Clearing - all you need to know

Missing out on the grades you needed for your university offer doesn't mean that you can't go. Last year, nearly one in ten students on undergraduate courses gained their place through clearing.

"Do your research and ideally go and visit potential universities."

What is clearing?

Clearing is the process of filling spare university places once exam results have been announced. The places are advertised on the UCAS website from early evening on 19 August (5 August for Scottish clearing) until late September, and are also listed in the national media.

Can I use clearing?

If you have applied to university this academic year you will be able to use clearing as long as you have not withdrawn your application and one of the following applies to you. You have:

No offers
Not got the grades for your offer
Declined your offers or not responded by the due date
Applied after 30 June
If you only made a single choice on your original application, you can pay a further £10 and apply to other universities and colleges through clearing. (UCAS)

Where do I start?

The first thing to do is check whether you have still scraped a place, despite getting lower grades. This information can be found in the 'Track' section of your UCAS account. If you haven't been accepted, you will be given a clearing number that helps identify you to universities. Once you have this information you can start applying for places.

How do I find a course I want

Search through the listings, either online or in the newspaper, to see what is available. You can contact universities and colleges that you declined an offer from earlier in the year but you don't have to stick to the original courses or subjects that you applied for.

When you find a course you are interested in, contact the university to find out more and see if they would accept you. You don't want to commit to an unsuitable course or university just because you are panicking, so stay calm and take your time. Do your research and ideally go and visit potential universities.

I will be away on holiday – can someone else do it for me?

UCAS has introduced a new system where you can nominate someone else to make enquiries for you, but you must nominate them in your original application. It's much better to do it yourself though, so you can find a course that's right for you. After all, you're the one who's committing to it for three years!

What happens if I get offered a place?

If a university provisionally offers you a place and you want to accept it, you need to do this online. Go to your 'Track' page and enter the details under 'Add clearing choice'. If the university accepts you, you'll be sent an official confirmation letter and be on your way to getting your degree.

By Emma Jones

Updated:25/08/2010

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Check out the clearing listings on the UCAS website (or the Scottish clearing website) and in national papers and make a shortlist of courses you want to apply for.
If you can't find a course that you want, consider retaking your exams so you can improve your grades and have more choice.
Do you think you should have got better grades? It is possible to appeal.
Don't Panic! There are plenty of options available so make sure you do your research. Think creatively and consider the alternatives to university. Your dream course might not be available, but a similar subject could offer transferable skills and boost your employability.
Have you considered a gap year? If you're doing resits it could be the perfect opportunity to take some time out and travel the world.
Read our article about how to make the most of clearing this year.

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