Clearing is a chance to get a place on a course after the main UCAS application deadline has passed. If you’re successful, you’ll be able to start university this September.

Simply, it’s a matching scheme — helping students find the right course at the right place.

38,280 students secured their place at uni using Clearing in 2023 according to UCAS.

Almost all universities have a presence in Clearing, with thousands of places available across a huge range of courses.

Clearing officially opens on Friday 5 July 2024. Prospective students need to have already received their grades to apply, and so most Clearing activity takes place from A-level results day onwards (Thursday 15 August 2024). If students have already applied, they can find out their application decisions from 8.00am on results day by checking through your UCAS Hub — and depending on their outcomes, Clearing can then become a real game-changer.

Why might you consider Clearing?

If you have already applied to university through UCAS, you will have the option to add a Clearing choice if you:

  • weren’t made any offers
  • declined your offers
  • didn’t meet the conditions of a conditional offer and haven’t been accepted by your firm or insurance choice university
  • applied after 30 June.

You might choose to apply through Clearing for a few reasons:

  • you want to change your subject choice
  • you decide to study closer to home or further away from home
  • you didn’t get the grades you were hoping for, or you got better grades than you expected
  • you have only recently decided to apply to university.

You can get a head start on Clearing by: