Clearing is now officially open, and results day isn’t all too far away. But what is Clearing, how does it work, and who can use it? We’ll break it down in this blog post so you can get to grips with it all, just in case it’s a route you want or need to take!
What is UCAS Clearing?
Clearing is a service that helps students find university places on courses that still have vacancies. It gives universities the opportunity to fill remaining places while allowing students to secure a place, even if their original plans have changed. It’s a great system that helps to match students with courses that can go on to change their academic lives.
Who can use Clearing?
Contrary to popular belief, Clearing is actually available to almost everyone, not just those who might not have received the results they needed. You can use Clearing if:
- You didn’t receive any offers from your original UCAS application
- You didn’t meet the conditions (e.g, get the necessary results) of your selected university offer
- You’ve changed your mind about where or what you want to study, and have therefore declined any offers you did get
- Want to apply to university after the main application deadline
- Have already received your results and are looking for available courses
This really isn’t just a “back-up” option. UCAS Clearing helps thousands of prospective students every single year find the perfect course to further their education and start carving out a career path.
How does UCAS Clearing work?
Once you’re eligible for Clearing, your UCAS Hub will show your Clearing status and provide you with a unique Clearing number. You can then begin searching for courses with available places.
The next step is to contact universities directly. Many universities operate dedicated Clearing hotlines where admissions staff can discuss your grades, qualifications, and course interests. Be prepared to share your UCAS ID, exam results, and any relevant information during the conversation.
If a university decides to offer you a place, they’ll usually provide either a verbal offer or ask you to add their course as your Clearing choice through your UCAS account. Once you’ve accepted the offer in UCAS, the university can confirm your place.
Tips for making the most of Clearing
If you’re using the UCAS Clearing option on (or shortly after) results day, it can feel like a hectic and stressful process – especially if you’re doing so because your original plan has fallen through.
But don’t worry; plenty of people have been through this process before, and there is a lot of advice online to help you through it. Some of our top tips are:
- Have your exam results to hand (if you’re applying through clearing after results day)
- Always have your UCAS details ready too
- Know what course you want to apply to and be clear on why
- Ask as many questions as you can, and think about them beforehand – whether that’s about student accommodation, course content, student support, bursaries or otherwise
- Take notes during calls so you have information to refer back to
- Deep breaths – stay calm and keep an open mind as you work through the UCAS Clearing process
If your plans don’t go exactly as expected, remember that Clearing is designed to help students move forward. With preparation and a positive approach, it can be the pathway to finding the right university course and starting the next exciting chapter of your education.
