Northumbria University shares its tips and advice with WeAreTheCity readers on what to do if you do not receive the A-Level results you hoped for.
It’s A-Level results day. And all being well, you’ll have the grades you need for your course, and will be ready to take your next step in your academic career.
But what if you don’t get the grades you’re expecting? What do you need to do on results day on this occasion?
The first thing to remember is that you have plenty of options in front of you. Read this handy guide of everything you need to know, so that you’re prepared for your next step.
1. Check UCAS Track at around 8am on results day. If you have not been accepted into your first choice, stay calm and head into school or college to find out what your results are.
2. If you have just missed your grades by a few UMS marks, it could be worth appealing to your first choice. If this is the case, contact the university and discuss this with them as soon as lines open.
3. If your first choice will not accept your lower grades, you have the opportunity to accept your insurance choice. If you’ve met these requirements – job done – your UCAS Track will update soon.
4. If you still want to go to university – and don’t want to re-sit, or take a year out – you have the choice to go into Clearing.
5. Clearing runs from results day to 9 September, and you will be entered automatically if you didn’t get the grades for your first and insurance choices. It allows you to browse university courses that are up for grabs.
6. Talk through with your teachers or advisers and see what they recommend. If you originally only applied for one course at the reduced £12 fee, you’ll have to pay the additional £11 to allow you to apply for multiple courses through Clearing.
7. Search through the Clearing vacancies on the UCAS website, or on your chosen university’s site. How do you choose a UCAS Clearing course that will keep you on-track for the career of your dreams? Use our guide below…
8. Make a shortlist and get calling. Be professional and tell them why they should offer you a place on their course – you’ll also need to provide them with your results and UCAS ID. Keep trying until you are successful.
9. When the university you’re talking to accepts, you’ll get a letter or online notification. You’re officially going to university.
10. Relax, pat yourself on the back, and celebrate!
Guide to choosing a Clearing course
| Career type | Degrees to lead you there |
| Accounting |
Association of Accounting Technicians Accounting Qualification Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Certified Accounting Technician qualification (CAT) AAT Certificate in Bookkeeping
|
| Acting |
Drama Dance Performing Arts |
| Advertising |
Advertising Business Management Communications English Marketing Communication Media Studies Public Relations Graphic Design Advertising Design Illustration Fine Art |
| Aerospace Engineering
|
Other engineering courses, including: software engineering, electronic engineering, mechanical engineering Mathematics Physics |
| Air Cabin Crew |
Hospitality management Languages Leisure and tourism Travel |
| Archaeologist |
Archaeology Ancient History Geography History Sociology
|
| Barrister |
Law Degree
|
| Broadcast Journalist |
Journalism Business Finance Economics Politics |
| Building Surveyor |
Economics Geography Languages Mathematics Science Social sciences Urban and land studies |
| Call Centre Worker | Business
Management Finance Accounting Languages Computer science Engineering |
| Charity Worker | Business
Management Finance Accounting Languages Computer science Engineering |
| Dance | Ballet
Musical Theatre Contemporary Jazz Commercial Dance Street |
| Dietician | Life Sciences
Human Physiology Biochemistry |
| Digital Marketing | Advertising
Media Studies Communications Business Creative design E-business Journalism Marketing |
| Ecologist | Life sciences
Biology (specialising in ecology) Botany Conservation biology Environmental biology Environmental management Geography Marine biology Zoology |
| Economist | Economics with finance
Economics with law Economics with management studies Economics with mathematics Economics with politics International economics |
| Environmental Worker | Chemistry
Ecology Wildlife Management Geology or Environmental Engineering Geography Geology Geophysics Hydrogeology. |
| Estate Agent |
Business Estate Management Property Development Surveying Urban and Land Studies. |
| Events |
Business Event Management Hotel Management Catering Management Leisure and tourism Marketing |
| Facilities Manager |
Building Management Business Studies Construction Building Services Engineering Facilities Management Hospitality Management Surveying Property |
| Farm Manager |
