Clearing confusion

Hi I am currently in a abit of a pickle, I was wondering on results could I keep/hold my offer if i meet the conditions and do clearing by contacting another university to see if they would accept me before releasing my self into clearing and rejecting my original offer? or do I need to release my self into clearing first before contacting the new university.
As I currently have an offer for brum but would like to go to kcl but do not want to lose my offer from brum and get no clearing offer from kcl

Reply 1

roguelady

4

Call KCL first, do their processing Qs, and if you get an offer self-release into Clearing. You will lose your place at Brum, but as long as you want the KCL place, and have the offer, you get what you want.

Reply 2

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

21

Original post by Thatdede

Hi I am currently in a abit of a pickle, I was wondering on results could I keep/hold my offer if i meet the conditions and do clearing by contacting another university to see if they would accept me before releasing my self into clearing and rejecting my original offer? or do I need to release my self into clearing first before contacting the new university.
As I currently have an offer for brum but would like to go to kcl but do not want to lose my offer from brum and get no clearing offer from kcl

You can call KCL (or any other university) on results day and make informal enquiries about the likelihood of them being able to offer you a place via Clearing. However, you can't formally apply, and they can't formally offer, whilst you have an offer (or a confirmed place) elsewhere.

So when you speak to KCL, if they say that they'd be willing to make you an offer, ask them to send you an email to that effect. It's not a guarantee that they'll actually accept you when you formally apply, but it's better than nothing.

You'd then decline the place at Birmingham and apply to KCL via Clearing.

Also note that UCAS technically forbid universities from discussing or offering places to applicants who are UF elsewhere. Some universities interpret this strictly (particularly if they’re oversubscribed like KCL) while others will be willing to have a conversation or make an offer in principle.

And if there are any issues with your results or delays to Birmingham making you UF (either because of problems with your exam centre, the exam board, ucas ot at Birmingham) then you won’t be able to use decline my place to put yourself into clearing.

Reply 4

McGinger

20

Be aware that if you are accepted via Clearing you will be at the back of the queue for accommodation - and at some Unis that can mean no accommodation, or so expensive its out of reach. Be realistic about how much stress you can take in August, and how you would deal with this situation.

Reply 5

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

21

Original post by PQ

Also note that UCAS technically forbid universities from discussing or offering places to applicants who are UF elsewhere.

That's interesting @PQ, I didn't realise it was UCAS which mandated that universities not talk to applicants about Clearing if they held an unconditional firm offer elsewhere. I'd always assumed that it was the universities themselves trying to avoid too many "speculative" calls which didn't actually turn into Clearing applications.

Is this one of the Business Rules, or it specified elsewhere? The best match for this I could find is within Business Rule 11: "A customer must not approach an applicant who is holding a firm or insurance place at another customer..." However, that goes onto say "unless: the applicant has requested the contact...", so it's not really talking about the same restriction that you are. (source)

Reply 6

roguelady

4

Original post by PQ

Also note that UCAS technically forbid universities from discussing or offering places to applicants who are UF elsewhere. Some universities interpret this strictly (particularly if they’re oversubscribed like KCL) while others will be willing to have a conversation or make an offer in principle.
And if there are any issues with your results or delays to Birmingham making you UF (either because of problems with your exam centre, the exam board, ucas ot at Birmingham) then you won’t be able to use decline my place to put yourself into clearing.

UCAS has a whole page about declining your firm place and how to change it in clearing.

https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/clearing-and-results-day/results-day/declining-your-firm-place

Original post by roguelady

UCAS has a whole page about declining your firm place and how to change it in clearing.

https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/clearing-and-results-day/results-day/declining-your-firm-place

they do yes - which repeats my point that it is only available to applicants who have a "firm unconditional" offer. And it links through to all of the UCAS clearing guidance that repeats over and over again that clearing is for applicants who are IN clearing and not those who are holding offers.

Reply 8

mesub

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

22

KCL admin is also known to be horrendous. So, like McGinger said, think about how muc stress you want in August.

Clearing confusion

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