August 9, 2021 12.30 pm This story is over 31 months old

Why clearing could be the best way for Lincolnshire students to find their dream course

‘I was ecstatic I’d got in’ 
| Photo: UoL

Students from across Lincolnshire are set to receive their A Level results and while many will be celebrating, all is not lost if they don’t receive the grades they are expecting. 

Here, two University of Lincoln students share their stories of how they received an offer through clearing – and why they now wouldn’t imagine being anywhere else.

A-level results day started badly for Rachel Pearce. “I didn’t do as well as I’d hoped,” she says. “I got nervous and flunked them a bit.”

However, Rachel’s day was about to get better, she got on the phone very quickly. “It had been a stressful day and the University of Lincoln were so lovely. They had been dealing with a lot of people like me, they understood and helped with everything.”

Lincoln offered Rachel a place to study fine art. “I was so relieved. I was ecstatic that I’d managed to get into Lincoln,” she says. “Any course would have been really good, but to do it at Lincoln was incredible.”

Every year, thousands of students secure places at top universities by going through clearing and more than 70,000 students were accepted in 2020. This year, clearing opened on 5 July and the University of Lincoln has published course vacancies on its website and advisers will operate a call centre. Offers will also be made on social media.

Rachel has now graduated and loved her time at Lincoln. “The course was really good,” she says.

“You learn practical and transferable skills. Everyone was so nice, no one cared that I came through clearing at all!” Rachel’s advice to others is to “Jump on the phone or get online quickly but stay calm.” 

George Wyatt gained his place to study Marketing Management through clearing. George says “Once you get to university, it doesn’t matter if you came through clearing, it’s freshers’ week and it’s one of the best weeks of your life”.

“Once you get to university, the route you’ve taken doesn’t matter. I would say you’re going to end up where you’re meant to be,” says Wyatt. “And if you go to Lincoln you will have the best three years ever”

George loved Lincoln for a few different reasons. “The lecturers are amazing,” he says. “The Students’ Union is also great, it’s a beautiful campus.”

His top tip is to have confidence in yourself and be prepared. “Get your information together – like your UCAS ID number and GCSE results – it’ll make life less stressful, and don’t think it’s the end of the world that you’re in clearing.”

All University of Lincoln course vacancies are published on their website and a team of advisors are operating a Call Centre on 0808 164 4444 from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, they are also making offers on social media.

You can also visit the University’s Clearing Open House event from Wednesday 11 August until Sunday 15 August 2021, where you can explore the campus and city