The University of Essex is reminding students and their parents that it can offer a wide range of help and advice after next week’s A-Level results.

This year sees the start of a new system relating to university admissions called ‘Adjustment’.

Up until this year, students either secured a place at a university before their results – which they were tied to if they got the required grades - or went through clearing, a system which lists all university vacancies and helps more than 30,000 students every year find a higher education course.

Now, the new Adjustment process allows students who get better A-Level results than expected to contact other universities to secure a place on a course.
The University of Essex has a wealth of tips and information on its clearing website – www.essex.ac.uk/clearing - for all students, whether they plan to come to the University or not.

Head of Admissions, Joanne Tallentire, said: ‘The University of Essex Admissions team is gearing up for the busy period that follows publication of A-Level results on Thursday 20 August. We recognise that this can be a stressful time for applicants and we are here to help and advise you if you are still looking for a University place this autumn. Where we can't help you directly, we will do our best to advise you about alternative options.’

Adjustment will be available 20 August until 2 September 2009 for students who have done better than expected. A student’s individual adjustment period starts when their conditional firm choice changes to unconditional firm. From this time they will have five calendar days to register and secure an alternative course, if they decide that is what they want to do.

Essex is expecting to have places on some courses available through clearing at its Colchester and Southend Campuses.

The University is currently ranked ninth out of 159 universities and colleges for the quality of its research and has consistently been placed among the UK’s top ten for the quality of its teaching.

The University’s Clearing and Adjustment Hotline 01206 873666 opens at 8am on Thursday 20 August.

Students can also visit the Colchester Campus on the two open days for clearing and adjustment applicants on Saturday 22 August, 12 noon to 3pm or Wednesday 26 August, 12 noon to 4pm. Students wanting to visit the Southend Campus should call 01702 328224.

The University of Essex offers the following tips for students entering clearing:
• Don’t panic if your results are not what you hoped for. Check first with your firm and then insurance choice university to see if they are still able to offer you a place.

• Consider all the different options available to you, including universities you have previously applied to, studying locally and alternative courses that cover the same subject area.

• There are lots of ways to check available places at different institutions, including websites and newspaper listings. The UCAS website lists all the available courses and links to universities’ websites.

• Before phoning universities prepare a list of things you may need to ask them, for instance the entry criteria for the course, information about the course, bursaries, accommodation availability and general information about the university.

• Visit the university and town before confirming your place. Universities hold open days and are also happy to give students tours at any time.

• Remember to tell the Student Loans Company if you are changing university, so that they can make sure all your funding is in the right place and you can be assessed for a bursary.

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For the media: For further information, or if you wish to interview Joanne Tallentire, please contact the University of Essex communications office on 01206 872929 or e-mail comms@essex.ac.uk.