Clearing
Not got the results you need?
Lost your university place?
Feel your world is coming to an end? Don’t despair! Every year thousands of people like you get a university place through Clearing. Results okay?
You’re in! You can’t change your mind at this stage and turn down an offer of a degree place and enter Clearing. You must either accept your place or withdraw from UCAS altogether and apply again next year. If you have an exceptional reason for not wishing take up your offer, you can try contacting the university (not UCAS) to ask if they will release you. Just missed your grades?
You may still be accepted by the university(ies) where you hold offer(s). Get in with touch with them immediately and check before doing anything else. Alternatively, they might offer you a place on a different course, but you don’t have to accept this if you don’t want to. You can enter clearing. Results not okay?
Get in touch directly with universities and colleges which have vacancies, to see if they’ll take you (see Where to Find Vacancies and Tips for Clearing Success).
Think things through first, though! Research universities and courses and be clear why you want to do this.
Where to find vacancies
- UCAS Website
Vacancies published daily on www.ucas.com - Newspapers
The Independent and Independent on Sunday publish the official UCAS vacancy lists from A level results day (third Thursday in August) onwards. - BBC 2 Ceefax
- ECCTIS 2000 vacancy information service
A computer programme available at some schools, colleges and careers centres, which runs a vacancy service during clearing time.
Where to get adviceTen tips for Clearing Success
Alternatives to Clearing | 
