Kingston University's Clearing hotline announced it has handled over 8,000 calls from prospective students by 2pm on Friday 18 August.

After yesterday's A-level results, the clearing hotline has been filled with applicants hitting the phone lines to secure one of its remaining course places for September.

Kingston University's Student Recruitment and Admissions Director Clare Beckett said: "We will continue to take calls from potential applicants until all our vacancies are filled."

More than 130 hotline operators, academics and admissions experts have been busy fielding queries and guiding applicants through the Clearing process since the University's lines opened at 8am this morning .

The hotline operators have been helping A-level students who didn't quite get the grades they were hoping for along with many who have changed their minds about their chosen course or place of study.

They have also been answering calls from applicants who have done better than expected and those eager to return to education after a gap year or as a mature student.

Beckett said hotline operators had been taking calls from students interested in a range of subject areas, from education and teaching to computer science, cyber-security and engineering.

Students phoning the hotline are guided through the process step by step with the opportunity to discuss different options with the hotline team.

"Courses are however filling up fast so I would encourage students to call the hotline as soon as they can to talk through their options and have the best chance of securing a place on a degree programme," Beckett advised.

As well as helping callers find a suitable degree course, the team have been advising prospective students about topics extending from accommodation to student support, answering questions about an array of subject areas and explaining more about university life at Kingston.

To get the most out of their calls, the University is reminding Clearing applicants to have their UCAS identification and full details of qualifications to hand, including subjects, grades, dates obtained and exam boards.

• Kingston University's Clearing hotline is open between 8am and 7pm on Thursday, 17 August; from 8.30am to 6pm on Friday 18 August; and from 10am to 4pm Saturday 20 August.
• Potential students should call 0800 0483 334, or +44 20 8328 1149 from outside the UK, to speak to the University's friendly hotline operators.  
• Calls are free from landlines and mobiles in the UK. International call costs may vary and callers should check with their network providers.
• Students should have their UCAS identification, if they have one, to hand along with full details of qualifications, including subjects, grades, dates they were obtained and exam boards before calling the hotline.
• A drop-in Clearing hub is also taking place on Saturday 19 August from 10am – 2pm at the University's Town House building at Penrhyn Road campus, where potential applicants can speak with academics, ask any questions and attend a scheduled tour of each of the University's four campuses.