UCAS Clearing: All you need to know

What is UCAS Clearing?

UCAS or Universities and Colleges Admission Services is an interface between students who want to pursue a course of their choice in the UK and various colleges and universities offering such courses. Clearing matches applicants to university places that are not filled yet. It is available to anyone who has made a UCAS Undergraduate application and currently does not hold any offers. For 2023, it will run from 5 July to 17 October 2023. A candidate is eligible for Clearing if:

• A candidate applies after 30^th June
• A candidate is not holding any offers from universities or colleges he has applied to
• A candidate’s place is not confirmed after exam results are published
• A candidate doesn't meet the conditions of the offers
• A candidate has paid the multiple-choice application fee of £27
• A candidate has declined his place using the 'decline my place' button on Track

Clearing is also a way in which universities and colleges fill seats they still have on their courses. Candidates can check the vacancies here

There are various reasons why courses are available. Courses in Clearing are not the ones where nobody wants to get in to. It is an opportunity for candidates who have a last-minute change of heart about the course or university they want to get into or for those who have missed their conditions. Even last year, thousands of places were available for candidates through Clearing. Places were available in English and Law and more than 73,000 applicants obtained those places.

How to Use UCAS Clearing?

• Students can take help of an adviser or they can search for vacancies on the official website of UCAS
• With the UCAS search tool, students can find courses. This will be an up-to-date list
• As the students are using UCAS search tool, they should keep an eye on various universities and courses that are available
• Once they have found the course they want to get into, they need to contact the university to make sure they meet the entry criteria and still vacancies are left. This work needs to be done before adding a Clearing choice
• In case the university offers you a place and you want to accept that offer, add the Clearing choice in Track. Once you sign in, if you are eligible for Clearing, then you can move to the 'Next steps' section you will be given an option to ‘Add a Clearing choice’
• Through Clearing, candidates can apply for one choice at a time. Once you have added a choice, you cannot add another, unless you have been unsuccessful with the first choice. If you wish to apply elsewhere if you have added a choice, then you need to contact the university and ask them to cancel your place so you can apply again through Clearing.
• If you only applied for one choice in your original application for £22.5, you will need to pay an additional £4.5 to go through Clearing.

How does UCAS Clearing Work?

• On the day of the result, when you login to UCAS track, you will get to know whether you have got into your Firm Choice university, your Insurance Choice university, or you have found yourself in Clearing
• If you find yourself in UCAS Clearing, you will be given a Clearing number. Your UCAS ID is different from your UCAS Clearing number
• The universities receive your grades before you do. Hence, they are aware of the selections and vacant spaces
• In case if you receive better grades than what you had expected, you might want to go through those universities that have higher grade requirements and are more competitive
• You must go through the universities and the courses that they are offering. You cannot pick a university and put it in your UCAS track, until you have contacted them and received an offer from them
• On phone, you will receive an informal acceptance, followed up by a letter that states the time in which you need to accept that offer
• Before you accept that offer, make sure to know and understand everything about that university and that course. Do not forget to address your queries related to accommodation
• Once you get a go-ahead from the university/college then only add a Clearing choice

• Submit course details by the date the university/college gave you by clicking on 'Add Clearing choice'
• As you are accepting the offer and the university has confirmed it, it will show as an acceptance on your 'Choices' page in Track

• Candidates can only add one choice at a time, however, if the university/college does not confirm their place, they can add another

UCAS Clearing Tips

• Always have a backup. You must do your research on various universities, courses they offer, and facilities they provide. Keep their contact details with you beforehand. Get to know whether you will be contacting them on phone or online
• Do not feel shy of applying in universities that are more selective and have higher entry requirements
• Be open to different courses rather than rigidly sticking to the one you had chosen for yourself. You never know what course might suit your academic and professional goals
• Make sure to look for accommodation
• Keep on checking: Universities update information related to their course on a regular basis. You may not get the exact university/college/course that you want to get into. It may happen that some of them are full but some of them might get vacancies later.
• Go for advice:Contact your school, or college, or take any professional guidance on whether you can take any alternate course/subjects.

UCAS Clearing Plus

UCAS Clearing allowed the students to explore the options that are available in the clearing. Taking this step further, UCAS Clearing Plus has been set up that uses an algorithm to match the interests you have expressed, and your actual profile and qualification. UCAS Clearing Plus algorithm then matches your profile with the available courses. With the help of UCAS Clearing Plus, you will be able to view your matches.

• Once the algorithm matches your profile with the available courses, you can select ‘View matches’ option
• You can review your matches and if you find any of them suitable, you can click on the ‘interested’ option
• The university can then get in touch with you to discuss your admission
• Even though Clearing Plus does the job of matching your profile against the university courses, students need to be proactive and prompt in their approach in searching for suitable courses and universities
• Even if you say that you are interested in a course through Clearing Plus, it still doesn’t guarantee you an admission offer unless you have been accepted by the university

Also Read:

• How to Write the UCAS Personal Statement?
• How to Write a Common App Essay Part 1
• How to Write a Common App Essay Part 2