• Monday 26 July 2010
• posted by Sophie Hines
• Comments

What is clearing?

Clearing is a process for applying to university, and is used by thousands of people every year. Those who are eligible include people who didn't get any offers or declined all those made to them, anyone who applied to university too late (i.e. after 30th June) and those who have missed the necessary grades for their original choice of course.

After results are published, many university places will still be available, either because they were undersubscribed or because the original intake didn't get the necessary grades. 

On results day a list of these vacancies will be published, both on the UCAS website and in national newspapers (The Independent is a particularly good source of information). In order to apply for any of these places you must be registered with UCAS, although unlike the pre-clearing process, applications are made directly to the university.

How do I do it?

Thousands get places through clearing every year

Firstly, check the official vacancy lists and write down all the courses that interest you. It doesn't necessarily have to be the same subject field as you originally applied for - it could help inform your choice if your A-level results suggest your strengths lie elsewhere. 

You might want to apply for a different course at the university you were initially planning to study at, or head somewhere completely different. Whatever you decide, the next step is to contact the university by telephone.

Although parents are permitted to phone up the university, it's far better if they can speak to the student directly. 

Rather than just hyperventilating down the phone, take a deep breath and keep calm. Politely explain why you would like to go to that particular university and try to show a bit of passion about the course. 

Asking questions about term dates, accommodation and university life shows that you are genuinely interested in the institution rather than viewing it as a last resort. If they are interested in considering you further they will ask for your clearing number.  You will find this on Track. This will allow them to be able to securely access your UCAS form online and read your information.

If this goes well, the next step is to visit the university and have a good look round. Most will be happy to arrange a visit, and many will have open days for clearing students. 

When you are speaking to different universities, you may be informally offered several places. You will then need to decide which offer you want to accept. If a university provisionally offers you a place through clearing, they will give you a date by which you must enter their course details on the Track section of the UCAS website. 

By clicking on the 'Add Clearing choice' button and adding their course details, it means you will be formally considered. Make sure you don't do this until you've been given a provisional offer that you definitely want to accept, otherwise it could slow down your application process.

The university will then be able to accept or reject your application. If they accept you will be sent a Confirmation letter by UCAS, if not then the 'Add Clearing choice' link will be reactivated so you can apply for another clearing place.

Clearing officially ends on 21st September, although many places will be filled much earlier. This doesn't mean you should panic though! It's high-pressured but remain calm and methodical in your approach. If possible see your school careers advisor for help, and remember that clearing lists will be frequently updated with new places, so you should check them regularly. 

Do I have to go through clearing?

Nope! If you have only just missed out on your grades for university, then it's definitely worth ringing them to see if you still have a chance of getting on the course. Even better if you can get a teacher on the phone to help argue your case.

Another possibility is getting your A-levels remarked - this is something you should consult your school or college about. Beware though, as marks can go down as well as up! 

Some people might decide that, instead of going through the clearing process, they'd rather take a gap year to work, travel or retake A-levels. If you're considering this make sure this is definitely what you want to do, and not just a way of delaying difficult choices.

Remember, you're not alone as there's tonnes of advice out there. For more help contact the UCAS helpline 0871 4680468 (be prepared for a bit of wait just after exam results) or the government's Exam Results Helpline 0808 100 8000. Good luck!