How does clearing work?

2

Hi, I hope you are doing well. My A-levels just finished last week, and they did not go as well as expected. Some papers were good, but some went absolutely atrocious. As a result, I probably won't meet the requirements for my firm or insurance choices, and I'm most likely going to end up in clearing. So, A) How does clearing work? and B) Are the entrance requirements the same as they would be if you had applied normally, or are they lower?

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 1

totallyfine

12

My advice is to not to worry too much and just see how it plays out. You may well make the offers and some universities will lower the offer on results day to accept near misses. This is unpredictable so keep an eye on UCAS on the morning of results, it could well be your first indication of how it has gone.
If you do not meet either of your offers then you will get the chance to enter clearing. The grades will probably be the same and clearing actually opens next week, so you will be able to keep an eye on it. However, courses will come and go and many will not be added to clearing until the day of results.
If you have to go into clearing, your college should be around to offer you support through it.

Reply 2

normaw

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

19

Original post by 26ehrh38

Hi, I hope you are doing well. My A-levels just finished last week, and they did not go as well as expected. Some papers were good, but some went absolutely atrocious. As a result, I probably won't meet the requirements for my firm or insurance choices, and I'm most likely going to end up in clearing. So, A) How does clearing work? and B) Are the entrance requirements the same as they would be if you had applied normally, or are they lower?

Have a read of the following article:

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/university/apply/clearing/guide-to-clearing

Reply 3

De Montfort University

Official Rep

17

Original post by 26ehrh38

Hi, I hope you are doing well. My A-levels just finished last week, and they did not go as well as expected. Some papers were good, but some went absolutely atrocious. As a result, I probably won't meet the requirements for my firm or insurance choices, and I'm most likely going to end up in clearing. So, A) How does clearing work? and B) Are the entrance requirements the same as they would be if you had applied normally, or are they lower?

Hey there 😀

I am sorry to hear that your A-levels did not go as expected. It can be really stressful when things do not go according to plan. However, it is not the end of the world yet and your results may still surprise. No matter what you will get, there is still plenty of great universities that might turn out to be a perfect match for you!

To answer your questions:

If you have not been accepted by either your firm or insurance choice, you will be placed into Clearing by UCAS – you will be able to check this status via UCAS Hub. UCAS provides a list of courses available in clearing. You can search by subject, university, and location to find options that interest you. Once you find a course you are interested in, you can contact the university directly. Have your UCAS ID ready. Universities might make you a verbal offer that will be confirmed through an e-mail.

The entrance requirements for clearing can vary. Sometimes, universities may lower their entry requirements during clearing to fill their remaining spots, but this is not always the case. It largely depends on the course and the demand for it.

I hope this helps you understand clearing a bit better 💪 Feel free to reach out if you have any questions 😉 You can also chat with me or other students directly through The Ambassador Platform.

Take care,

Julia
Psychology student
De Montfort University

Reply 4

McGinger

20

Read -
Looking for a course in Clearing? Learn how Clearing works & find a new place (ucas.com)

How does clearing work?

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