A-Level results are out on Thursday and with the highs of success come inevitable lows for those who don't make their expected grades. But that doesn't mean they have to miss out on university altogether as the system of clearing matches people with places across the country.

Below is all you need to know about clearing but if you can't find the answer to your question here then email our experts at timeseducation@thetimes.co.uk and click back to Times Online to find out their responses.

Who is eligible for clearing?

Anyone who misses the grades demanded for a place this autumn at both their Firm and Insurance choices, or who applied after the deadline of June 30, or has not yet applied.

If you visit www.ucas.com/clearing you can check your situation on Track at www.ucas.com/students/track/. If you are eligible for clearing, Track will display your clearing number and your clearing passport will be on its way by post. If a university offers you a place, they will ask for your clearing number and for you to send your clearing passport to them. You can call the Ucas hotline on 0871 468 0 468.

I am just slightly short of the results I need for a place at my first choice university. What should I do?

Richard Broom, admissions co-ordinator at City University, London :

Check on your UCAS track account to see if your Firm and Insurance choice Universities have accepted or rejected you. Applicants who have met the conditions set by one of their choices will have their place confirmed and be made Unconditional. Universities then have to analyse their statistics and see whether they can exercise any discretion on those who may have narrowly fallen short of the required grades. If they find that they have filled their allotted places with those who have met the conditions then they will not be able to exercise any discretion. If, however, other applicants have similarly not met their conditions then you may still be offered a place.

If you find that you have not been accepted then you will need to prepare to tackle the Clearing process.

John O’Leary, Editor The Times Good University Guide:

Check that your chosen university is actually rejecting you - admissions tutors often take applicants who just miss their grades, rather than go into clearing. Ring the department - preferably with support from your school or college, particularly if there were any extenuating circumstances (like illness during the exam period). If you are rejected, check the Ucas website (www.ucas.com ) for vacancies in your chosen subject.

Christine Tyler, former Head of Eccles College in Salford and Colleges Consultant at the Association of School and College Leaders:

Times recommends

• Oxford moves towards going private
• Poorer pupils to get elite university places
• University black hole as applicants surge