Clearing - information, help and advice 
Clearing - information, help and advice
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This page provides information for students applying for higher education courses through Clearing.
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What is Clearing? Clearing is how universities and colleges fill their remaining vacancies. If you don’t get the exam results you had hoped for and your offer is not confirmed, as long as you’re flexible and have reasonable grades, you could find another course through Clearing.
Who is clearing for? You are eligible to enter Clearing if you applied in the current application year and if any of the following apply: • you have not withdrawn your application
If you only made a single choice on your original application, you must pay the full application fee to apply to other universities and colleges through Clearing. If you have not yet applied through UCAS, you can still complete an application until 21st September. You will automatically be entered into Clearing so you should not fill in any choices on your application.
When does Clearing take place? Clearing takes place from mid-July until late September.
How does Clearing work? Use the UCAS website www.ucas.com to keep up-to-date with your progress and reply to your offers. Click on ‘Track progress’ to log in to Track - you will need your Personal ID and the same username and password you used to complete your application. Check Track to see if you’re eligible to use Clearing, as UCAS will not let you know direct. If you are eligible for Clearing an ‘Add Clearing choice’ button will appear on your Track ‘Choices’ screen which you can use to apply for a course.
How to secure a place in clearing Talk to as many universities and colleges as you wish during Clearing - don’t feel that you have to accept the first offer that you receive.
Find out which courses have vacancies. Official vacancy lists are published on the UCAS website and in the national media from Thursday 20th August (Wednesday 5th August for Scottish vacancies only). You don’t have to stick to the subject choices you made originally. The lists are updated continually, but not all courses have vacancies in Clearing and some vacancies may be filled quickly. Although there is no guarantee that places will be available on any particular course, a course that is full may have vacancies later. Keep checking the vacancy list for the latest information. Once you have your exam results, contact universities and colleges that interest you. You can contact universities and colleges about the possibility of gaining a place through Clearing. If you declined an offer earlier in the year, you can contact them again to see if they will accept you in Clearing, either for the same course or another. Admissions staff will normally work longer hours, including weekends, to take Clearing enquiries from students. Deal with your Clearing application like a job application - treat it seriously and don’t leave it to your parents or friends to sort out. During Clearing, you need to be available in person to talk with admissions tutors and to make decisions. Plan your summer holidays so that you are at home when your exam results come out. Your Clearing Number is displayed on the ‘Welcome’ page and ‘Choices’ page when you enter Track on the UCAS website. When you contact a university or college they will ask for your Clearing Number to confirm that they can consider you in Clearing. They can then view your complete application immediately. When you are speaking to different universities and colleges, you may be informally offered several places. You will need to decide which offer you want to accept. If an institution provisionally offers you a place in Clearing, they will give you a date by which you must enter their course details on Track. If you want to be formally considered, you need to click on your ‘Add Clearing choice’ button and enter the institution and course details. You can only enter details for one choice. Only enter a Clearing choice if the university or college has provisionally offered you a place on the course and you would like to accept it. If you enter a Clearing choice without discussing it with the university or college, this may delay the progress of your application. UCAS will let the university or college know that you have entered their details on Track. If you are accepted, the acceptance will be displayed in the ‘Choices’ section of Track and UCAS will write to you to let you know your place is confirmed. The Confirmation letter will explain whether there is anything further you need to do. The confirmation letter means that you have officially gained a place. By taking up this place, you accept the institution’s terms and conditions. You cannot apply to another university or college in the UCAS application cycle for 2009 entry. If you are not accepted, the ‘Add Clearing choice’ link in Track will be reactivated so that you can apply to another choice in Clearing.
Where to find Clearing vacancies
Vacancies will be listed in The Independent and The Independent on Sunday from Thursday 20th August to Friday 28th August, Thursday 3rd September and Thursday 10 September. Scottish listings will be published on Wednesday 5th August in Scotland only.
Top Tips for Clearing Success • Plan your summer holiday so you are available when your exam results come out - you need to be available in person to deal with admissions tutors and make your decisions. • Don’t panic and take the first course that is offered to you. Universities and colleges hold open days throughout the summer so you can find out if it’s the right place for you. Remember that vacancies can be filled right up until the courses start, so never give up in your attempts to gain a place on a course that interests you. • If you haven’t applied for a place at university or college, but your grades were better than expected, you could still apply for course vacancies in Clearing. • Clearing is not an option if you have withdrawn from the UCAS scheme, if your conditional offer has been confirmed or you decide not to take your confirmed offer. • If you have accepted your firm offer, but are having second thoughts, speak to the university or college admissions staff. You won’t normally be able to withdraw and then go through Clearing (if you have exceptional circumstances, you should contact UCAS to ask for advice). • Talk to your Connexions Personal Adviser at your school, college or local Connexions Centre. They can offer you impartial information, guidance and advice to help you make all the important decisions.
For more information about courses, universities, colleges and Clearing, visit the UCAS website.
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