Exams & results

You can obtain your results via the college website - Exams & results | South Essex College

UCAS receives your results directly and will update your offers accordingly. This will happen around 8:15am on results day.

You will be able to add a Clearing choice on your UCAS account from 1pm on results day. Make sure you have explored your options, so you can upload your choice.

Your UCAS account where you are kept informed on your application’s progress in UCAS is in “EMBARGO’ in the days leading to the publication of your results. You will not be able to make any changes during this time as it is ‘FROZEN’. It is worth logging on to your UCAS account once you have got your results so you have a good idea of whether you’re likely to have been accepted by your choices.

If a final decision has been made by your university choices, and UCAS have been notified, you can expect to see the following changes on your UCAS account:

• Unconditional – your place on the course has been confirmed. This may be your firm, insurance offer, or both.
• Unsuccessful – you have not been accepted by your choice(s). You are now eligible to enter Clearing.
• Unconditional Changed Course (UCC) – you don’t have the necessary grades for your offer(s), but the university has propodosed a similar course requiring lower grades. They may also offer an alternative start date, such as deferred entry. The university will provide further details on how to decide and the opportunity to discuss with the university in question.

If you have at least one conditional place, and you have met the entry requirements, the university will change the offer to Unconditional. This firm acceptance is confirmed in your UCAS account and UCAS confirmation letter will appear on the page shortly afterwards of the confirmation via email. Universities will require further action on your part. This letter will explain any further instructions such as providing evidence of your qualifications.

Your offers will not be confirmed until the GCSE result has been received. This will be on Thursday 21st August. Your UCAS account will then be updated at this point. If it is not you need to contact the universities admissions team who will be able to help you.

You have a few options of what you could do:

• If you have missed the grades by just a few marks, you should talk to the university in question. Remember they are under no obligation to reconsider their decision especially with places so competitive. You may be offered a place on another course.
• Look for an alternative course through Clearing.
• Use UCAS Extra to add another choice, once you have been offered a place, you will need to accept it by the date displayed in TRACK. There’s an option of adding another choice, if you decide to decline the offer.

Each university is different and you would need to speak to them directly to see if they will be happy to accept a lower grade. Ensure that you are prepared for the call and ensure you sound passionate about the course that you are wanting to apply for and enthusiastic. They may accept you based on the UCAS points you have accumulated rather than your final grades.

If you no longer wish to go to your firm or insurance choice but you met the offer, then you can choose to use the new self-release options offered by UCAS. This allows you to release yourself into Clearing in order to apply to a different institution. Make sure you explore your options before self-releasing. Once you self-release this will mean that you have no offers in place.

You can either accept your offer or look at your options in Clearing to find a preferred course.

Yes, but you will need to complete a UCAS application to use Clearing. If you haven’t yet applied, you can apply online now via www.ucas.com

You will not be able to add course choices but once registered, you will receive an email with a link to which will display your Clearing number.

If you already have an application, then the personal statement you have submitted will be used. If you are applying for a different course, you may want to re-word your statement and offer it to the university when you speak to them.

If you are making a new application you will need to create a personal statement. The Careers Team at the college will be able to support you with this.

Most of the Clearing process happens over the phone. You are provided with a Clearing number and the ADD a CLEARING CHOICE button on your UCAS account. If you have to be released by either your firm or insurance choices you will need to wait for confirmation that this has been done.

You can ask your university to defer your place for a year. You will need to tell them as soon as possible. Be prepared to explain your reason. It will depend on the university if they will agree to this, some will not. You will then need to make the decision whether to take your place or withdraw. If you withdraw, you can then reapply for the next year. Remember, because you secure a place this year, does not guarantee you a place for next year. The Careers Team and college will support students who are applying to university after they have left. You just need to contact the careers team who will advise you on the process and the new buzzword.