What is university clearing?
Clearing or “Clearing Plus” is a system used to fill vacancies on university courses. It’s also an opportunity for students who have not accepted university places, or have not met the requirements for their conditional offers, to find themselves a place.
When does university clearing open?
Clearing opens on 5 July 2024 for students who haven’t accepted an offer from a university, or who have failed to meet the conditions of their offer, or who have agreed with the university whose offer they have accepted to be released to go through Clearing.
What if a student does better than expected?
If a student does better than expected, they can decline their offer and use Clearing to find a course.
What is Clearing Plus?
Clearing Plus is available to students who have been unsuccessful with their application or are applying for the first time for a place in Clearing.
Students are matched to courses based on their profile. You can read more about Clearing Plus here.
When does university Clearing close?
Clearing closes in October 2024 - date as yet to be announced.
University clearing: 2024 timeline
30 June 2024: The deadline to apply to a specific university course. All applications after this date will automatically be entered into Clearing by Ucas.
5 July 2024: Clearing opens.
15 August 2024: A-level results day. Students can receive their results from 8 am.
October 2024: Clearing closes.
When students are using Clearing to search for courses, it is advisable to have all the relevant information to hand when they are contacting university admissions.
This includes: Ucas personal ID number, details of their qualifications (including GCSEs), and copies of personal statements and references.
Students can search for Clearing courses via the Ucas website.
How many students use Clearing?
In 2022, data from Ucas shows that over 50,000 students used Clearing to search for a place at university.
This included 16,000 students who applied directly through Clearing.
There were 21,000 students who had originally used Ucas to apply to specific universities but had not received any offers. Out of those students, 12,000 found a place through Clearing.
In addition to this, 37,000 students entered Clearing after they declined their place from their “firm offer” university. Out of those students, 20,000 then found a place through Clearing.
Read more about how to support students who have missed their grades on A-level results day.
