Guide to Clearing

 What is clearing?
    A system which is available between July and September helps applicants who have not secured a place at university or college for whatever reason to find vacancies on higher education courses.

Requirements for using clearing

    YOU HAVE TO HAVE HAD COMPLETED A UCAS APPLICATION!
Have to be in one of the following categories: -
•    Not received any offers
•    Have declined all offers
•    Not responded by due date
•    Offers not confirmed because the required grades have not been achieved
•    Declined a changed course, a changed date of entry and/or changed point of entry offer
•    UCAS received an application after 30/6 or 11/6 (Route B)- not sent to university/ colleges

Advice

•    Deal with it yourself! - treat it like a job
•    Need to be available in person to deal with admission tutors and to make decisions so plan your holidays wisely
•    University/ colleges need evidence- however if qualifications on UCAS exam result page then you need not send results to UCAS or the University
www.ucas.ac.uk/students/ucas_tariff/qualifications/
•    The university will receive your original personal statement so you may wish to send them a revised one.

Clearing Process- to secure a place

1.    Get Advice-

• talk to someone to help decide what subjects would be most suitable

2.    Look at the vacancies published on UCAS and The Independent from Thursday 20th August. but clearing is CLOSED ON 21st SEPT

3.    Contact university/ college that interest you

• do not contact the university/college without exam results

• declined an offer previously- contact them to see if they accept you in clearing for same course or any other course

4.    Clearing Number

• in ‘track’, your number is displayed on the ‘welcome’ and ‘choices’ page.

UNIVERSITIES WILL ASK FOR THIS NUMBER!!
5.    Accepting an offer

• decide which offer you want to accept

6.    Only enter a clearing choice if the university or college has provisionally offered a place on the course and you want to accept it. Reply by the date given by the University.

YOU CAN ONLY ENTER DETAILS FOR ONE CHOICE

• Log into Track

• Click on your ‘add clearing choice’

• Enter Institution and course details

FAQS

Do universities and colleges always reduce their requirements in clearing?
    No, some might raise their requirements.

Can I apply through clearing with a deferred entry?
    Yes, if the university considers you then UCAS will send you a confirmation letter.

I have accepted a place in clearing but changed my mind and want to apply somewhere else. What should I do?
    It was a serious contractual agreement so you need to speak directly to the university/college concerned.


Written by Laurell Milton