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“This week as the A level results are revealed, students across the country will nervously be waiting to see their results. As always, hopefully everyone gets what they need to secure their place but, if not, then don’t despair – the scope for finding the right course through Clearing has never been so good.

From my experiences, Clearing has changed over the years. Ten years ago, it was often associated with failure. Both for students who had missed their grades and for universities, being in Clearing indicated they were unable to fill course spaces on less popular courses.

I know better than most about the Clearing process of the past as I was fortunate to gain a position on a course through this process. Back then it was nerve-racking and stressful to approach universities, but after many years and now becoming an academic who has been able to see the evolution of Clearing first hand, the experience has changed dramatically.

Many factors over the years have led to shaping Clearing into a major opportunity for students. Applications to university continue to grow year-upon-year and with the cap on student numbers abolished, there are even more options for students in Clearing. Many universities use Clearing to grow their student numbers and record numbers of courses are now entering Clearing.

Students know Clearing is not just for people who have missed their grades: students who have done better than expected or who have had a change of mind about what or where they want to study are also using Clearing in increasing numbers.

What we are seeing is the emergence, for better or worse, of a market in university places with students having power to change their minds and use their results to secure the best opportunities.

Clearing is now the norm and has become a vibrant process of opportunity, where students may even obtain places at courses at universities they seldom felt they could achieve.

So as Clearing comes around again this year, students should be thinking opportunities, options and scope for getting onto a course as things have never been so good.

If you have dropped a grade or two and not made it into your course of choice, don’t panic, pick up the phone and go play the field. Fingers crossed!”

Dr Patel, Senior Lecturer in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, won the 2015 Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Science Award, presented to a scientist with a “proven record of independent research and published work that shows outstanding promise”.