SLC Advice to Students on Clearing 2025
Source: gov.uk (2025-08-12)

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’re exploring Clearing, take a moment — there’s still time to sort your student finance, and we’re 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 — or update — your student finance so your funding is ready for the start of term.

Steven Darling, Director of Customer Experience, said:

“If you’re accepting a place through Clearing and haven’t 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.

“We know this is a big week. We’re 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’ll pay tuition fees to your provider and the minimum Maintenance Loan you’re entitled to and then top up your maintenance, if necessary, once your full assessment is complete.”

SLC processes around 1.5 million applications each year and it can take six weeks for applications to be assessed and approved. We also have plenty of information available to students on our websites, social media and there is as also a guide (https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Fguidance-for-students-going-through-clearing&data=05%7C02%7CMark_Kelly%40slc.co.uk%7C7fc54c24ea5f4719ad1508dcbc430344%7C4c6898a98fca42f9aa9282cb3e252bc6%7C0%7C0%7C638592243219638402%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ozz9oxJlQKQvSGVrZvGhFI2smqXiLl3e64xjhDyodzo%3D&reserved=0) containing useful information including steps to take ensure applications can be processed quickly.

Steven added: “We wish everyone the very best with their results and decisions this week.”

What to do now
- If you haven’t applied yet: apply online now.
Students in England can apply at Student Finance England (https://studentfinance.campaign.gov.uk/); students in Wales can apply via Student Finance Wales (https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.studentfinancewales.co.uk%2Fdiscover-student-finance&data=05%7C02%7CMark_Kelly%40slc.co.uk%7C7fc54c24ea5f4719ad1508dcbc430344%7C4c6898a98fca42f9aa9282cb3e252bc6%7C0%7C0%7C638592243219602193%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2B1N0R3UTqZmlnjwHisDdGlV36lBWI88Qz0I3z8T6G28%3D&reserved=0).
- If you’ve 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’re applying late or expecting less at first: don’t worry — you may receive a smaller amount initially, with a top-up paid once household-income details are processed.
SLC’s Clearing Top Tips
- Apply online — it’s quick, and you don’t 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’t 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’ll 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.