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Top 10 Tips for Clearing

Don’t panic

Every year over 30,000 students find a place at university through Clearing so you are not alone in this process. There are still places available on many courses, it is up to you to find one that suits you.

Check your firm and insurance offers first

You may not have got the grades or points score that you needed, but the university may still decide to accept you onto the course. Contact them first and do not just assume that you are in Clearing.

Be available on the day

Do not be on holiday or at work, keep the day free to contact universities. Make sure that you have access to the information that you need and the use of a phone. You need to be available to speak to admissions tutors and make decisions yourself – your parents, teachers and friends cannot do it for you.

Get advice

When you pick up your results, talk to your teachers, tutors or careers advisors at school or college and speak to staff from the universities, the current students, friends and family. They may be able to suggest courses and universities that you would never have considered.

Find out which courses have places available

On results day, Thursday 20th August, the UCAS website and The Independent will have a list of courses with places available through Clearing. The UCAS vacancies list will be continually updated and The Independent will publish an updated list daily, removing courses that are full, or adding courses which may initially have been full, but later have vacancies.

Prioritise what's most important to you when selecting the course

Just like you did with your original choices, consider, for example, course content and structure, academic facilities, social life, distance from home, sports facilities and living costs. You may be relieved to be offered anything, but you still need to choose the right course at the right university for you.

You do not have to go for the same subject you initially applied for, but if you do go for something different, the university may still expect you to have specific A Level subjects. If your preferred choice of course is full, look at related alternatives, for example, for Medicine consider Cancer Studies or Biomedical Science.

Be prepared

Have your UCAS application number, Clearing number, course codes, your A Level and relevant GCSE results to hand as the staff at the universities will ask for these. Your Clearing number can be found on the ‘Welcome’ and ‘Choices’ pages on Track.

Ask questions

After looking at the course information, make a list of questions you would like to ask the staff and students to gain an insight into the university. Contact the relevant departmental admissions officer to discuss the courses. Make notes whilst you speak to them so that you have something to look back on after the call and to ensure you do not confuse courses and institutions. Write down contact names and numbers in case you need to call back.

Be patient

Universities have a lot of expert staff waiting to answer your call, but the phone lines can be busy. You may also have to wait to be put through to the relevant department, asked to call later, or the university may ring you back. Clearing lasts until the start of the university term in September, so you have plenty of time to make up your mind and find a course.

Popular courses will fill up first. However, do not rush into a decision for this reason, you need to be sure that the course and university suit you.

Visit the university

Most universities will organise Open Days for Clearing applicants which you should attend so that you can have a look around the university and area, collect more information on the course, speak to staff and students and decide whether or not you would be happy studying at that institution.