No offers? Use Clearing
This guide explains how you can use Clearing to find a course at university or college if you don't have a place.
Emma from UCAS explains how you can make an application through the Clearing process.
Emma from UCAS explains where to find your Clearing number.
Emma from UCAS explains why you might not be able to add a Clearing choice in Track.
Emma goes through some reasons why Track might not change, even though you've had your exam results.
In Clearing you can see which courses have places remaining. You can use Clearing if you:
- apply after 30 June
- didn't receive any offers (or none you wanted to accept)
- didn't meet the conditions of your offers
Use our Clearing service to find a new course
- It's available July to September each year.
- If you already have your exam results but you have no offers, you can use Clearing from July.
- If you had conditional offers but your exam results didn't go to plan, you can use Clearing from results day, when Clearing vacancies will be listed in our search tool.
- Clearing vacancies are updated regularly by universities and colleges. If you don't find the course you're looking for straight away, try again later.
If your exam results are reasonable and you're flexible on subject/location, there's still a good chance you'll find another course.
How Clearing works
- If you are applying after 30 June, you still need to register and make an application. In Clearing you need to complete all the application as normal, including your personal statement, but you can't add course choices. When you submit your application you receive a welcome email to access the Track service where you'll find your Clearing Number. You then follow the steps below – ask for advice, search for vacancies in our search tool, and contact unis and colleges to try to find a place. Once you have a verbal offer from a uni you want to go to, you can add the course in Track.
- You'll know you're in Clearing if your Track status says 'You are in Clearing' or 'Clearing has started'.
- If Track doesn't say either of these yet, it might just be waiting for your results to update. Get in touch with the universities/colleges if it's taking a while – they might still be considering you, even if your results are a bit lower than required.
- If you originally only applied for one course (for the reduced fee of £12) you'll have to pay an additional £11 to enable you to apply for multiple courses.
Talk to an adviser at your school, college, centre or careers office – they can talk you through alternative courses/subjects.
We have the official vacancy list online, and The Telegraph newspaper shows them too.
- Consider different subjects – you don't have to stick with your original idea.
- The online list is updated regularly – you might not find the exact unis/colleges/courses you're looking for – some might be full, but some might get vacancies later on, so keep checking back.
Give them your Clearing number (located on the welcome and choices pages in Track), and your Personal ID number which will let them see your application online.
- Ask if they'd accept you – they might reconsider you (maybe for the same course) even if you applied to them earlier in the year.
- Get informal offers over the phone – maybe from a variety of universities and colleges – then decide which one you want to accept.
- Take a look around – if you have the time, it's the best way to see what a university/college is like – most will be happy to meet you and show you around.
Please only add a Clearing choice once you've had confirmation from the university that they're happy to offer you a place.
- Click 'Add Clearing choice' and fill in the course details by the date the university/college gave you on the phone.
- This counts as you definitely accepting the offer, so if they confirm it'll show as an acceptance on the choices page of Track and we'll send you a confirmation letter.
- You can only add one choice at a time, but if the university/college doesn't confirm your place, you'll be able to add another.
Clearing FAQs
When can I use Clearing?
- It's available July to September each year.
- If you already have your exam results but you have no offers, you can use Clearing from July.
- If you had conditional offers but your exam results didn't go to plan, you can use Clearing from results day, when Clearing vacancies will be listed in our search tool.
Where can I find Clearing vacancies?
All Clearing vacancies are listed in our search tool from July. They are updated regularly by the unis until mid-September.
How do I add a Clearing choice?
Go to the ‘Your choices’ section of Track and click 'Add Clearing choice.’ Then enter the details of the course.
Only add a Clearing choice if you’ve been offered a place by a uni and you want to accept it.
You don’t need to reply to a Clearing offer. Once you add the choice, it’s then up to the uni to confirm your place in Track.
I don’t want my firm choice, can I use Clearing?
You need to ask the uni who has confirmed your place if they can put you in to Clearing. This will be at their discretion.
Where can I find my Clearing number?
If you’re eligible for Clearing, your Clearing number will be on the welcome page and ‘Your choices’ section of Track.
Why hasn’t Track updated?
Track will update once the uni makes a decision. If you’ve met the conditions of your offer, your place will be confirmed soon.
Can I swap my firm and insurance choices now I’ve got my results?
No, you can’t swap your firm and insurance choices.
If you now want to go to your insurance choice, you need to go through Clearing. You need to check with your insurance choice uni that they can accept you in Clearing.