Applying to university through Clearing is much simpler than you may imagine. This article aims to shed light on the concept of Clearing, who is eligible to apply, the necessary steps to take, and how to apply successfully. If you would love to start university this September, consider Clearing, especially if you have not previously applied for university entry. The process of applying through Clearing may vary slightly depending on whether you have applied before or not.
It is crucial to understand how Clearing works to maximise your chances of securing a spot at the university of your choice through Clearing.
What Is Clearing?
Clearing is the process whereby universities advertise courses still available to prospective students. Spaces are available through UCAS for undergraduate applications.
It’s a chance for students who didn’t meet the requirement of their offer or have a change of mind about what or where they wish to study to find a university or course more suitable for them.
Clearing is available for people without any university or college offers. You’re usually only able to apply between early July and mid-October.
Who can apply through clearing?
You can apply to university through Clearing if you fall into any of these categories:
- If you don’t have the grades expected for your first and second (insurance) choices.
- You don’t have any offers
- You have accepted an offer but changed your mind about the course you want to do.
- You haven’t applied to any university before June 30
- You have paid the relevant UCAS application fee
How to apply through clearing?
If you want to apply to the university through Clearing, here are simple steps to follow to make the process easy:
Prepare Yourself
Weeks or days before clearing starts, you can prepare by looking at universities and courses you might consider and having all the numbers and information.
You need to make a shortlist of courses and universities and prepare everything you need before contacting the universities. You will also need your personal statement, A-level and GCSE results and references.
Ask for Advice
You can talk to an advisor if you’re unsure where to start with your clearing application. You can find one at your school, college, centre, or careers office. They will be able to talk you through the universities with clearing spaces and advise you on the UCAS clearing process. If you cannot get an advisor, check the UCAS website for everything you need.
Check Clearing Courses Available Regularly
Consider the courses you might be interested in and check them out regularly. This will help you act quickly on results day because the most popular courses get filled up quickly.
You also need to check the details of the courses you are considering. How is it structured each year? What modules make up each year? Find out the entry requirements.
Remember that the availability of courses changes rapidly in Clearing, so you need to keep an eye on the latest vacancies.
If you don’t find the course you desire, you can seek out similar courses or a joint honours course combining your original choice with another subject.
You can check out all clearing vacancies on the UCAS and university websites. Add Clearing courses to your UCAS Hub as soon as they become available.
Research the University
Research the universities that have Clearing spaces available. Knowing the ins and outs of a university will help you decide if you would like to study there or not. You can do this by looking at the universities’ websites. Some universities may offer a Clearing open day; you can contact the university to have a look around.
Contact the Universities
Before adding any clearing choice in your application, you will need to contact the universities you are interested in. You will need to give the university your clearing number and personal ID so they can look it up. This will also help confirm with the university if they will accept you before you add your clearing choice.
You may also need to confirm your grades and answer a few questions so the admission tutor will know how prepared and excited you are about the course.
Add Your Clearing Choice
Once you know you have a high possibility of getting into a university, you can
add it to your clearing choice. If you have applied to university previously but would like to change your course or university or your initial application was unsuccessful, you can follow this clearing process:
- Log into your UCAS Hub account.
- Navigate to the section of your choice on the UCAS hub and then click on “Add Clearing Choice.”
- Fill in the course details by the date the university/college gave you on the phone.
- Adding your clearing choice on Hub counts as accepting your offer. So, when the university confirms, it will show as an acceptance on your ‘Choices’ page in your application.
- You can only add one choice at a time, but if the university/college doesn’t confirm your place, you can add another.
- If you get a confirmation from the university, find student accommodation and ensure you get everything ready to start your studies.
The application process is the same if you apply directly to a university through Clearing.
You need to remember that if you have been accepted onto a course but would like to apply to a new university or course through Clearing, you will need to decline the other offers first.
Also, note that you can only add a university as a clearing choice once you have permission from the university or college.
