University Clearing isn’t a backup plan – it’s a positive, active opportunity to find your perfect university course for this September. A-level results day is approaching (August 14th, 2025), and feeling unsure if your offers will match up? You’re not alone. If things haven’t gone exactly as you hoped, or you’ve changed your mind, Clearing University 2025 opens on July 5th. This guide explains exactly what is Clearing University, how Clearing works, when to act, and how to successfully grab that exciting place. Breathe, don’t panic – let’s navigate UCAS Clearing together and get you started on your university journey.
What is Clearing University?
Clearing University is a service that matches students without course offers to available university places. The clearing university means a second opportunity for applicants to secure a spot, particularly when courses still have vacancies after initial offers are made. Many students may wonder how does clearing works? The universities use Clearing to fill remaining spots, with the UCAS Clearing 2025 running from 5 July to 20 October, reflecting its growing role as an increasingly common pathway into higher education.
When does Clearing open 2025?
The Clearing University service runs every year from July to October. For the 2025/26 intake:
- If you already have your grades but don’t hold any university offers, you can use Clearing starting Saturday, 5 July 2025.
- If you held conditional offers but didn’t get the grades you needed, you can enter UCAS Clearing from A-level results day (Thursday, 14 August 2025) onwards. Clearing choices becomes available in your UCAS Hub account from 1 pm on that day.
When does Clearing end?
Get your applications in by Monday, October 20, 2025. This is the absolute deadline to finalize your choices and for universities to confirm their decisions.
Who can use UCAS Clearing?
This process of Clearing University could be ideal for you if you:
- Applied to the university after the 30 June deadline.
- Didn’t get any offers, or received offers you don’t want to accept.
- Didn’t meet the conditions of your existing offers.
- Have paid the £28.50 UCAS application fee for 2025/26.
- Declined your firm place through UCAS Hub.
Where can I find the University Clearing courses?
So, the best place to find courses with Clearing vacancies is UCAS’s search tool. Most options get listed there from results day onwards (that’s usually mid-August). While University Clearing technically runs from mid-July right through to September, the main time everyone’s looking and applying is once you’ve actually got your results – basically from mid-August until late September.
Just bear in mind, not every uni or course will have spots free, and the popular ones can get snapped up quickly.
Once your exam results are in your hands, that’s when you can start calling unis directly about potential places. Loads have hotlines open bright and early on results day morning (like Thursday 14th August this year), but opening times do vary, so it’s worth double-checking with the uni itself.
And if you want some help figuring things out? Give the National Careers Service (NCS) a ring on 0800 100 900 – they’ve got careers advisers who can chat things through.
How does University Clearing system work?
Many crowds are curious about how the Uni Clearing system works, and you can follow the instructions below to do your Clearing.
Find Courses: Use the official UCAS Clearing search tool. It lists thousands of courses (over 30,000) with vacancies.
Check & Choose: It’s your job to find courses you like that still have spaces.
Call Universities Directly: Once you find a course you’re interested in, call that university right away. Have your UCAS Personal ID ready!
Talk to Advisors: Friendly advisors are manning the phones. They’ll discuss your application and grades with you.
Get a Verbal Offer: If the university likes your application, they’ll make you a verbal offer over the phone.
Add it in UCAS Hub: Important! Before you can officially accept this offer in your UCAS Hub, you MUST get permission from the university (they’ll tell you how, often via email).
Confirm in Hub: Once you have permission, add the course choice in your UCAS Hub. The university will then confirm it officially.
Place Guaranteed: Once the university confirms your place in UCAS Hub, your spot is guaranteed!
How do I apply through Clearing?
You can find unfilled university courses using the UCAS search tool. Search by subject, location, or university to see available vacancies.
To apply for a place, fill out your application details as you normally would – including your personal statement. Once you submit it, UCAS will give you access to the UCAS Hub service. You’ll also get a Clearing number, which shows up under your ‘Application status’.
From there, follow the steps to look for a place. When you contact a university about a vacancy, make sure to give them your Clearing number and personal ID. This lets them see your application online.
Offers are often made over the phone. Remember, you should only accept one offer.
Important: You can only add one Clearing choice at a time. If the university doesn’t confirm your offer, you can then look for another vacancy and add a different choice.
What are University Clearing matches?
Along with searching for courses yourself on UCAS, you can also give their Clearing matches tool a go. It automatically uses your application details to find courses that could suit you, based on what universities are after.
If you haven’t got a uni place or you’ve started a new application, look for the ‘View your matches’ button in your UCAS Hub. Hit that, and you’ll see your top 50 course matches.
See a course you like? Just reach out directly to the uni offering it. If they still have spots free and you meet their requirements, they might just give you a call.
How to prepare for University Clearing?
