Your Guide to UCAS Clearing 2023

With Results Day just around the corner, you might be starting to think about back-up plans if things don't go the way you hoped (or even if they do). The Clearing process may seem overwhelming, but we're here to demystify the whole process and make sure you're prepared when the day rolls around.

What is Clearing?

Clearing is the process through which UK universities fill any remaining empty spots on their courses. After exam results have been published, university applicants can apply through Clearing and be matched with appropriate courses that still have spaces.

When is Clearing?

UCAS Clearing 2023 is open from 5 July to 17 October. As soon as Clearing opens, you'll be able to search for available courses, but you can't actually go through the process until you have your grades confirmed. For current A-Level students, that won't be until Results Day on 17 August.

While Clearing stays open until October, most places are filled in the first few days after Results Day - so don't hang around once you have your grades.

Who can use Clearing?

You can use UCAS Clearing in 2023 if any of the following apply to you:

• You're applying after 30 June 2023 for the coming academic year
• You didn't receive any university offers
• You don't want to accept the university offers you've received
• You didn't meet the conditions of your university offers
• You got better results than expected and want to decline your firm choice university

You can't go through Clearing until you have your A-Level grades. That means, if you are a mature student or took a gap year and want to apply for the upcoming academic year after 30 June, you can get a headstart on Clearing as soon as it opens on 5 July.

How do you apply through Clearing?

Step 1: find out your situation

If you're awaiting your A-Levels, on Results Day, check your UCAS Hub as quickly as possible to find out whether you have been accepted into your firm or insurance choice university. Bear in mind that your UCAS Hub won't show your grades though: these will either be emailed to you or you'll have to pick them up in person, depending on your school.

If you didn't get the grades you needed for a conditional offer, you'll be entered into Clearing automatically. You can tell this because your application status will say 'You are in Clearing' or 'Clearing has started'. On the flip side, if you got the grades you needed but want to decline your firm offer, you can just use the 'decline my place' button on your application and you will then be eligible for Clearing.

Step 2: search for courses

First up, look for spots on courses using the UCAS search tool. This will be available from July, as soon as Clearing opens, so if you're worried about your results you can get a headstart on your search. You can look at the course that you originally applied for at different universities, or even consider a completely brand new course.

Step 3: contact universities

Next, start calling the universities you're interested in. Make sure you have your UCAS ID, A-Level Results, and Clearing number close at hand. It also can't hurt to re-familiarise yourself with your personal statement, the particulars of the course you are calling about, and the university as you might be asked about these things in a short phone interview.

You can approach multiple universities and receive more than one offer, so it's a good idea to keep going even after you secure your first offer.

Step 4: confirm your place

You can only add one choice on your UCAS Hub when going through Clearing. Make sure that the university has offered you a place and given you permission to enter it to your Hub before you add it.

Doing this counts as accepting your offer, so make sure that you're sure! If the university doesn't confirm the offer you entered for whatever reason, you will then be able to go back and add another one. Once a uni confirms your offer, the course will appear as accepted under the 'Choices' section of your application.

Step 5: celebrate!

And just like that, you've been accepted to university! It's time to pop the bubbly and celebrate - you did it!

What other options do you have?

If you don't like the options you find on UCAS Clearing, but still want to attend university, you can always consider taking a gap year and reapplying. In this time, you can always retake any exams that didn't go quite the way you planned.

A gap year can be a great opportunity to travel, save money, gain work experience, or even gain more of an idea of what you want to do in the future. Who knows - it could be a blessing in disguise?

What's next?

Now that you've secured your place through Clearing, you need to inform Student Finance and make sure everything is up to date. Then, you can move into looking for student accommodation. If you can't get a place in halls, you still have lots of other options for private student accommodation, and a search platform like StuRents.com can help you find them.

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