How strict are uni’s on grade requirements during clearing?

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by Carter03052

If I apply for a course at Birmingham uni or Southampton uni through clearing, if I’m one or two grades beneath the requirement, would I still receive an offer? I know it always varies, but I would appreciate any answer which represents how strict they typically are on entry requirements. Many thanks for any answers :smile:

They will publish separate clearing grades on their website the evening before or on results day, you can check them to know. Of course universities can lower or raise grades in clearing & there is no guarantee they will be in clearing for your subject of interest.

How strict universities are is a multifaceted thing, but it is largely dependent on how many offer holders “firmed them” and how their current firm offer holders perform, as well as how many students the university has room for. The reality is these things fluctuate up & down each year.

(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 2

KA_P

Uni of Southampton Students

Original post by Carter03052

If I apply for a course at Birmingham uni or Southampton uni through clearing, if I’m one or two grades beneath the requirement, would I still receive an offer? I know it always varies, but I would appreciate any answer which represents how strict they typically are on entry requirements. Many thanks for any answers :smile:

Which course are you looking to apply to?

Reply 3

Official Rep

15

Original post by Carter03052

If I apply for a course at Birmingham uni or Southampton uni through clearing, if I’m one or two grades beneath the requirement, would I still receive an offer? I know it always varies, but I would appreciate any answer which represents how strict they typically are on entry requirements. Many thanks for any answers :smile:

Hi @Carter03052,

I cannot talk for Birmingham, but for Southampton, you can find a full list of the courses we have spaces for through clearing here. This list gives the quick A-Level entry requiremants and for each course there is a link to the more detailed entry requiremants, whish includes, wheather there are any required or restricted subjects (we will only accept 1 resticted subject per applicant). You can also find information on the situations where we would lower the entry requirements for applicants. Most of our courses have lower entry requirements in clearing anyway though.

I hope this is helpful and please let me know if you have any further questions
Matthew
Student Ambassador

Reply 4

OP

Original post by Uni of Southampton Students

Hi @Carter03052,
I cannot talk for Birmingham, but for Southampton, you can find a full list of the courses we have spaces for through clearing here. This list gives the quick A-Level entry requiremants and for each course there is a link to the more detailed entry requiremants, whish includes, wheather there are any required or restricted subjects (we will only accept 1 resticted subject per applicant). You can also find information on the situations where we would lower the entry requirements for applicants. Most of our courses have lower entry requirements in clearing anyway though.
I hope this is helpful and please let me know if you have any further questions
Matthew
Student Ambassador

Hi, thanks for the reply! It says currently that Law is ABB in clearing. Do you believe it will stay ABB for results day clearing or will it go back up to AAA?

Reply 5

OP

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by KA_P

Which course are you looking to apply to?

LLB Law, but I’m also going to try and apply for the LLB Law with psychology and LLB Law with business courses at these uni’s if they have no vacancies in the regular LLB Law course :smile:

Reply 6

KA_P

Original post by Carter03052

LLB Law, but I’m also going to try and apply for the LLB Law with psychology and LLB Law with business courses at these uni’s if they have no vacancies in the regular LLB Law course :smile:

Have you had a look at the current entry requirements for these courses? Could you share them?

In case things don't go so well (let's keep hope you get amazing grades!), do you have a back up plan in place? Remember that we will be here to support you on results day :hugs:

Reply 7

OP

Original post by KA_P

Have you had a look at the current entry requirements for these courses? Could you share them?
In case things don't go so well (let's keep hope you get amazing grades!), do you have a back up plan in place? Remember that we will be here to support you on results day :hugs:

Of course I can share them, you’re not going to take my clearing spot though are you? Phahahaha joking! Currently Southampton is ABB, but I think it will be AAA on results day sadly, as I spoke to a member for the law school about it on an open day. Birmingham also currently sits at AAA I think. Thanks for wishing me good! :smile:

Reply 8

OP

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by KA_P

Have you had a look at the current entry requirements for these courses? Could you share them?
In case things don't go so well (let's keep hope you get amazing grades!), do you have a back up plan in place? Remember that we will be here to support you on results day :hugs:

Oh and my back up spot currently is at Reading university. I’ve got them as my form choice

Reply 9

KA_P

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Carter03052

Of course I can share them, you’re not going to take my clearing spot though are you? Phahahaha joking! Currently Southampton is ABB, but I think it will be AAA on results day sadly, as I spoke to a member for the law school about it on an open day. Birmingham also currently sits at AAA I think. Thanks for wishing me good! :smile:

I'm a uni student :ahhhhh:

It's always worth calling them up to see if they can consider you :yep:

Original post by Carter03052

Oh and my back up spot currently is at Reading university. I’ve got them as my form choice

I need to make sure you're aware that you will need to decline any of the offers you currently hold to be able to enter clearing.

Would you be calling up the universities without having entered clearing? This would not count as a back up option if you intend to do this, as the university will require your clearing number as far as I'm aware.

I strongly recommend having another back up plan in place. Why would you prefer to go through clearing instead of your firm choice Reading?

Spoiler

Reply 10

mnot

Uni of Southampton Students

Original post by Carter03052

Hi, thanks for the reply! It says currently that Law is ABB in clearing. Do you believe it will stay ABB for results day clearing or will it go back up to AAA?

If it’s already advertised in clearing this is a good sign it will be available at those grades on results day (it probably means they still have space or are fairly confident of having space before they received A-level results).

I will caveat this with, it could change & its worth checking results day eve & first thing results day morning. Once you have results you can then get in contact with them asap.

Good luck!

Reply 11

Official Rep

15

Original post by Carter03052

Hi, thanks for the reply! It says currently that Law is ABB in clearing. Do you believe it will stay ABB for results day clearing or will it go back up to AAA?

Hi @Carter03052

It is likely to stay the same. However, unfortunately, I cannot say for certain.

Good luck with your application.

Best Wishes,
Gulcin

Reply 12

OP