With exam results out on Tuesday, August 5, SAAS expects around 6,000 students to change their academic path during the clearing period.

As the new academic term approaches, David Wallace, chief executive of SAAS, has encouraged people to get in touch early to ensure funding is in place.

He said: “We understand that some students apply for a place at college or university for the first time during the clearing period, so they won’t have applied for any fees, loan or bursaries yet. It’s vital that these students get their application to us as soon as they can.

“The same goes for those who have already applied to SAAS but are now changing their course or institution. They need to let us know what has changed so we can update their details and still ensure their funding is put in place.

“We appreciate that the clearing period is a really busy time for those applying and that it’s easy for people to forget about the funding element of higher education, but it really is important that your SAAS application is taken care of as soon as possible.” Applicants can update their information online by visiting www.saas.gov.uk or by calling the helpline on 0300 555 0505.