The Student Room Group

MEDICINE THROUGH CLEARING 2018 – Which medical schools may have places?

A-level results are going to be released in a few days time. Last year on results day students reported to us not being able to get through on medical school clearing lines in the morning, and reported applications had been closed in some universities by the afternoon due to the sheer number of applicants. Whilst I believe there is an element of unfairness about this, there are steps you can take to beat the rush.

Last year, as far as I am aware, three medical schools offered places through UCAS clearing St George’s, Liverpool and Sheffield. It is likely the entry requirements for applications through clearing are unchanged from the earlier applications (i.e. same GCSE, A-level, entrance examination and interview requirements etc.)

I have gone through the medical school websites today (Friday 10 August) trying to look for evidence that the school could offer places through clearing. Some have an option to register an interest, so if you are in a position with no offers, but you feel you will meet the entry requirements of that medical school, I would do this now. Some even say they will ring you back on results day. Some medical schools don’t have any clearing pages on line yet. Others let you search for available courses and if medicine appears in the list, I have included it below. It if comes in the list but states ‘no vacancies’ I have not. It is likely this list will change by results day, but give yourself a head start.

On results day, if you have just missed the grade, the first step should be to ring the medical school that you have offers from to see whether they may still be able to offer you a place.

I am placing the links here over the next few posts so you can access the relevant pages, especially on results day, should the need arise.

Blue Peanut Medical Education
https://www.bluepeanut.co.uk
St George’s
https://sgul.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/clearing2018
Express your interest and register now!

Sheffield
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/clearing
Medicine is in the list of subjects that is available through clearing! Advance register now!

Plymouth
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/clearing
Has indicated medicine may be available through clearing. You need to e-mail [email protected] or telephone 01752437333. Do this now!

Dundee
https://www.dundee.ac.uk/clearing/
Has an ‘enquire now’ status for medicine. So make an enquiry!

Keele
https://www.keele.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduatecourses/medicine/
Has indicated places might be available through clearing. You need to ring 01782 733000. Do this now!
Leicester
https://www.le.ac.uk/clearing2018/?utm_source=uol-homepage&utm_medium=hero-slide&utm_campaign=clearing2018
Has Medicine as an option on its ‘Check in now’ page. Complete this and they indicate they will call you back on Thursday 16 August!

Newcastle
https://www.ncl.ac.uk/ug2018/apply/
Medicine is present in the list of subjects present in the search for clearing
You need to ring 0800 073 5050 from 7am on Thursday 16 August!

Swansea
http://www.swansea.ac.uk/clearing/
Medicine is in the list of subjects coming up in the clearing search. The websites states ring 0800 094 9071 from Monday.

UCLAN
https://www.uclan.ac.uk/study_here/clearing/index.php
Medicine is coming up in the list of courses available in the clearing search. It is not clear whether this is generic search or whether it indicates potential vacancies. You need to ring 01772 830777

I hope this helps you all in your search for medical school place.

Blue Peanut Medical Education
https://www.bluepeanut.co.uk
This is so interesting! - I always thought medicine was one of them courses that you wouldn't see on clearing
Hi Haseeb,

Concern about this was raised in the medical press last year. It was speculated that this could be due to financial and contractual factors, such as levels of potential debt for newly qualified doctors, pay issues and imposition of the new junior doctor’s contract. However, it was also raised whether some spaces were deliberately being held for clearing in an attempt to recruit outstanding candidates that did not get a place first time. Concern about the unpredictability of the A-level process was also deemed to be a factor.

Despite all this medicine is still expected to be oversubscribed with many excellent candidates being unfortunately refused a place. Remember doctors are still very much in demand and the market is worldwide!

Blue Peanut Medical Education
https://www.bluepeanut.co.uk
If I got AAB on results day is there a chance I could get through on clearing?
I contacted UCLAN and they only have places available for international students.
Original post by bonnie_x
If I got AAB on results day is there a chance I could get through on clearing?


Hi Bonnie,

Plymouth medical school has indicated that they will accept an AAB result. I would still try and apply to all of the medical schools that are going through clearing. Sometimes a A*AB will balance in your favour if they have stated they require AAA.

