DadTalk

Clearing: A Second Chance at University

Sometimes university applications don't go as planned.

If you’ve heard “Dad, I didn’t get an offer,” you may be wondering what to do next. Good news – it’s not too late for your teenager to get into university (or for you to go through with those plans for turning their bedroom into a gym).

That hope is better known as “Clearing.”

What is it?

Clearing is a process that allows you to apply for empty places left at universities – which means that even though your child missed out on their “firm” choice, they still have the chance of getting in on a university course that isn’t full.

When is it?

Clearing starts once A-Level results are released in August and runs until 20 September. This year, the start date is on 18 August (unless you’re in Scotland, where it started on 4 August).

How do you do it?

To apply for university through clearing, you’ll need to do a few things:

1. First, check which courses are available around the country by visiting the UCAS website. Openings are published here, as well as in The Telegraph newspaper, after the Clearing start date. You can also find out if a specific university or course has openings by contacting that university directly.
2. Check your child meets the eligibility requirements:
   • They hold no offers, or
   • Their offers have not been confirmed because they have not met the conditions (eg they did not achieve the required grades), or
   • They have declined, or not responded to, their offers, or
   • Their offers have not been confirmed and they have declined any alternative offers of course or start date made by those institutions
3. Have your child contact universities they are interested in to discuss their options. They’ll need their Clearing number (which is in Track on their UCAS account). With that number, the university can view your teen’s application through UCAS.
4. Cross your fingers. Most universities will provisionally offer places over the telephone if they’re interested in a student. If your child has more than one Clearing option, make sure they speak to each university, see which ones are willing to offer a place, and then carefully consider their choices. Once they’ve made their choice, they can sign into UCAS and enter the university’s details as their Clearing choice. Once that’s done, your child will receive a letter letting them know if the university has officially accepted them. When that letter arrives…

…Congratulations! You can start buying dumbbells and spandex.

For more information, visit the UCAS website, or contact their Customer Service unit at 0871 468 0 468.