How to apply through Clearing

Who can apply through Clearing and When?

If any of the following apply to you, you’re eligible to apply through Clearing:

you don't meet the conditions of your offer for your firm (first) or insurance (second) choice courses
your exam results are better than you expected and you want to change your course or university
you don't hold any offers
you've accepted an offer but changed your mind about the course you want to do
you're applying for the first time after 30 June
you’ve declined your firm place using the ‘decline my place’ button in your application on the UCAS Hub

Most students apply through Clearing after receiving their results. However, if you've already completed your qualifications and received your results, you may be able to apply through clearing before Results Day.

If you're unsure whether you're eligible to apply through Clearing, our Admissions Team can help you understand your options.

Remember, before Results Day you can only apply through Clearing if you already have your final results.

Evangeline Smith, Admissions Officer

Once you've confirmed you're eligible to apply through Clearing, the next step is to explore your options and contact universities that interest you.

1. Apply Through Clearing

Clearing opens on 5 July. Once you have your results and know which course you'd like to study, you can begin applying for available places.

Before contacting a university, take some time to explore your options and think about what's important to you. As well as course content, consider factors such as location, facilities, placement opportunities and student support.

Many of our popular courses are available through Clearing, giving you a wide range of clearing options before result day to explore.

You can also use UCAS Clearing Plus by going to the 'My matches' option in UCAS Hub and selecting the 'I'm interested button' for the courses you're interested in.

Remember that the availability of courses changes rapidly in Clearing, so you need to keep an eye on the latest vacancies.

Get ready for Clearing call

Make sure you feel ready to call us before you pick up the phone to talk to us about the course you're interested in.

Our advice on how to make a phone call during Clearing tells you everything you'll need to know before you give our friendly Clearing team a call.

You can also about applying for university through Clearing.

What Should You Have Ready Before Calling?

Have the following information ready:

Your exam results and qualifications

Your UCAS ID number (if applicable)

Details of the course you're interested in

Any questions you'd like to ask our team

Our Team will guide you through the process and explain any next steps

Attend our Open Day

You can book onto one of our ��, so if you haven't had the chance to visit us in person, this is your opportunity.

You'll be able to explore the city, find out more about our courses, and get a better idea of what it's like to study with us at the ��.

How many universities can you apply to through Clearing?

You can approach as many universities as you wish during Clearing. You can only apply for one university and one course at a time, but there’s no limit to how many times you can apply throughout Clearing.

We advise you to do one application at a time, as this will prevent you from being overwhelmed.

While you can explore multiple options, focusing on the courses that genuinely interest you can help make the process more manageable and support a more confident decision.

Doing one application at a time will keep you organised with your applications.

Hannah Lloyd, Senior Admissions Officer

Receive and Accept Your Offer

If we make you an offer we'll confirm it by email and give you 24 hours to accept it.

The time it takes to receive a Clearing offer can vary depending on the course and the information provided. Some applicants receive a decision during their initial conversation with a university, while others may be asked to provide additional information before an offer can be made. During busy periods, response times may vary between courses and universities.

We'll ask you to read through our Clearing terms and conditions before you accept an offer.

Make sure you read any provided information needed for clearing carefully so you understand the next steps and any deadlines you need to meet.

Our advice on how to accept a Clearing offer.

You can defer your place

If you want to start in 2026 instead of 2025 before you start your course, we consider ‘deferred entry’ for some courses during Clearing.

We'll let you know if this option is available for your chosen course when you contact us.

Accepting a Clearing offer through UCAS

If you previously applied to university through UCAS, you can accept a Clearing offer in your UCAS Hub. Go to the ‘Your choices’ section of your application and click the 'Add Clearing' choice. Then enter the details of the course. Remember:

Only add a Clearing choice if you've been given an offer by a university.
You can only accept one offer in the UCAS Hub, so don't be too hasty in making your decision.

If you have any difficulty adding your Clearing choice in UCAS, or you've missed the UCAS clearing application deadline, let us know as soon as possible.

Can you apply through Clearing without UCAS?

If we offer you a place and you didn't apply through UCAS, follow the link in your email confirmation and complete our online Record of Prior Acceptance form to accept it.

Please be aware that if you already have a UCAS account for this year (even if you just set one up but didn’t apply in the main cycle), we will not be able to process your acceptance this way and you need to add us as a Clearing choice via your UCAS Hub.

3. Prepare for University After getting through Clearing

Sort out your accommodation

Your next step after accepting an offer is to decide where you're going to live. With the start of term only a few weeks away, it's worth exploring your options as soon as possible.

We recommend exploring your accommodation options as soon as you've accepted your place, as availability can change throughout the summer.

Our friendly student housing team will get in touch with you to provide details of available accommodation in the area, including our latest hall availability and info on local rented accommodation.

Whether you decide to live in halls or in private rented accommodation we offer the same 24/7 welfare advice and support to all new students.

Choosing where to live at uni

Not sure what your accommodation options are when you move to Uni? We've outlined the differences of each to help you decide where to live at university.

Coming to uni

Read our expert advice on everything from how to make friends at uni, to balancing living at home while you study.

Apply for your visa

If you're an EU or international student and you need a visa to study here you need to start the process quickly as visas can take some time to come through. Get in touch with our visa support team if you have a question or problem. Or, read our guidance on getting visas.

Update your student finance application

If you've already applied for your student loan, you'll need to log into your account and update details about your new course/university. If you haven't applied for your student loan yet, don't panic. Apply today – it only takes 30 minutes.

If you've changed your course or university through Clearing, remember to update your details as soon as possible to help avoid delays.

Get ready for your arrival at University

Once you've formally accepted your offer, sorted your accommodation and checked your student finance application, it's time to get ready for your arrival.

Our guide to joining the university lists everything you need to do before you get here.

With your place confirmed and your preparations underway, you can focus on getting ready for the exciting start of your university journey.

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Want a step-by-step guide on how to apply through Clearing? We’ve got you covered!