Blue Peanut Medical Education
https://www.bluepeanut.co.uk
Original post by PrinceKian
I contacted UCLAN and they only have places available for international students.


Hi Prince,

As least they have acknowledged that they are places. These may become available on A-level results day.

Blue Peanut Medical Education
https://www.bluepeanut.co.uk
what if you made no formal application to begin with, but still have a valid UKCAT, PS and of course required grades? is it possible to get a place through clearing or best just to apply formally for 2019 entry?
The UCAS website appears to indicate that if you apply after 30 June, your application will go into clearing. It may be worth starting an application even at this late stage. Once you have a UCAS ID, you can then perhaps start ringing medical schools.

Blue Peanut Medical Education
https://www.bluepeanut.co.uk
hi, how lenient are UCL with getting the grades they asked for medicine?
Original post by SJkenzie3112
hi, how lenient are UCL with getting the grades they asked for medicine?


Every medical school will react differently to people missing their grades every year. It depends on how many places they still have left unfilled after all the firm and insurance applicants who meet their grades have been unconditionally accepted.
If they still have places left to fill they could let people who have offers in with lower grades, they could take people with the required grades who were rejected after interview off their waiting list or they could go into clearin. And take those with the required grades from there.

Each medical school does it differently.
A lot of the information here is VERY misleading.

Swansea are not advertising medicine on their clearing vacancies

Plymouth are not in clearing for medicine (confirmed with phonecall)

Keele are not advertising medicine on their clearing vacancies

Newcastle havent published ANY courses through clearing on their website yet
I have only provided links for you based on the information on the medical school website - I can see Newcastle have now removed medicine from the search - the initial post is from last Friday. If you have a look on Plymouth website - even as I write - it indicates medicine might be available for clearing. I have attached some screenshots. 45D83B88-175D-46EB-895B-540507B21572.jpg.jpeg4593D769-5C1D-420A-8CD5-486A7A1FBBF1.jpg.jpeg
Original post by Blue Peanut Medical Education
I have only provided links for you based on the information on the medical school website - I can see Newcastle have now removed medicine from the search - the initial post is from last Friday. If you have a look on Plymouth website - even as I write - it indicates medicine might be available for clearing. I have attached some screenshots. 45D83B88-175D-46EB-895B-540507B21572.jpg.jpeg4593D769-5C1D-420A-8CD5-486A7A1FBBF1.jpg.jpeg


I called them, they said its very unlikely.
Reply 16
Original post by Blue Peanut Medical Education
The UCAS website appears to indicate that if you apply after 30 June, your application will go into clearing. It may be worth starting an application even at this late stage. Once you have a UCAS ID, you can then perhaps start ringing medical schools.

Blue Peanut Medical Education
https://www.bluepeanut.co.uk


Is a clearing application different from a standard application for entry next year?
Also, you had mentioned that there was speculation that medical schools did not have places for clearing due to potential debt and the new junior doctor contract. Is this due to applicants rejecting their offers for medicine?
Hi everyone,

Sorry if some of you are feeling that you have been misled. The information I posted was accurate last Friday at the time of posting. I simply trawled through all the medical school websites and looked for evidence they may offer places through clearing. Sorry if some of you felt this was a list of medical schools that still had places. The information is already out of date.
The point here was to try and preregister as an interested student if the medical school allows this. This will give you a head start on A-level results day especially as some have offered to phone you back!
I totally understand how it feels to be told there are no places take this with a pinch of salt until A-level results day. It is important not to give up, especially if you meet the entry requirements!

Some of you have been asking me what happens on results day when you ring. Chances are you will speak to an administrator who will first check you meet the entry requirements for that medical school. At some stage someone will review your UCAS application form. From speaking to students last year who we helped they were then contacted later, usually by e-mail, advising them to attend for interview.

I am not sure what happens if you put in a UCAS application now so that it enters clearing it might be worth ringing UCAS for advice on this. There was speculation that clearing places have only appeared in medicine as the career is not as attractive as it was in the past due to the factors I have mentioned earlier. Here is a link to the article of you want to read more.

Blue Peanut Medical Education
If anyone has any feedback from contacting the above universities that they could share with the community, please so do. I am also aware as candidates are in competition with each other, you may be reluctant to do so.

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