
encouraging students who either didn’t get the grades they were hoping
for, or who have done better than expected, to get in touch to discuss
the options open to them.

The advice comes as recent survey findings show more than three
quarters (78%) of current students in Wales still don’t understand the
Clearing process. More than half (56%) admitted they didn’t understand
the role of Adjustment – the process by which students can change
course or university if they get better results than predicated.

Helen Bower, Assistant Marketing Director (Undergraduate) at
Northumbria University, said: “Once again we’ve seen huge demand for
our courses and we’ve got a bigger team than ever before on the ground
in our Clearing hub manning the phones and helping thousands of
students picking up their results today.

“The Clearing process has changed significantly in recent years and
the option to ‘trade up’ using Adjustment now gives students the
opportunity to reconsider their original choice if they have done
better than expected in their exams.

“We recognise there is a lot for students to take in during their
final year at school or college and that A Level results day can be
very stressful. The key is not to panic. It’s important that whatever
they decide, it’s the right option for them.

“Many students have deliberated long and hard about which university
they feel is the right one for them. However, the Clearing process
gives young people more flexibility and potentially opens new doors.

“We welcome any students who want to talk to us to get in touch and
one of our dedicated team of experts will be able to guide them
through the options available to them based on their individual
situation.”

Psychologist Dr Mark Moss has some reassuring words for students
picking up their A Level results today. He said: “For those students
who haven’t got the grades they need, catastrophising is a normal
response – they may feel it is the end of the world and think about
worse case scenarios. However, it is really important to keep things
in perspective.

“Not getting the grades you want is not the end of the process, it is
just an opportunity to rethink things and move in a different
direction, and this usually ends up with the student still going on to
study at university, often getting a place through Clearing.

“Every year around 60,000 students have very positive experience of
the Clearing process. It’s important to try and stay positive and
focused and be around people who make you feel calm and keep a clear
head. Things are never cut and dry and there are always great
alternatives out there. It may even end up being the best thing that
ever happened.”

Northumbria has a global reputation for academic excellence and
places a strong emphasis on overall student experience, ranking in the
top 10 in the UK for student facilities in the _Times Higher Education
Student Experience Survey 2016-17._

Accommodation Manager Alastair Reekie, commented: “We know leaving
home for the first time can be a daunting prospect. And that’s why at
Northumbria we make it as easy as possible for students and support
them throughout the process. Having a great new place to live can make
a world of difference and we guarantee quality accommodation for all
our first year students, including those who obtain a place through
Clearing. Once a student accepts a Clearing offer from us through UCAS
you can book accommodation within 24 hours, and often even quicker.”

Business Management BSc student, Imogen Smith Evans, secured her
place at Northumbria University using Adjustment after receiving her A
Level results.

The 22-year-old said: “I didn’t have the predicted grades required to
get on to the Business Management course I wanted at Northumbria when
I initially applied. But I got my head down, worked really hard and
when I received my A Level results I discovered I’d achieved the two
B’s and a C that I needed.

“I contacted Northumbria’s Clearing and confirmation hotline
immediately to discuss Business course availability and was given a
brief interview and invited to attend the university to meet with the
module leader. I accepted her invite and on visiting Newcastle
Business School at Northumbria was offered a place on the Business
Management course.

“Adjustment was a really easy process and because I had been told
about it by my teachers before I received my results, I was able to
prepare. That meant I felt confident on the day that, should I achieve
the grades required, I still stood a good chance of getting into
Northumbria.”

Helen Bower added: “When choosing a university, students are looking
for an overall great experience. They want to know the course they
choose offers quality teaching, career opportunities, the chance to
study abroad and get real life work experience. But the life
experience you gain from going to university, enjoying new
opportunities, meeting new people, gaining independence, is equally as
important.”

_NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY, NEWCASTLE, HAS A LIMITED NUMBER OF PLACES
AVAILABLE FOR HIGH QUALITY STUDENTS THROUGH CLEARING THIS SUMMER. FOR
MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.NORTHUMBRIA.AC.UK/CLEARING OR CALL THE
CLEARING HOTLINE ON 0800 085 1085._

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