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Why do courses enter clearing so early?

If a course enters clearing in July does that mean they’re likely to be very flexible with accepting people on results day? Bc what if too many people apply via clearing? Won’t that put applicants who are yet to get their grades at a disadvantage since fewer of them will be accepted?

Also do some courses randomly enter clearing around results day once they see how many people met the requirements? Or is it fixed from July

Reply 1

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Because other qualifications get results earlier e.g. IB and SQA. This is a much smaller of proportion of applicants however.

However the majority of clearing places get added on A-level results day anyway and usually IB etc students have to just wait until A-level results day when all the courses get added and clearing lines open anyway.

Note universities are under embargo from UCAS for thr week before results day and so there won't be any new courses added until results day during that week.

(edited 9 months ago)

Reply 2

Admit-One

Universities Forum Helper

Yes, the reality is that unis can’t pick up that many students during ‘early clearing’ because only students wil achieved grades are eligible.

Reply 3

McGinger

If you think about it, the vast majority of UK applicants take A levels. Therefore, Unis wont have a definite idea of what actual spaces there are until A level results are known - which is why most IB applicants who get their results earlier, and have missed their offers, are made to wait until August for a final decision.

These 'early' Clearing spots are so that Unis can pick up mainly overseas applicants with known grades from other exam systems who meet the grade requirements for courses where the Unis know they are short of applicants.

Reply 4

YSJstudents

Official Rep

Hi,

Clearing opens early, as some students will already have grades (e.g. those who have taken gap years or dropped out), or students did not apply in time during the main cycle, which could be down to a number of factors such as: changed courses, last minute decision to go to university, and someone may not have received any offers.

After the second UCAS deadline (30th June), university's will have a better idea of spaces available on the course, which is why clearing opens in July. However, not all courses will go into clearing and not all university's will take part either.

Courses fill up quite fast during clearing, but there won't be too many applications for a course, as it's a first come, first served basis, as long as you meet the requirements for the course. Clearing isn't normally busy before results day given that most students are yet to receive their grades, so please don't worry too much about this. If you do need to go through clearing, I would highly recommend you have the numbers of universities written down the night before as a 'just in case' and ring up as a early as possible. This will just make the day a lot less stressful for you, if you have prepared in case.

This is quite detailed guide that explains clearing in further depth Ultimate Guides — Make the most of clearing (ucas.com)

Suzan - Student Ambassador

Reply 5

McGinger

"university's"

From a York St John student acting in an official capacity on behalf of the University.
Worrying.

Reply 6

Marma2024

Original post by YSJstudents

Hi,
Clearing opens early, as some students will already have grades (e.g. those who have taken gap years or dropped out), or students did not apply in time during the main cycle, which could be down to a number of factors such as: changed courses, last minute decision to go to university, and someone may not have received any offers.
After the second UCAS deadline (30th June), university's will have a better idea of spaces available on the course, which is why clearing opens in July. However, not all courses will go into clearing and not all university's will take part either.
Courses fill up quite fast during clearing, but there won't be too many applications for a course, as it's a first come, first served basis, as long as you meet the requirements for the course. Clearing isn't normally busy before results day given that most students are yet to receive their grades, so please don't worry too much about this. If you do need to go through clearing, I would highly recommend you have the numbers of universities written down the night before as a 'just in case' and ring up as a early as possible. This will just make the day a lot less stressful for you, if you have prepared in case.
This is quite detailed guide that explains clearing in further depth Ultimate Guides — Make the most of clearing (ucas.com)
Suzan - Student Ambassador

This is helpful thanks. Do you mean the general admissions number for universities?