Clearing may be your chance to find the best university and course for you (Picture: PA)
Students across the UK are making decisions on their next steps following A Level results day, and many will be using Clearing.
Clearing isn’t just for those who don’t get accepted into their first choice university.
If you changed your mind about where or what you want to study, or you never applied to university in the first place, you can use Clearing to secure a spot on a course.
It also gives many universities the ability to fill any empty spaces they still have left on courses.
If you’re hoping to secure a spot at university before the next academic year, here’s everything you need to know about when Clearing opens and closes in 2024.
When does clearing open in 2024?
Clearing opened on July 5, 2024. You can apply for a course using Clearing if you don’t already have an offer from a University, and if the course you’re applying for still has spaces.
However, if you are holding a conditional offer from a University, you will have to wait until A Level results day (Thursday 15 August) to enter clearing.
You can add clearing choices from 3pm on the day.
You need your UCAS number, clearing number, and personal details when applying for Clearing places (Picture: PA)
When does clearing close in 2024?
Clearing for university places will close on Monday 21 October, 2024.
This will be the last date you can add Clearing choices, and the last date that universities will make a decision.
According to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), you can use clearing if:
You’re applying to university after June 30, 2024
You didn’t receive any offers or none you wanted to accept
You didn’t meet the conditions of your offers
You’ve paid the multiple-choice application fee of £27.50
You’ve declined your firm place using the ‘decline my place’ button in your application.
Where can I see the courses available through Clearing?
You can find courses available through Clearing using UCAS’s search tool.
This list is regularly updated, so you can find courses and university contact details on there.
You can also use websites like University Compare, or apps like Clearing, to make things a bit easier too.
Once you find a vacancy, you need to contact the university. You should then ask to be accepted for the course you wish to study and give them your Clearing number.
You can call other universities too, to give yourself a few courses to choose from or see if you can get a better offer.
You have until Monday 21 October to apply for a university place through Clearing (Picture: PA)
How many Clearing choices can I add?
You can only add one Clearing choice to UCAS Track at a time – so make sure the one you’ve added has made you an informal offer of a place, and that you’re happy to go there.
Once you’ve added this choice to Track, you’ve confirmed that you’d like to accept their place.
If for some reason the university doesn’t confirm your place, don’t worry. You’ll be able to add another course.
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