Agricultural Engineering Crop Management Harm Business Management Horticulture Land or Estate Management |
| Fashion Designer |
Fashion Textiles Knitwear Graphic Design Clothing Technology Fashion Marketing Art and Design |
| Firefighter |
BSc (Hons) Fire and Leadership Studies at the BSc (Hons) Fire and Rescue |
| Forensic Scientist |
Biological Sciences Chemistry Forensic science |
| Furniture Designer |
Furniture Design Furniture Studies Product and Furniture Design Furniture Design and Making Art and Design 3D Design Spatial Design Ceramics and Glass Furniture Technology Product Design |
| Games Developer |
Animation Computer Games Development Computer science Graphic Design Interactive Media Mathematics Multimedia Design Physics Software Engineering. |
| GP |
Medicine General Practice Training |
| Graphic Designer |
3d Design Communication Design Film/Television Fine Art Graphic Design Illustration Photography Visual Art |
| Health and Safety |
Engineering Environmental Health Food Technology Physical And Applied Sciences. |
| Heritage |
Administration Archaeology Countryside or Estate Management Education Geography Heritage Museum Studies History Library And Information Services Marketing |
| Hotel Management |
Business with Languages Business Management Hotel and Hospitality Travel Tourism Leisure Studies. |
| Human Resources |
Business with Languages Business Management Human Resources Psychology Social Administration |
| Illustrator |
Graphic Design Illustration Fine Art Visual Art Fashion Printmaking |
| Insurance |
Business Management Economics Marketing Mathematics Statistics |
| Interpreter |
British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreting Deaf Studies Modern Languages Translation and Interpreting. |
| IT |
Business Studies Computer Science Software Engineering Electrical Engineering Information Systems Mathematics Science Engineering |
| Magazine/Newspaper Journalist |
Journalism English |
| Make-up Artist |
Fashion, Theatrical and Media Hair And Make-Up Hair, Make-Up and Prosthetics Media Make-Up and Character Design Media Make-Up and Special Effects |
| Marketing |
Advertising Business Management Communications IT Computer Science Marketing Psychology |
| Museums |
History History of Art Languages English Literature |
| Nutrition |
Dietetics Food, Nutrition and Health Public Health Nutrition Sports Nutrition |
| Office Manager |
Business Administration Business Management Computing and Information Technology Human Resource Management Management Public Administration |
| Paramedic |
Paramedic Science Study While Working |
| Pharmacologist |
Chemistry Biochemistry Biology Biomedical Science Molecular and Cell Biology Neuroscience Pharmacology Physiology Toxicology |
| Photographer |
Art and Design Digital Imaging Fine Art Graphics Media Studies Photography |
| Primary School Teacher |
Bachelor of Education (BED) Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) Teaching Qualification (TQ) |
| Production Manager |
Biochemistry Business Management Chemistry Electrical and Electronic Engineering Food Science Food Technology Materials Science Materials Technology Mechanical Engineering Physics Process Engineering Transport Distribution Logistics. |
| Public Relations |
English Creative Writing Business Management Marketing Social Sciences Politics |
| Publishing |
Publishing Publishing Studies Media Electronic Media |
| Quantity Surveyor |
Building Construction Engineering Economics Geography Mathematics Urban and Land Studies. |
| Retail |
Retail Business |
| Sales |
Business Management Marketing Computing Engineering Technology Media Studies |
| Secondary School Teacher |
Bachelor of Education (BED) Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) Teaching Qualification (TQ) |
| Social Work |
Legal Studies Politics Government Public Administration Social Care Social Sciences. |
| Sports |
Health Science Sport Coaching Sports Management Sports Science. |
| Statistics |
Economics Geography Mathematics Psychology Statistics Epidemiology Medical Statistics Public Health. |
| Theatre |
Drama Theatre Studies Theatre Production Professional Practice Stage Management Performing Arts Music |
| Tourism |
Tourism Management Marketing Business Management Journalism Modern Languages Marketing Media Studies European Studies Urban and Rural Regeneration. |
| Translation |
Business with Languages Law with Languages Modern European and Non-European Languages Science with Languages Translation Studies with Languages. |
| Web Design |
Computer Science Digital Media Production Fine Art Graphic Design Information Technology Multimedia Web Design Software Engineering Web Design |
| Writing |
Communication and Media Studies Creative Writing English and Literature Studies Journalism Performing Arts |
