Going through Clearing for a better university - Neuroscience? Any advice

9

Hi! I'm a current 2025 applicant who has received offers for Neuroscience from universities and put a firm and insurance through UCAS. But in the event I do get results better than my current ones I want to go through Clearing to see if UCL, Kings or Edinburgh offer the course through that route (I did not apply originally to them because I did not meet the requirements - difficult personal time during Yr. 12 AS exams)

Clearing is usually done if you do not meet the requirements but I heard it is possible to do it this way too?

Does anyone have any information about this process that may not be public or any tips? (including if you know anyone who has gone through this in the past?)

I am confident I can achieve the goal of higher results, so I hope this process is possible. (I am not open to a Gap year or retaking/ applying in 2026)

Thank you in advance!

Reply 1

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

21

Original post

by lx14

Hi! I'm a current 2025 applicant who has received offers for Neuroscience from universities and put a firm and insurance through UCAS. But in the event I do get results better than my current ones I want to go through Clearing to see if UCL, Kings or Edinburgh offer the course through that route (I did not apply originally to them because I did not meet the requirements - difficult personal time during Yr. 12 AS exams)

Clearing is usually done if you do not meet the requirements but I heard it is possible to do it this way too?

Does anyone have any information about this process that may not be public or any tips? (including if you know anyone who has gone through this in the past?)

I am confident I can achieve the goal of higher results, so I hope this process is possible. (I am not open to a Gap year or retaking/ applying in 2026)

Thank you in advance!

You are correct - you can use Clearing to 'trade-up" to a better uni. But there's a risk.

Once you have your results, you check with each of the unis mentioned to see if they have Neuroscience in Clearing. You can normally do this via their web site.

If they do, you make contact with them to see if they'd be willing to make you an offer via Clearing. This always used to happen over the phone, but universities are increasingly using web forms to capture the required information. Note that you don't need to contact just one university, you can contact several - any hopefully receive informal confirmation that they'd be willing to make an offer.

The problem is that this is an informal offer. It's not binding until you formally apply via UCAS Hub. And you can't apply for a place via Clearing whilst holding an existing offer or place. So you have to click "Decline my place" and then apply to the "better" uni via Clearing.

The risk is that the informal offer doesn't always turn into a real offer. This could be because the university has made more informal offers than it has places, because there's something in your full UCAS application (which they won't have initially seen) which presents an issue, or for some other reason.

There are things you can do to reduce the risk. Asking for the informal offer to be put in writing, via email helps, but it's still not a guaranteed offer.

So you can "upgrade" via Clearing, but it doesn't always work. Also, as a Clearing applicant, you'll be at the back if the queue for accommodation at whichever university you join.

Reply 2

McGinger

20

Be aware that 'better Unis' do not instantly lower grade requirements at Clearing - thats a bit of a myth. And, Clearing applicants will always be at the back of the queue for housing, and can mean either what's left/no choice, or no housing at all. And, the subsequent drop-out rate for Clearing places is high. Clearing often isn't the magic solution that many think it is.

Reply 3

University of Bath

Official Rep

14

Original post

by lx14

Hi! I'm a current 2025 applicant who has received offers for Neuroscience from universities and put a firm and insurance through UCAS. But in the event I do get results better than my current ones I want to go through Clearing to see if UCL, Kings or Edinburgh offer the course through that route (I did not apply originally to them because I did not meet the requirements - difficult personal time during Yr. 12 AS exams)
Clearing is usually done if you do not meet the requirements but I heard it is possible to do it this way too?
Does anyone have any information about this process that may not be public or any tips? (including if you know anyone who has gone through this in the past?)
I am confident I can achieve the goal of higher results, so I hope this process is possible. (I am not open to a Gap year or retaking/ applying in 2026)
Thank you in advance!

Hi there!

Really great to hear you are on track to get better grades than you expected! As has been said, clearing is an option for this year if you particularly wanted to go to uni this year, but this is risky and does not as McGinger says, guarantee an easy accom process.

Another option for you would be to take a gap year. Do the very best you can with your A Levels, but take a year to do some traveling, work to earn a bit of money and reflect a bit more on your goals and where you may want to get to in the next few years - and reapply for somewhere like Kings', UCL, Edinburgh, St Andrews or Bath in the main cycle next year.

Taking a gap year also might give you the chance to explore your options a bit more widely, visit any more open days you might want to go to or do tours of the campuses, all of which may help with your decision making.

I hope this helps and wishing you the best of luck! 🙂

Holly
University of Bath

Reply 4

lx14

OP

9

Original post

by University of Bath

Hi there!
Really great to hear you are on track to get better grades than you expected! As has been said, clearing is an option for this year if you particularly wanted to go to uni this year, but this is risky and does not as McGinger says, guarantee an easy accom process.
Another option for you would be to take a gap year. Do the very best you can with your A Levels, but take a year to do some traveling, work to earn a bit of money and reflect a bit more on your goals and where you may want to get to in the next few years - and reapply for somewhere like Kings', UCL, Edinburgh, St Andrews or Bath in the main cycle next year.
Taking a gap year also might give you the chance to explore your options a bit more widely, visit any more open days you might want to go to or do tours of the campuses, all of which may help with your decision making.
I hope this helps and wishing you the best of luck! 🙂
Holly
University of Bath

Hi thank you for your response! Mentioning a gap year if I were to apply in the 2026 cycle and have the required A level grades for a university course, does that confirm my place for that university or can I still get rejected?

Reply 5

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

21

Original post

by lx14

Hi thank you for your response! Mentioning a gap year if I were to apply in the 2026 cycle and have the required A level grades for a university course, does that confirm my place for that university or can I still get rejected?

You can still get rejected. Suppose a course has standard grade requirements of AAA, which you met, but by some weird statistical anomaly they received loads of applicants with A*A*A or A*A*A*. Even though your grades would be actual rather then predicted, they might still prefer to make offers to those with higher predicted grades.

Also, an application is not all about A level grades. You could be rejected on the basis of your GCSE grades, your personal statement, your school reference, or some other aspect of your application.

Going through Clearing for a better university - Neuroscience? Any advice

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Articles for you

How The Student Room is moderated