Clearing 2023: Everything You Need To Know

Everything you need to know about Clearing in 2023.

The thought of not getting into your chosen university and, instead, going through Clearing in 2023 might feel daunting.

But Clearing, which is how unis and colleges fill any places they still have vacant on their courses, can sometimes be a blessing in disguise — matching you with universities you hadn’t considered.

It also gives you an opportunity to pursue higher education, even if you don’t make your grades. This can be a relief and eases some of the pressure on results day, as you can still go to university.

In this guide:

• What is clearing?
• How does clearing in 2023 work?
• When does clearing open in 2023?
• How much does clearing cost?
• How do I apply through clearing?
• When do A-level results 2023 come out?
• What is Clearing Plus?
• UCAS tariff points explained
• What is Adjustment?

Lots of students go to uni through Clearing every year in the UK. In fact, more than 70,000 students were accepted through Clearing in 2020, according to UCAS.

Over 52,000 of those students had originally applied through the traditional UCAS (which stands for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) route, while the rest waited until UCAS Clearing began to apply to a university.

What is Clearing 2023?

Clearing is a system that matches university applicants with institutions that still have unfilled places. It’s available to any university applicant through the UCAS Undergraduate application process.

You can use Clearing if any of the below apply to you:

• You’re applying to university after 30 June
• You didn’t receive any uni offers
• You’ve paid the multiple choice application fee of £27
• You don’t want to accept the offers you have received
• You’ve declined your firm place within your application
• You had a conditional offer but didn’t meet the requirement.

If you are in Clearing, your UCAS Track status will be automatically updated to say: “You are in Clearing” or “Clearing has started”.

>>> University Maintenance Loan Payment Dates 2023: England, Scotland, Wales and NI

How does Clearing in 2023 work?

If you haven’t already applied for university Clearing, firstly, you need to register and make an application.

Unlike applying without going through Clearing, you’ll only be able to add a choice after you’ve submitted your application. UCAS then sends details of how to access your application, as well as your Clearing number.

You can search available places on the UCAS website and then give the uni a call to see if they’ll give you an offer. Then, if you get an offer, you can add your choice to UCAS Track. Bear in mind, that means you’ve accepted that offer.

Lastly, there are lots of different reasons why there are places available via Clearing, so don’t assume they’re courses or universities that nobody wants to attend.

When does Clearing open in 2023?

Clearing 2023 is open from July to October each year, so – for 2023/24 – if you already have your grades, you can use the service straight away from 5 July 2023.

Those who haven’t yet applied to any universities can also apply through Clearing once they have their results. However, you’ll need to have completed a UCAS application to use Clearing. You’ll also need a reference and your personal statement.

What the experts say about Clearing 2023

James Ackroyd, Director of Global Recruitment & Admissions at the University of Reading, says:

“Contacting a university about Clearing vacancies might seem like a daunting process, but I want to assure you that it really isn’t. First and foremost, you need to remember that you’re in control, so make sure that the university and course you’re choosing are the right ones for you.”

How much does Clearing 2023 cost?

If you originally only applied for one course for the reduced fee of £22.50, you’ll have to pay an additional £4.50 to apply through Clearing.

Worried about not making your grades?

Get advice

Firstly, get advice from someone you trust if you can. This could be an adviser at your school, college or careers office. Secondly, look through the courses that will be available to you on UCAS. If you’re worried about not getting your grades, there’s no harm in seeing what courses are available, before Results Day, with lower entry requirements.

Look at alternative subjects and courses

If you don’t find the course you want through Clearing, you could consider looking at different subjects — after all, you don’t have to stick with your original idea. You could also look at joint honours courses through Clearing, so you can study a mix of subjects, i.e. English and Drama, Economics with Mandarin, etc.

It’s worth noting that unis update their course information regularly so keep checking for vacancies. Make sure you’ve checked the course details before you sign up, too, i.e. course structure and modules, entry requirements, or how other students found that course (resources like the Student Room are helpful).

How do I apply using Clearing in 2023?

Before you add a Clearing choice in your application, you need to call the uni and give them your Clearing number (you can find this in your application) and Personal ID. Click ‘Add Clearing choice’ if you’ve got the go-ahead from the university or college and fill in the course details you got on the phone.

