What is Clearing?

Seriously though, what even is Clearing?

In a nutshell, Clearing is simply the process of universities filling available spaces. So if you’re looking to start with us this October and you don’t already have a place, you can apply once Clearing opens.

So why enter via Clearing?

Well, there’s no simple answer to this. Everyone has their own individual Clearing journey but generally speaking there are four routes into Clearing:

1. You wanted to get your results before making any applications. Patience is a virtue, right? You don’t see the point applying based on predicted grades, you’d rather wait and see what you actually get, then make your choices.
2. You just changed your mind. Better grades, worse grades, exactly what you were expecting grades… Maybe you just want to change your mind. You may want to do a different course, study somewhere else, or perhaps you never thought university was for you but now you want to give it a shot.
3. You didn’t get the grades you’d hoped for. If on A-level results day you open your results and you’re faced with lower grades than expected, don’t panic. If you haven’t met the required grades to keep the conditional offers you received from main cycle application, Clearing is for you.
4. You got better grades than you’d hoped for. Picture the scene – come A-level results day you open your results and find out that you absolutely smashed it and exceeded your expectations. You’d made your original choices based on predicted grades and now you want to upgrade your university place.

Each year thousands of applicants find their university places through Clearing. We’ve even shared some of our current students’ Clearing stories so hopefully you’ll realise you’re not alone.