If you\u2019re feeling a bit overwhelmed by the thought of Clearing, you\u2019re not alone. With so many unfamiliar terms flying around, it\u2019s totally normal to feel unsure. But don\u2019t worry, this blog breaks down the key terms you\u2019ll come across so you can feel confident and in control.<\/p>\n
What is Clearing?<\/strong> UCAS ID<\/strong> Firm choice<\/strong> Insurance choice<\/strong> Clearing ID number<\/strong> UCAS Extra<\/strong> Deferral<\/strong> Self-release<\/strong> <\/p>\n Remember, Clearing is a fresh start, and it\u2019s there to support you to make the right choice. If you\u2019re unsure about the next steps, speak to your teachers, careers advisers, or the universities you\u2019re interested in.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you\u2019re feeling a bit overwhelmed by the thought of Clearing, you\u2019re not alone. With so many unfamiliar terms flying around, it\u2019s totally normal to feel unsure. But don\u2019t worry, this blog breaks down the key terms you\u2019ll come across […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25242,"featured_media":370,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/vibelondon\/files\/2025\/07\/TU-LONDON-VIBE-JARGON.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/vibelondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/369"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/vibelondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/vibelondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/vibelondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25242"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/vibelondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=369"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/vibelondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/369\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":371,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/vibelondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/369\/revisions\/371"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/vibelondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/370"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/vibelondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=369"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/vibelondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=369"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.tees.ac.uk\/vibelondon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=369"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nClearing is the process that helps you find a university place if you didn\u2019t get the results you were hoping for, changed your mind, or decided to apply late. Whether you\u2019re applying for the first time or reconsidering your options, Clearing is a second chance.<\/p>\n
\nThis is your personal identification number for everything related to your UCAS application. It\u2019s 10 digits long and unique to you. You\u2019ll need this when you call universities, so keep it handy.<\/p>\n
\nThis is the university you accepted as your first choice when your offers came in. If you meet the entry requirements, this is where you\u2019re heading. If things don\u2019t go as planned with your firm choice, and you change your mind, don\u2019t worry, that\u2019s when Clearing can help open new doors.<\/p>\n
\nThis is your backup plan and the university you have selected as your second choice. If you don\u2019t meet the conditions for your firm choice but meet your insurance offer, you\u2019ll go there instead. If you\u2019ve changed your mind about your insurance choice, Clearing gives you another option.<\/p>\n
\nIf you become eligible for Clearing, UCAS will assign you a Clearing ID number. It allows universities to view your application and make you an offer during the Clearing process. You\u2019ll find this in your UCAS Hub once you\u2019re in Clearing.<\/p>\n
\nIf you used all five of your original choices but didn\u2019t get any offers, or declined them, you could apply for more courses before Clearing opens through UCAS Extra. It gives you an extra shot at securing a place before entering Clearing.<\/p>\n
\nThinking about starting uni later? Deferring means you accept a place but choose to begin your course the following year instead. Not all courses allow it through Clearing, but it\u2019s worth asking if you\u2019re considering a gap year or need more time.<\/p>\n
\nChanged your mind about your firm or insurance choice and want to enter Clearing? Self-release lets you do just that. To do this, you\u2019ll need to login through your UCAS Hub. However, you can\u2019t reverse this once you\u2019ve released yourself into Clearing, so make sure you are 100% certain about your decision before you self-release.<\/p>\n