Don’t wait until A-level results day hits to think about University Clearing. The smart move is to start your prep well in advance – ideally from July onwards, giving yourself at least a month. Being proactive doesn’t just make you ready; it can seriously help calm those pre-results jitters. Here’s what to focus on:
Research is Key: After you know what is a Clearing University, begin actively looking for alternative courses before results day. Dig into universities offering subjects similar to your original firm and insurance choices, but perhaps with slightly lower entry requirements than your predicted grades. Revisit options you considered earlier in the year that didn’t quite make your final five UCAS choices.
Build Your Shortlist: As you research, make a list of specific courses and universities you’d genuinely be interested in if you need Clearing. Don’t just note the names – check their exact entry requirements carefully against your predicted grades to see if they’re realistic backups.
Get Your Details Sorted:
- University Contacts: Note down the Clearing hotline phone numbers for your shortlisted universities. Have them easily accessible on results day.
- UCAS Access: Create a shortcut or bookmark for the UCAS Track login page on your phone/laptop – you’ll need quick access.
- Your Info: Double-check that your contact details (phone, email) are completely up-to-date in UCAS Hub. Universities will call you!
Prepare Your Pitch: You might need to explain why you want a place on a Clearing course quickly and clearly. Draft a short personal statement snippet for each type of course on your shortlist. Focus on your enthusiasm and suitability.
Use the Tools: Explore the UCAS website’s Clearing search tool regularly in July and early August. While many more vacancies appear on results day itself, checking beforehand gives you a clear picture of what’s likely to be available and helps refine your shortlist.
Have a Plan B (and C): Treat this preparation as building your essential Clearing back-up plan. Knowing you have researched options takes a huge weight off your shoulders if your results aren’t quite what you hoped.
Can I apply University Clearing without using UCAS?
Some universities let you apply to them directly using a process called a Record of Prior Acceptance (RPA). If they offer this route and make you an offer you want to accept, here’s what happens:
You still need to provide: your exam results, a personal statement, and a reference directly to the university.
You fill out an RPA form after accepting their offer.
The university submits this RPA form to UCAS for their records and data analysis.
Important things to know:
Not all universities offer RPA. Check directly with the university you’re interested in to see if it’s an option.
Accepting an RPA offer is final. If you accept an offer through RPA, you cannot apply to any other courses. Be absolutely certain about this university and course before committing.
How many universities can I apply to?
There isn’t a strict limit on the number of universities you can call and talk to during University Clearing. Feel free to ring around as many unis as you like that you’re interested in. You can even receive multiple informal offers over the phone – universities might tell you they’d accept you based on your results. This gives you time to compare options, even after you get your first verbal offer. You can keep calling other places after getting an offer.
However, crucially, you can only formally apply to one university at a time through Clearing University on your UCAS Hub.
How does the university clearing system work? After you’ve rung around and found courses you like, a university will need to make you a formal offer, usually by phone or email. Only then should you add that specific Clearing choice to your UCAS Hub. Do not add any choice to your Hub before you have this confirmed offer.
How do I secure student finance after Clearing?
1. Getting Your Loan is Essential:
If you secure a place through Clearing University, ensuring you get your student loan is crucial. The process depends on whether you applied for student finance earlier or if University Clearing is your first application. Be sure to also look into student bank accounts and money-saving tips.
2. Already Applied? Update Your Details:
If you’ve already applied for funding but changed your course or university through Clearing, you must tell Student Finance immediately. This could affect your funding amount. To update your application, simply log in to your GOV.UK Student Finance account, go to ‘Your Account’, select ‘Change your Application’, and then update your ‘University/College and Course’ details.
3. Haven’t Applied Yet? Do It Now:
If you’ve just decided to go to university and haven’t applied for finance, you need to apply online at GOV.UK right away to try and get your loan in time. While there’s a chance your full funding might be delayed past the start of term, Student Finance will prioritize getting you some initial support soon after you register. If your funding is delayed, contact your university to let them know about your payment schedule.
Top Tips for University Clearing
Get to know Clearing universities:
Don’t wait for results! Before results day, dive deep into what Clearing universities are offering. Explore their websites, scrutinize course details (especially alternatives), check virtual tours, and follow their social media. How Clearing uni works is all about finding your best fit after results, so seriously consider different courses or foundation years – keep your options wide open.
Prep & Call Clearing Hotlines:
Get your UCAS number, Clearing number, and grades ready – you’ll need them! How uni Clearing works involves directly calling universities. Ring their dedicated Clearing phone lines to discuss courses you like (ask about student accommodation too!). Briefly explain what Clearing university means for you – why you’re interested now. Take notes during calls!
Be Ready to Shine:
Clearing universities will want to understand why you’re a great match. Be prepped to talk passionately about your chosen course and your academic strengths. You might even chat directly with a tutor or have a quick interview – see it as your chance to impress!
