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SLC Advice to Students on Clearing 2025

Steven Darling, Director of Customer Experience, shares practical advice on Clearing and student finance as A-level results are released this week.

For students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, results week can be a mix of excitement and nerves. If you鈥檙e exploring Clearing, take a moment 鈥 there鈥檚 still time to sort your student finance, and we鈥檙e here to help you get everything in place.

Clearing is always busy, and we know it can feel overwhelming while you confirm your next steps. Our aim is simple: make it as straightforward as possible to apply for 鈥 or update 鈥 your student finance so your funding is ready for the start of term.

Steven Darling, Director of Customer Experience, said:

鈥淚f you鈥檙e accepting a place through Clearing and haven鈥檛 applied for student finance yet, do it now before your course starts. If your plans have changed since you first applied for student finance, please sign in to your online account and update your university or college, course and tuition fee, straight away so we can keep your funding on track.

鈥淲e know this is a big week. We鈥檙e working on post-results-day applications and changes and will process them as quickly and carefully as possible. While we confirm household-income details for late applicants, we鈥檒l pay tuition fees to your provider and the minimum Maintenance Loan you鈥檙e entitled to and then top up your maintenance, if necessary, once your full assessment is complete.鈥

SLC processes around 1.5 million applications each year and it can take six weeks for applications to be assessed and approved.聽 We also have plenty of information available to students on our websites, social media and there is as also聽a聽聽containing useful information including steps to take ensure applications can be processed quickly.

Steven added: 鈥淲e wish everyone the very best with their results and decisions this week.鈥


What to do now

  • If you haven鈥檛 applied yet: apply online now.

Students in England can apply at ; students in Wales can apply via .

  • If you鈥檝e already applied and your plans change: sign in to your online account and update your university/college, course and tuition fee. That way, we can keep your payments moving.
  • If you鈥檙e applying late or expecting less at first: don鈥檛 worry 鈥 you may receive a smaller amount initially, with a top-up paid once household-income details are processed.

SLC鈥檚 Clearing Top Tips

  • Apply online 鈥 it鈥檚 quick, and you don鈥檛 need a confirmed place to start.
  • Track your application in your online account and complete any tasks we ask for. You can learn more about applying late and what to expect from your first payment.
  • Update your details if your university/college, course or living location changes. Your student finance application isn鈥檛 linked to UCAS, so please tell us directly. Double-check the tuition fee for your new course.
  • Know the timescales. Applications that include household-income details can take around six weeks to fully assess. While those checks are completed, we鈥檒l pay tuition fees to your provider and the minimum Maintenance Loan to you. Any additional entitlement will be topped up once your assessment is complete.
  • Parents and partners: if we ask for household-income information, please respond promptly through your own online account to avoid delays.

Updates to this page

Published 12 August 2025