Guide to Results Day and Clearing - read this first

Do you have to reject your university offers in order to ring universities or can you ring before you decline to ensure you get a space through clearing?

Hey, if you course and uni are on clearing and you miss your offer are you still likely to be accepted as they have free spaces??

Hey, if you course and uni are on clearing and you miss your offer are you still likely to be accepted as they have free spaces??

Sometimes courses are open in clearing because a university knows they won’t be lenient and they want clearing applicants who meet their standard offer.
Sometimes it’s because they have space and are able to consider lower grades.
Unless a university has published the grades they’ll consider in clearing for a course and they’re below the standard offer grades then it’s impossible to know which situation applies.

Sometimes courses are open in clearing because a university knows they won’t be lenient and they want clearing applicants who meet their standard offer.
Sometimes it’s because they have space and are able to consider lower grades.
Unless a university has published the grades they’ll consider in clearing for a course and they’re below the standard offer grades then it’s impossible to know which situation applies.

Not really u can check the uni clearing grade requirement when course enters clearing. Most of the time grades are slightly slower so means it’s more lenient

Do you have to reject your university offers in order to ring universities or can you ring before you decline to ensure you get a space through clearing?

Hi @Kthaes
Great question and no, absolutely not! Don't reject any of your offers until you've spoken to other universities to see if they would offer you a place first.
Universities can speak to you and make you an offer over the phone whilst you are still holding offers elsewhere. Once you've made your decision, you can release yourself into Clearing through UCAS. The university you have decided to apply to can then make you an official offer through UCAS. I hope this info has helped.
What university are you hoping to apply to?
Kate

"Universities can speak to you and make you an offer over the phone whilst you are still holding offers elsewhere."
This is actually against UCAS rules - its actively and knowingly poaching another Uni's students. Some Unis will talk to you in these circumstances, but they shouldn't - and they know they shouldn't.

Universities can't talk to students, who are waiting for their level 3 results, during the embargo period (which is from 2pm on the 9 August to 8am on 15 August).
The embargo is lifted at 8am on 15 August (results day) and then students are able to speak to universities about an offer before they release themselves through Clearing.

If the entry requirements during clearing are AAA, (but during early clearing they are ABB) and I apply with grades such as A*,B,B, what are the odds that I would get a place? I know it’s impossible to tell as it varies, but speaking generally for a higher ranked uni, what are the odds?

Its worth reading about what happens on Results Day, and how Clearing works in case you might need it.
Guide to A-level results day 2024 | The Student Room
A-level results 2024: here are your options whether you’ve missed your grades or made your university offers | The Student Room
Guide to Clearing 2024 | The Student Room
Please read all of the information and advice above before asking any questions.
Please remember - you cannot use Clearing until you have your results.