Contents
- What is university clearing in the UK?
- How to know if you are eligible for university clearing?
- Is clearing bad?
- When does the clearing process start?
- When should I start the clearing process?
- What's the first step?
- How does clearing work 2022?
- Popular clearing courses for 2022
- Top-ranked universities for clearing
- Some must-do’s during the process
- Tips for a successful clearing process
Despite trying your best, you can sometimes be rejected by your desired universities. This can be because of exam performance, sending out a weak application or a number of other factors not working in your favour. 😕 We understand that these situations can be incredibly stressful.
In such cases, it is important to remember that there’s always a way out of the situation. All accredited universities have procedures that help students rework their applications and apply for their courses again (for the same or next semester admissions, depending on the school policy). But how can you enrol for these procedures? Read on to find out.
What is clearing university UK?
Many universities take a second round for admission applications even after the primary application cycle for the semester is finished. Unexpected results in A-level exams are the most common reason that college applications are rejected.
While a strong application can certainly help strengthen your case, there’s not much that can be done to compensate for bad A-level scores. Is this the end of the road for you? Is taking a gap year the only option? No, not at all.
When these situations happen, the candidate is placed on the college’s ‘Clearing List.’ In such cases, a notification that reads: ‘You do not have a place at any of your choices. You are now in Clearing,’ will appear.
Most universities have vacant slots available on some of their courses even after the admission results are finalised. The Clearing UK universities process is a second chance for students to apply to these courses in universities.
Students who missed the first application date altogether can also apply for university Clearance. If the courses seem like good college (and subsequent career) options for you, it is strongly advised that you apply for them during UK Clearing, even if they aren’t necessarily your first choice.
How to know if you are eligible for university clearance?
Candidates not holding any offers from a registered university are eligible to apply for university Clearance. The detailed checklist of situations in which you can apply for university Clearance in the UK is:
- You haven’t received any offers ✅
- You haven’t accepted any of the offers you have received ✅
- You didn’t respond to your offers in time ✅
- You’re applying after the 30th June cut-off ✅
- Your grades are too low for your offers ✅
- You've paid the multiple-choice application fee of £26 ✅
Is clearing bad?
Absolutely not. Clearance is one of the many channels through which students can apply for university courses. Students who make it to their desired colleges through the Clearing process aren’t treated any differently from their classmates.
Your college records, graduation certificates, class records, etc., do not in any way mention this. If you are looking to apply for a college through the Clearing process, you shouldn’t treat it any differently from your primary applications.
When does the clearing process start?
Candidates are notified that they have been moved to the Clearance list via text, email, or any other website notifications they might have signed up for. They can then apply for the university Clearance process on the UCAS website.
When should we start the clearing process?
The uni Clearing process starts right after the results are out. Many students look into the university Clearance process on result’s day itself when they find out that they, unfortunately, didn’t get into their desired universities or courses. However, you shouldn’t be waiting until results day to prepare.
The Clearing process becomes a battleground on the results day. The website gets constantly updated due to the rapid adjustments and changes from thousands of students. You might have to wait in a long queue just to make a phone call to universities. It can be too late to get into your Clearance options if you aren’t quick enough.
We recommend that you prepare weeks before the results’ day. Universities can be very rigid in their application process, therefore, it is worth considering the possibility that you might not get into your desired choice of university and course.
You should prepare a Plan B, even if you are confident about getting in. This includes researching and shortlisting universities that have seats available, finding alternatives to your desired courses, and having all the information ready.
On the results day, you should use the UCAS track to find your application status as soon as possible. You should be prepared to make calls to different universities and take multiple interviews on the phone. You should have all your required documents ready and immediately apply for your top choice to increase your chances.
What's the first step?
The first thing to do is compose yourself and buckle up for the process. Clearance is a normal process, and many students apply for it.
The Clearing process is managed by The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, or UCAS, a UK-based organisation operating the application process for British Universities. You will have to log into the UCAS website to continue the uni Clearing process.
You will have a better chance of finding your desired course and university if you start the process as soon as possible. Many students decide to drop their courses or change colleges or subjects. The list, therefore, is constantly changing. Keeping a keen eye out for the colleges and courses you are looking to apply for is the first and most important part of the uni Clearing process. 🧐
How does clearing work in 2022?
The university Clearing process can seem like a lot of work. At first glance, going through hundreds of universities and courses can be a daunting task. A simple, systematic approach to this can help solve this problem. Here is a step-by-step overview of the process for you:
Step 1: The first thing to do is to go to the UCAS website and register.
Step 2: After you have successfully registered, you can use the online search tool to search for your preferred courses and universities to see if they are available.
Step 3: Research whether you meet the requirements for that university or course.
Step 4: Note that you cannot directly add your preferred courses to your list. Firstly, you will have to call that university and talk about the course. They will then inform you about the available vacancies and requirements.
Step 5: On the phone, the university might give you an informal offer along with an email describing the deadlines. You can do this for as many universities as you want. We recommend calling at least 3-5 universities in order to establish an admission safety net.
Step 6: Research your options carefully. Check the course availability and eligibility and make sure you fit the requirements. It is also a good idea to get a general overview of the university departments that you are looking to apply for.
Step 7: After you make your final choice, you can accept the informal offer.
