It’s that time of year. Everyone’s heading off to uni, and now you’re wondering whether you’ve made the right decision not to go? If this sounds familiar, then it’s not too late to apply! You’ve still got plenty of time to bag your university place through Clearing. This blog sets out what Clearing is and who can use it, as well as how to get yourself organised and find accommodation in time once you’ve secured your university spot.
What is Clearing?
Clearing is essentially a second round of uni applications that takes place during the summer. Hosted by UCAS, it serves as a way for universities to advertise and fill up their courses, as well as giving more students a chance to secure a university place.
This year, Clearing opened on the 2nd of July and will close on the 19th October. Since it takes place during the summer holidays, it can give pupils more time to think about what they want to study, and allow them to work on their applications in a more relaxed manner (as opposed to having to apply to uni in the middle of the school year).
Who can use Clearing?
As long as you haven’t already accepted a university place, you can use Clearing!
Clearing is most typically used by students who were unsuccessful during their first round of applications or did not get accepted into their firm or insurance choice universities after results day. If this is the case, Clearing will give you the chance to apply to similar courses at different universities that you might previously not have considered. In some cases, you can even apply to the exact same course you initially wanted, but with lowered entry requirements, so it is worth checking if this is available!
Importantly, there is no need to have completed a first round of uni applications in order to use Clearing. It is perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed when trying to decide what you want to study or whether you even want to go to university in the first place. As a result, waiting until Clearing can give you a couple of invaluable months to consider your options and make your mind up. In any case, if you applied through UCAS after the 30th of June, you will automatically be entered into Clearing.
You can also use Clearing if you were accepted into a university but declined your place, so don’t feel you have to settle for a spot you’re not happy with! This may be the case if you receive better grades than predicted (and can apply for a course with higher entry requirements), or if you’ve changed your mind about what you want to study.
However, you should be aware that there’s no guarantee you will get a place through Clearing, so don’t throw away a university offer that you’re genuinely happy to accept.
When can I use Clearing?
Although Clearing opened on the 2nd of July, you can only officially apply after you’ve received your exam results. This means students in Scotland can apply from the 4th of August, whilst those in the rest of the UK will need to wait until the 13th of August.
However, there is still plenty you can be doing in the meantime, including compiling a list of potential courses and universities you might want to apply to. Once you’ve got your results, you will be able to apply straight away. Where possible, you should make sure you’re free on results day, since university places can fill up extremely fast. You’ll need to contact your university of choice; tell them what course you’re interested in and add it in as a ‘Clearing choice’ on UCAS. You should then receive a decision relatively quickly.
Although you technically have until the 19th of October to apply through Clearing, you should try and get your application in early if you know you want to, since any remaining university places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, it will be much easier for you to settle into university life if you’re there for the start of your course, rather than having to catch-up in the middle of the first semester.
How do I find accommodation if I apply through Clearing?
If you do successfully secure a place through Clearing, you might feel quite rushed trying to sort everything out before your official start date, particularly accommodation.
If this is the case, you should contact your university’s accommodation services. Many will specifically reserve accommodation for Clearing students so this is a good first port of call. However, these are also usually allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so you’ll need to be fast!
Even if you don’t manage to get a place in university-owned accommodation, you can make use of websites such as Accommodation for Students. These allow you to quickly narrow down your search by filtering properties in line with your ideal budget and location. There’s even an ‘instant book’ feature, meaning you can secure your flat in a couple of minutes. This means you’ll have plenty of time to focus on sorting your finances out, packing your stuff and making sure you’re ready to get off to a good start.
Good luck!
Clearing is a great service to make the most of – whether you didn’t get into your dream uni the first-time round, or have suddenly decided you want to go. We recommend starting your research early and applying as soon as you’ve got your exam results to give yourself the best shot at getting the place you want.
We wish you the best of luck with your Clearing application, and are here to help you find some great accommodation once you’ve secured your spot!