This counts as you accepting the offer. You can only add one choice at a time, but if the university/college doesn’t confirm your place, you’ll be able to add another.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to act fast, too. Any spots available on popular courses at high-ranked universities will be filled quickly. It’s first come first served, so many courses will be filled during the days immediately after Results Day.

Open days and virtual tours

Take a look around the campus if you have the time as it’s the best way to see what that university/college experience will be like for you. Alternatively, enquire about virtual tours. Once you have a confirmed place, it’s time to find your student accommodation.

When do A-level results 2023 come out?

A-level Results Day 2023 is Thursday 17th August 2023.

Technically speaking, Clearing begins in July each year. But it only really gets into full swing on Results Day once exam results are published.

On Results Day, check the UCAS Track site as early as possible in the morning to see the status of your applications. The early bird gets the worm, as they say… If you’re eligible for Clearing, it will say so and you’ll be provided with a number (which you’ll have to give to universities you call).

You won’t be able to see what grades you’ve achieved on UCAS Track. You’ll just be able to see if you’ve got into your chosen university/universities or not. You’ll still need to pick up your results to find out your actual grades. 

If you’re not sure about the status of your uni place, contact the university directly to get confirmation from them. They’ll have extra staff on hand taking calls on the day but be patient if you don’t get through straight away as it’s likely to be busy.

What is Clearing Plus?

UCAS has its own system, called Clearing Plus, which looks at your original choices combined with your grades. Then, UCAS analyses what students in Clearing went on to study in previous years in order for the team to match your profile to each course.

If you’re unsuccessful in your uni application or applying for the first time, you’ll be able to see a full list of your matches through UCAS Clearing Plus. If you express an interest in a course, that university or college can contact you.

How do UCAS tariff points work?

UCAS tariff points are allocated to qualifications studied between the ages of 16 to 18, generally speaking. The main purpose of the UCAS Tariff is for universities to report data to Government bodies, however, some unis and colleges use UCAS points in their entry requirements.

That means you might need to know how many points your qualifications are worth. For example, 112 UCAS points would require grades B, B, C at A-Level. Three A-Level A grades (AAA) would be 168 as UCAS points.

This UCAS tariff calculator is quite helpful when it comes down to crunching these numbers, but we’ve also laid them out in some comparison tables below.

BTEC Extended Diploma grade combinations are slightly different because the BTEC level 3 equivalent is A-Level. While three Distinctions (DDD) would equal 144 tariff points, a BTEC Merit, Merit, Pass (MMP) would be 80 tariff points, for example. 

Not all universities and colleges use the tariff, though, many use qualifications and grades instead.

UCAS Tariff/Grade tables

What is Adjustment?

In theory, UCAS Adjustment gives you the chance to apply for a different course or university if you’ve met and outperformed the conditions of your firm offer. Both Clearing and Adjustment offer you the chance to find an alternative place on a university course starting that same year.

The difference is that Clearing is for students who haven’t met the conditions of their conditional offer and Adjustment is for those who have.

>>> Student Maintenance Loans Guide 2022/2023: How Much You’ll Get, When It’s Paid and More

Where can I find my Clearing number?

If you’re eligible for Clearing, your number will show under ‘Application status’ in your application. If your application doesn’t say ‘You are in Clearing’ or ‘Clearing has started’ it might just be waiting for your results to update. Get in touch with the universities/colleges if it’s taking a while — they might still be considering you, even if your results are a bit lower than required.

​Can I apply to a university that rejected me through clearing?

Being rejected is painful, there’s no two ways about it. But the good news about Clearing is that if you were originally rejected from a university, you can apply again. Remember, though, if you’ve declined an offer, you can’t then apply through Clearing to that university or university course.

Does clearing accept lower grades?

Most universities that have course vacancies during Clearing will be prepared to accept you if your grades are below their entry requirements as long as you sound passionate and are right for the degree subject. They may also accept you based on the UCAS points you’ve accumulated rather than your final grades.

Good personal statements and a clear idea of why you want to take the course can all help you get the university you want most, so being enthusiastic and passionate counts for a lot.

How do I contact UCAS?

The Customer Experience Centre can be reached by calling UCAS Undergraduate on 0371 468 0 468 – or +44 330 333 0230 from outside the UK (international call rates apply). Opening hours are 08:30 – 18:00 (UK time), Monday to Friday.

Emails should be sent to complaints@ucas.ac.uk. Once you’ve contacted UCAS, they claim to resolve any complaints within five working days.

Back to top