Step 8: To do this, you will have to update your university Clearing choice on the UCAS website. You should fill in the details or credentials that the university has given you and submit the form on the UCAS website.
Step 9: The university will shortly accept the submission if it meets the readjusted criteria. Congratulations! You will soon receive a formal letter of acceptance for that course and university.
We hope you are feeling much more relieved after understanding the process. Keep on reading to find out how you can get the most out of the Clearing process. 🥳
Popular clearing courses for 2022
Every year, new courses are added to the universities' Clearing process, and more universities join in. Clearing has become an increasingly viable option for many students. The top 10 courses that are more likely to see Clearance seats during the admission cycle of 2022 are: 📘
- Accounting and finance
- Civil engineering
- Printmaking
- Business management
- Journalism
- Computer science
- Fine art painting
- 3D design and craft
- Engineering
- Linguistics
Top-ranked universities for clearing 🎓
Clearing isn’t a process you should rush. You will be spending three to four years in university. Therefore, It is essential to choose the best options.
Finding the right university requires a lot of research and introspection. Consequently, it is vital to start as soon as possible to make a comprehensive list. Here’s a complete list of great universities that you can start with.
Highest Ranked Universities
Here is a list of the best universities in the UK according to ranking. If you meet the requirement or have declined your firm choice for a good university, this can be helpful.
- Warwick University
Ranking: 6th
Popular Courses: Classics, Modern Languages, Psychology
- Loughborough University
Ranking: 10th
Popular Courses: Natural Sciences, Physics, Sports Technology
- Lancaster University
Ranking: 13th
Popular Courses: Economics, English Literature, Philosophy
- University of Bristol
Ranking: 14th
Popular Courses: Accounting and Finance, Geology, History, and art
- University of Exeter
Ranking: 15th
Popular courses: Film and television studies, Geography, History
- University of Leeds
Ranking: 16th
Popular courses: Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Pharmacology
- University of Southampton
Ranking: 17th
Popular courses: Electrical Engineering, Geology, Law
- University of York
Ranking: 18th
Popular Courses: Robotic engineering, Linguistics, Interactive Media
- University of Manchester
Ranking: 28th
Popular courses: Adult Nursing, Sociology, Earth and planetary sciences
- University of Birmingham
Ranking: 29th
Popular courses: Mathematics, International Relations, Politics
Some must-do’s during the process
Choosing a university is a huge decision. You might find it hectic to go over this process after the primary university application process. However, this doesn’t mean that the process should not be dealt with appropriately.
There are some things that you must be aware of to do the best in the UK Clearing process. Here are some MUST-DOs that you should double-check before you start the process to get a boost.
- Asking for advice
If you have a counsellor, advisor, or careers officer at school, you should utilise these resources. Preparing for Clearance (or admissions in general) is a task that’s best done collaboratively with school professionals who are familiar with the process. These services are there to ensure that you have all the guidance you need to apply and make the right choice.
- No Rushing! 🏃❌
Many universities offer several courses during this process. However, since a lot of students are applying and changing their options, the uni Clearing Process can make students rush their decisions because of the pressure.
The UK Clearing Process also gives you an opportunity to reevaluate your interests in your chosen courses and change them if you want to. Therefore, it can be wise to go over your priorities once again and change them if necessary.
However, the courses might not be the best option for you. Therefore, you should carefully review the course and see how they differ from other universities' courses.
Similarly, you should carefully research the university that you are going to. Does the university provide other facilities? Is the location suitable? Are the costs worth it? You will be spending three to four years in these colleges. So it is essential to focus on the research.
- Calling different universities
The application process does not restrict students from exploring the universities they are interested in.
You can receive admission offers from some universities, but many finalise on the first offer because of the rush. This can be disadvantageous to you as it's easy to miss out on better options. You should, therefore, try to call several universities and make your choice carefully.
Tips for a successful clearing process
Going through the Clearing application process can be stressful. But you can always try to make the process easier for yourself. Some of the following tips might help:
- Having a backup plan before results day is highly recommended
Planning is always better than rushing to meet deadlines. You can save a lot of your worries if you plan your backup options in case the results don’t go in your favour on results day. You can list the courses you are interested in and the universities that you would prefer to go to if Plan A doesn’t work out.
- Building confidence and ambition
Not getting into universities from the general application process can feel demotivating. Reach out to your emotional support networks and try to stay buoyant. This way, you won’t be discouraging yourself from applying to the universities you deserve to get into.
- Find second choice Clearance courses
Students can fill the available spaces for courses quickly during this application process. What should you do if you were late to register for your dream course?
If you fail to find the courses that you desire or don’t have them available in the universities that you want to go to, that shouldn’t be the end of the road.
Many universities provide alternative courses that resemble the mainstream courses that get filled fast. So, for example, if you want to take Economics, but there are no courses available, you can inquire if they offer other courses like Economics, Business, and Finance. This way, you can follow the career track you initially desired.
In conclusion
University Clearance can be a long and arduous process for applicants. In these situations, it is essential to remember that Clearance is just one of the many channels through which universities accept college admissions.
Applying for Clearance is an intelligent choice that gives you a chance to fully evaluate your options and make a well-thought-out decision. Having a strong college application that showcases your academic and extracurricular skills can certainly help during the Clearance process.
