Your guide to UCAS Clearing

Clearing is a service available in the UK for all students, both local and international, who have made an undergraduate application through UCAS. If, after receiving your exam results, you find yourself without a university offer, Clearing is an opportunity for you to find a place at another university or on a different course.

Important dates

5 July 2023 – Clearing opens

17 August 2023 – A-Level results day

17 October 2023 – Clearing closes for 2023 entry

Who is eligible

You have the opportunity to apply for a course through Clearing if:

• you’re not holding an offer from a university or college, and your chosen course still has places available
• you’re submitting a late application
• you didn’t receive any offers or do not want to accept the offers you have
• your exam results were better or worse than you expected
• you’ve declined your firm place* and paid the multiple choice application fee

*Declining your first place is a big step and if you do change your mind, your existing place will likely not be available. For this reason, it is important to talk to your advisor before giving up your place.

How to apply

1. Advice

Ask for advice from your teachers, careers advisors or educational consultants at UK Study Centre about other course and university options.

2. Search for courses

Use the UCAS search tool to look for suitable courses that have spaces available. Remember, you may not be able to find the exact course you planned on studying, so it is a good idea to widen your options and talk to your advisor about the best alternatives.

3. Speak to the university

Before submitting a Clearing choice on your application, you must contact the university to provide them with your Clearing number and Personal ID. Speaking to the university directly will help you find out if they would accept you, and more information about accommodation and open days should you want to visit.

4. Add your Clearing choice

Once you have permission from the university, you can add your Clearing choice to your application. You can only add one choice at a time, but if the university does not confirm your place, you will be able to add another.

Clearing Plus

You can also use Clearing Plus, an extra tool you can use alongside the UCAS Search tool to find courses that could be a good fit for you. You can express interest in a course, and the university is then able to contact you directly if they have spaces available.

To find out more about Clearing and other university application services, visit the UCAS website. If you have any questions about higher education, get in touch with UK Study Centre and an expert consultant will be able to help guide you through your next steps.