WHETHER champagne corks pop or parents offer a shoulder to cry on, today will see nervous 18-year-olds around the country opening their A-level results.

WHETHER champagne corks pop or parents offer a shoulder to cry on, today will see nervous 18-year-olds around the country opening their A-level results.

For those planning on going to university, the time can be particularly stressful. But, if results don't match a student's dream course requirements, there are always clearing places available.

On the same day A-Level results are announced universities open their doors and state which places are still available on their courses.

This, combined with the A-level grades they'll accept for their courses, means those who've been unsuccessful in gaining their top choice, have a second chance to enrol on a course.

Last year, as many as 44,000 people gained a place during clearing, according to Kate Butland, customer services manager at UCAS.

She said: “It allows people who have not been given the grades they were after to look for university courses, so they don't feel they've wasted two years.

“There are plenty of courses out there they can look at.”

But Zena Everett, a career coach with more than 20 years experience and managing director of company Second Careers isn't so sure.

She said: “Getting a degree is a good thing, but recently we've seen graduates coming to career coaches because they need to make conscious decisions about what they want their career to look like.

“If you're considering a degree course through clearing, you mustn't put yourself in a situation where you're just doing something for the sake of it.”