Clearing 2024 FAQs

In this nerve-wracking time, you’ll want answers quickly. We’ve rounded up all the information you need and answers to all your burning questions about Clearing for 2024 right here!

What is UCAS Clearing?

Clearing is the process for applicants to find spots on university courses that still need to be filled. You can apply to these free spots if you’ve submitted an undergraduate application.

Officially, university Clearing runs from 5th July 2024 to 21st October 2024. This is your chance to find different courses and universities if you miss out on the grades for your university, or did better than expected and want to change!

What is Clearing Plus?

Clearing Plus is a tool designed by UCAS to help students find their perfect course. The service is only open to students who have yet to be successful with their applications and are using Clearing for the first time.

The tool is designed to give students a more personalised list of university courses that are likely to accept them. If students are eligible for Clearing Plus, the UCAS Clearing team will look at your original choices, cross-reference these with the courses that universities and colleges have told them are available and then send these to you. You can then see your choices in the “see matches” button on your UCAS Hub.

Am I eligible for Clearing?

To use the Clearing service, you must meet certain criteria first. Any student can use Clearing, though not all students necessarily require it.

To be eligible for Clearing, you must:

• Be applying after 30th of June 2024
• Have declined your firm choice using the ‘decline my place’ button in your application
• Have paid the multiple choice application fee of £26.50
• Have not met the conditions of your offers
• Have not received any offers (or none you wanted to accept)

Unlike what you may have been told, Clearing courses aren't necessarily courses no one wants to apply for and there are several reasons why a course may still be available. Often, courses may even lower their entry requirements after students have received their results.

Can you reject your insurance offer and go through Clearing instead?

Yes, you can. This is called “self-release”, and students can reject their insurance choice and enter themselves into the Clearing process.

This was not always the case. Pr, students would need to wait for their insurance choice to formally release them from their offer before they could enter into Clearing. However, as of 2019, UCAS has introduced a system whereby students can release themselves.

What is self-release?

Self-release is the process where you decline your place at your choices and release yourself into Clearing.

By doing this, you are declining your place at the universities you've applied to and won't be able to change your mind. Make sure to do your research before you self-release and apply to a course through Clearing.

Can international students use Clearing?

International students can use Clearing, which works in the same way as it does for students from the UK too.

The criteria for an international student to use Clearing is:

• Applied through UCAS at an earlier stage before Clearing opens
• Be applying after the 30 of June 2024
• Been rejected by your firm and insurance choices
• Have paid the multiple choice application fee of £26.50
• Met the conditions of your firm or insurance choice but have rejected them

International students are advised to begin work on their application earlier. This is because students will need to ensure that they have their student visa, begin preparation for a university interview or potentially sit an entrance exam or English language test.

What are the Clearing dates?

Clearing officially opens on 5th of July, 2024 and closes on Monday the 21st of October 2024. Though A-Level Results Day, BTEC Results Day and T-Levels Results Day are a bit later, meaning that if you apply before this date, you may not have such a wide variety of options to choose from.

How much does Clearing cost?

There is no additional cost for Clearing. You’ll pay a one-off application fee of £27.50 for your 2024 application.

Do universities lower entry requirements in Clearing?

This depends on the university and the course. If a course is not getting many applicants, the university may lower the entry requirements but not all universities will do this. Keep an eye on a university’s entry requirements on UCAS or speak to the university directly.

Can you still attend open days before deciding on a course through Clearing?

Yes, you can. Many universities that enter Clearing often offer university open days for students specifically going through Clearing.

If you’re not sure if the university offers this, speak to them directly to see what your options for visiting are.

Is it hard to find student accommodation through Clearing?

Accommodation is known to fill up fast! But that doesn't mean there won't be something available. If you speak to a university about a course through Clearing, this is something you can ask about, as well as doing your research ahead of Results Day.

Some universities may not release accommodation options to students until after Results Day, so if you're quick to apply through Clearing you'll likely be ok. If you're applying nearer to September or October, there will be fewer options available and you may have to look at alternative accommodation.

Do Russell Group universities enter into Clearing?

Yes, they do - but not all of them. Unsurprisingly, universities such as the University of Cambridge or the University of Oxford do not offer Clearing courses.

This changes every year. Some Russell Group Universities will offer Clearing one year and then not for the following year and vice versa.

Can I use Adjustment if my grades are better than expected?

Adjustment does not exist anymore. UCAS got rid of Adjustment in 2022 in favour of Clearing Plus and self-release. If your grades are better than expected, you will now enter Clearing!

Previously, Adjustment worked similarly to Clearing. This was a process where those who had exceeded their predicted grades or performed better than expected could look for different universities or courses.

Where is my UCAS number?

Your UCAS number can be found in your UCAS Hub.

When does UCAS Hub update on Results Day?

Your UCAS Hub will update at 08:00am on Results Day. You will also have your offers from your university in your Hub. If you receive your results before results day, they will automatically appear in your UCAS Hub.

Do universities accept T-Levels in Clearing?

Some universities accept T-Levels during Clearing. It depends on the university and whether they accept them as part of their overall application, as some universities may still need to recognise them formally.

Do I need a new personal statement for Clearing?

No, you do not need a new personal statement for Clearing. Your personal statement will already be a part of your UCAS application, so you won’t need to write a new one.

However, if you are applying for a new subject, you must write one. In this instance, you will not upload the personal statement to UCAS. Instead, you will send it to the university directly, who will assess it from there.

Can I apply to Clearing if I have already accepted an offer from a university but changed my mind?

You can. You will need to speak to the university directly and ask them to release you from your offer. After you have done this, the university will release you into Clearing.

It is best to give the university plenty of warning. Calling up to withdraw your place with time to spare means that the university can facilitate your release quickly. If you ask too late, the university may not release you.

How can I prepare for Clearing interviews with universities?

You can prepare for a Clearing interview the same way you would typically prepare for a university interview. You may not have much time to prepare, but you will have some.

The best preparation is to have everything you need. Find yourself a quiet room with no distractions, all the information you need (your results, Clearing number, work experience, personal statement etc.) as well as a pen and a pad and think about what questions you may have for the interviewer, the same as if you were attending an open day.

Are there any specific scholarships or financial aid options available for students going through Clearing?

There is no specific form of financial aid for students going through Clearing. That is not to say that the university you are applying to does not offer any funding support of any kind, there just aren’t any specific to Clearing.

What deadlines do I need to be aware of when going through Clearing?

There are only two you need to be aware of:

• Clearing opens: 5th July 2024.
• Clearing closes: 21st October 2024.

There are no specific deadlines aside from these that you need to be aware of.