The annual process of Clearing to secure places at the University of Cumbria is to open today, with the academic body performing the process in a new way in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

The higher education establishment will have a dedicated team on hand from 9am to help anyone who is interested in starting university this year.

A handy new downloadable guide with everything you need to know about Clearing has also been produced, including details of Clearing Plus – a new system that can help match applicants who have not met the entry requirements of their chosen course with other universities.

Adapting to the challenge of operating Clearing support in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, professional services staff in admissions, student finance, accommodation, student services and the university’s course enquiry centre will be using new software to answer all calls to its Clearing hotline – 0808 178 7373 – and online at https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/clearing.

Academic lecturers will also be part of the University of Cumbria team discussing the application process, entry requirements, course details and any other queries from those seeking information and support.

The academic year in September 2020 will start as planned, for all new and continuing students, with the university adopting a blended learning approach, using a mixture of online learning and face-to-face sessions as appropriate and where it is safe to do so on campus.

Admissions manager Sharon Blaylock said: “Our admissions team is here and ready to talk, either right now or throughout Clearing. We are here to help anyone who may be asking themselves if university is right for them and if it is right at this particular time.

“They’ll want to know what we have to offer, what measures we’re putting in place for the new year, and what support we can offer in the months and years ahead.

“Whilst the pandemic has many re-considering their future plans and opportunities, we are still ready to support our students.”