A special prospectus and help lines are available to help A-Level students with the clearing process starting from this Thursday.

Those going through clearing can read a web-based prospectus written by students, at www.essexfirst.co.uk, giving applicants information on accommodation, university courses, campus life and the social scene.

Students and graduates are manning the clearing phone lines ready to offer advice and you can also get information online. The clearing hotline is 01206 873666 or visit the website at www.essex.ac.uk/clearing.

Head of Essex undergraduate admissions, Mike Nicholson, have urged people to stay calm.

Mr Nicholson said: "Students need to be prepared if they are applying through clearing. There is still time to make the right choice, but they need to have a strategy and act quickly."

He also advised people to look at similar courses to popular subjects in law, drama, business management, history, economics, maths and modern languages, if they missed out on their chosen courses.

Undergraduate applications have nearly doubled over the past five years, from 7,109 in 1999 to 11,535 in 2003 and Essex has been consistently ranked in the top UK universities for teaching and research. Applications are up by 10 per cent so far this year to 12,629.

Published Monday August 16, 2004

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