You’re in Clearing. Now what? Learn more about what it means and how to maximise this second chance.
Learners who find out they’re in Clearing often have many questions, and if you find yourself a tad frustrated or nervous, you aren’t alone. Whether you're in Clearing because you didn't do as well with A levels as you needed to or changed your mind late in the process, you could find yourself wondering what Clearing is and how it works.
While the process may seem fraught with uncertainty and stress, the good news is that Clearing is like a second chance. You can still secure a spot at a top-rated university and go on to achieve the career you dream of. First, it helps to understand the process and all your options.
We will answer these questions and more and provide several tips to help you get the most out of your Clearing experience.
Clearing is a system universities use to fill open places in their courses. If you find yourself in Clearing, you might be surprised to find the variety of courses available. In fact, according to host-students.com, nearly 70,000 students utilised Clearing to secure their spot in 2023 [1].
Students who don’t receive offers often rely on Clearing to get a place. You can also use it if you didn't get into your firm or choice options, apply after the deadline, or change your mind about the spots you received offers. While it can feel challenging, UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) designed Clearing to provide learners of all types with more options, no matter what happens on results day.
Clearing has several steps, so it’s important to ensure you follow the right procedures to access courses as soon as possible. Here are some basic steps you should take if you find yourself in Clearing.
Talk to someone. Consult an advisor at school or a career centre. They can give you advice and guide you through the Clearing process.
Check the calendar. Note the last date you can enter a choice into Clearing to avoid missing it.
Log into your UCAS hub. Secure your Clearing eligibility and number on your UCAS track page.
Confirm course eligibility: You can find eligible courses through your UCAS page or by contacting universities directly. Once you know your eligible courses, you can contact colleges and universities to receive an offer.
Contact unis and institutes. Contact universities you’re eligible for to discuss your application and their available courses. Skipping this step could result in losing your place, so make sure you speak with every university you’re considering to ensure you’re on the same page.
Make your decision. Determine which university you want to attend and ensure you have the accurate course and institution code.
Add your choice. Once you have approval, all that is left is to enter the course and institution code into your UCAS track page. When you add your Clearing choice, your university can officially accept you.
Learners may use Clearing for many reasons. Let’s review some of the common situations that you might be facing.
If you missed the UCAS application deadline, which is usually at the end of June, for any reason, you will have to apply through Clearing. The Clearing window typically begins in early July and runs through mid-October.
If you didn’t receive any offers when you first applied or were not interested in any offers you received, Clearing is the next step for you. It’s a great avenue to secure a great spot, no matter your situation.
You may have received offers, but your grade results did not meet the offers’ conditions. If so, you must go through Clearing to select courses.
A multiple-choice application allows you to select multiple courses to apply to through UCAS. Once your results are in, you must go through Clearing to review and select courses with available spots.
If you choose to decline a firm offer you received, you must use UCAS self-release and enter the Clearing system. Remember that the place you’re releasing won’t likely stay open, and you will need to update your student finance details.
Self-release is an option for students who already hold a firm place at university but wish to refrain from proceeding with it. In this instance, you can use self-release and the Clearing process to change your application. It’s important to note that if you choose to move forward with self-release, you cannot change your mind, as the university will quickly fill the spot you previously held with another student. Additionally, you must reapply for accommodations at your new university.
Clearing Plus is an additional resource UCAS provides to help students use Clearing to find the right courses. It’s a tool that can make the Clearing process a bit smoother.
Clearing Plus will take your interests and qualifications from your profile on your UCAS track page and use it to suggest available courses you might be interested in. The list typically includes courses you will likely gain entry and acceptance into.
Clearing Plus is a service for all learners who enter the Clearing process. You don’t need to do anything to set up Clearing Plus. Course matches will appear automatically on your UCAS track page under ‘My matches’ once the Clearing window opens.
Clearing Plus ensures matches are unique to each learner by matching based on interests, qualifications, and comparisons to similar previous students. Additionally, matches are regularly updated anytime your interests or qualifications change in your profile. That said, you can immediately jump in and begin noting your course interests even before you receive your results.
It’s up to universities to review and contact applicants interested in their courses if they determine you are a good fit. Just because you expressed interest does not mean a university will contact you since space fills up fast.
While Clearing Plus can be a handy tool when choosing courses, students shouldn’t use it independently. Using the search tool in addition to Clearing Plus will ensure you don’t miss any courses that might catch your interest that might not have made it to the list.
If you haven’t already been accepted to a university, you can apply for courses through Clearing from the beginning of July to mid-October. [2] The exact dates of Clearing change from year to year. Checking with UCAS can give you the precise dates you need. Below is a general Clearing timeline to give you a basic idea of how it works.
Clearing vacancies open on the UCAS website
SQA results day
UCAS A-level results day
Clearing vacancies are closed (You can still add Clearing choices but must contact universities directly to find them.)
Last day to add a Clearing choice is typically towards the middle to end of the month. In 2024, it was October 21
Last day a university can accept a student in Clearing
Clearing might not have been your first choice, but you should still make the most of it. Try these tips to maximise your Clearing options.
Make sure you do your research. Making a list of Clearing courses you’re most interested in will help you quickly review and access your available options once they’re available.
Change your thinking. Clearing courses are so much more than the leftovers no one wanted. Universities have many reasons for having unfilled courses, and you’ll find openings in many universities, including top options. You can still secure a place at a great university through Clearing, and it’s all confidential once you’re a student.
Act quickly. Make a point to call universities whose courses interest you because spots fill up very quickly, especially if it’s at a higher-ranked university.
Remember your Clearing number. Having it handy ensures you’re ready to talk to any university that might call.
Advocate for yourself. It’s essential to communicate with universities directly so you know all of your available options. This shows you are a serious candidate ready to take on the challenge.
Remain persistent. The phone is one of many ways to communicate with universities. If you can’t connect with anyone via telephone, send an email or online message.
Stick with one choice. It might be tempting to try to choose more than one. However, if you try to select another choice after already selecting one, you will override your first choice.
Now that you understand what Clearing is, who it’s for, how and when to use it, and have tips to help you navigate Clearing for optimal success, what’s next? Whether you chose your Clearing path or not, you may be looking to boost your skills and add credentials to your CV. For example, you might sharpen your task and project management skills with the Google Project Management Professional Certificate or delve into programming with the IBM Data Engineering Professional Certificate—just two of many options on Coursera.
UCAS. “Highest Number Ever of Students Accepted Through Clearing, https://www.ucas.com/corporate/news-and-key-documents/news/highest-number-ever-students-accepted-through-clearing.” Accessed 10 December 2024.
UCAS, “What is Clearing?, https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/results-confirmation-and-clearing/what-clearing.” Accessed 10 December 2024.
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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.