Patience & Polite Follow-up:
How Clearing uni works means that unis get very busy. Decisions can take you some time. If you haven’t heard by the next day, give them a polite nudge. Don’t stress – even applying late, you’ll still be set for Freshers’ week!
Lock in Your Clearing Place:
Got an offer you love from a Clearing university? Remember, the crucial final step is formally confirming your place through UCAS. That’s how uni Clearing works – you secure your spot!
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FAQ
University Clearing is how universities fill empty spots in their courses. If you don’t have an offer yet and a course has places open, you can apply through Clearing between July 5th and October 20th, 2025. You can also use Clearing if you’re applying after the June 30th deadline.
There’s no extra charge for Clearing University. Your 2025 application costs a single £28.50 fee – this covers you for up to five courses, whether you apply normally, make multiple choices, apply later, or use Clearing.
Clearing can be hard, but it’s manageable. Honestly, sometimes just one phone call is all it takes to land a place at a uni you’d still be really happy to go to.
Some universities might be willing to accept lower grades through Clearing. Whether they lower their requirements depends on course demand and the number of places still available. If a course has unfilled spots, universities often show more flexibility on grades.
Clearing University runs from July 5th to October 20th. It’s mainly for students who:
- Didn’t get any offers from their first round of applications.
- Missed the grades required by their conditional offers.
- Changed their mind and turned down their offers.
- Applied late, after the June 30th deadline.
- Want to switch courses or universities, even if they got good results.
Yes, If you weren’t completely sure about your course and university choices when you applied through UCAS, then Clearing is likely your best next step – especially if you didn’t get any offers on results day.
Yes, University Clearing works on a first-come, first-served basis. This means courses with limited places through Clearing will go to the first students who apply. So it’s important to act fast and research your options carefully – university guides often say places can fill up very quickly.
You can find Russell Group universities in Clearing, but it depends. Don’t expect every course or university to have spots. Places like Oxford and Cambridge hardly ever use Clearing. Others in the group do take part, though what courses are free changes each year.
You can find loads of options. Popular subjects like Computer Science, Psychology, Pharmacy, and Business Management are often available. You might also discover more niche courses like Drama, Journalism, or Architecture. Even highly competitive courses like Medicine and Law can sometimes have Clearing places, though they’re usually much harder to find.
Nearly all UK universities offer places through Clearing, except for Oxford and Cambridge.
The Clearing process length varies, but it usually starts with a quick phone call. You’ll likely get a decision within hours or days after that. Some universities might tell you their decision right over the phone, while others may take a bit longer to look at your application.
Clearing is for anyone who applied through UCAS but doesn’t hold any offers. It’s your chance to find a course if you missed your offer grades, or if you’ve simply changed your mind about where or what you want to study.
You don’t get ‘rejected’ during Clearing. It might just mean there isn’t a course exactly matching what you’re looking for right now.
You will know when your UCAS Hub shows the status “You are in Clearing.” This status appears once Clearing University officially opens, usually on results day. If you didn’t meet the conditions of your firm or insurance university offers, or if you turned down any offers you held, you’ll likely be entered into Clearing automatically.
Yes, you need to provide details of your confirmed qualifications and grades. This should include any Level 3 qualifications (such as A-Levels, BTEC, IB, Access to HE Diploma) and Level 2 qualifications (like GCSEs).
If you’re eligible for Clearing University, you’ll find your Clearing number under ‘Application status’ in your application.
If your application doesn’t say ‘You’re in Clearing’ or ‘Clearing has started’, it could be that your results haven’t updated yet. If it’s taking longer than expected, reach out to the universities or colleges – they might still be considering your application even if your grades aren’t quite there.
From July, you’ll find all Clearing vacancies in our search tool; universities keep updating them regularly through mid-September.
Head to the ‘Your choices’ section in your application and select ‘Add Clearing choice.’ Then enter the course details there. Remember: only add a Clearing choice if a uni has given you permission.
No need to respond to a Clearing offer. Once you add the choice, the uni/college will confirm your place directly if accepted.
You need to wait until that uni either gives you a Clearing offer (which you can then decline) or rejects you. Then you can use Clearing again.
Sure. If you change your mind about attending your firm choice, just click ‘decline my place’ in your application.
The University/college will update your application once they make a decision. If you’ve met your offer conditions, we’ll confirm your place shortly.
Unfortunately, you can’t switch your firm and insurance choices for your Clearing University. If you want to go to your insurance choice university/college, you’ll need to go through Clearing. You should contact them directly to confirm if they can accept you via Clearing.
Adjustment ended in 2022. But if you did better than expected in your exams and want to switch universities, you can still give up your current place and enter Clearing instead.
