Finding a university place through Clearing

Let’s face it, going through Clearing is something most of us wish to avoid. But if you do find yourself in the Clearing process, you might be pleasantly surprised at the outcome.

Clearing isn’t a last-ditch attempt to find any course at any university that will take you. Instead it’s a method to find a course and university that’s right for you.

Last year, more than 38,000 people found places at university or college through Clearing. It is an efficient method of finding a place at university, and does not mean that you’re taking a second class place or you’ll have to settle for a worse course than you hoped. It’s obviously there to help you if you didn’t get the grades you were expecting to, but is also used for students who have changed their minds about their course or university, or those who applied too late.

The downside is that you have to get it sorted out this summer, when other students have already got their places sorted –but what’s a couple of weeks when you’ve got three or four years to think about?

Can I get to a top university through Clearing?

Top universities use Clearing to fill their courses, so you can still get into universities such as Warwick, Durham, St Andrews, Imperial College etc. They may have fewer places than other universities though, so act quickly.

However, Oxford and Cambridge do not normally participate in Clearing; LSE and UCL both say they don’t expect to participate this year, and Bristol enters Clearing only very rarely. If you have your heart set on one of these institutions, you may have to reapply next year.

When does Clearing take place?

Course vacancies are advertised on www.UCAS.com/clearing between August 5 and September 12. You will have until September 20 to submit your application. Vacancies are also advertised in newspapers – including The Independent - and on their websites.

Am I eligible for Clearing?

You must:

• have applied in the current application year and have not withdrawn your application;
• have not got the grades required for your offers, or hold no offers, or have declined your offers;
• or have applied after the deadline of June 30 (when UCAS won’t have sent your application to any universities.)