The Clearing system refers to the process of allocating unplaced students to UK universities and courses.
Students can also try to get into a 'higher ranking' university if they have over-acheived in terms of the grades required by their 'firm' offer, through the UCAS adjustment process.
Video courtesy of UCAS
Places become available once examination results have been released to students on Thursday August 15th, although the Clearing system for 2018 runs from July 5th to October 23rd.
Clearing differs from the normal
UCAS
application process in that you contact universities directly.
You can use Clearing if:
If you have been declined by both your first choice (firm) and your insurance and you still wish to get into a university this year then Clearing is an option for you, but you may need to be flexible about your subject or location. If you have failed to achieve your offers, then Clearing system opens-up to you.
If places are available in your preferred subject, then you only need to be flexible in terms of where you study. Similarly, if your heart is set on a particular university, then places may be available in different subjects. However, you need to ensure that your A Level grades (or points) will be accepted on your new course.
Video courtesy of UCAS
You will know you are in Clearing if your Track status, which is
updated on results day (August 15th) says 'You are in
Clearing' or 'Clearing has started'.
If Track does not
indicate this it is possible that your firm or insurance university
are still considering you, so you need to contact them to check your
position. If they are still considering you then get chatting and
show you are keen and have the skills and qualities they are looking
for.
Once you are free to enter Clearing, go to the
Clearing list which
is available at mid-night on
The Telegraph website or directly
through UCAS.
Clearing is a ‘first come first served’ system, so you need
to act quickly. The Clearing list is constantly updated
so
you do need to be online and have your phone with you. Make
sure that you make your phone calls and not your parents or
teachers. The key advice from UCAS is to keep checking as the system
is updated constantly.
When you contact a university make sure you have your
Clearing
number with you along with your Personal ID number.
The aim of your phone call is to get as many informal offers as
you can. You also need to ask for time to consider their offer, and
when their deadline for an answer is.
Make sure you know something about the course and university
before you call as this puts you in a better position than simply
calling ‘cold’. You are likely to be asked why you are
interested in a particular course, so please make sure you have done
some research on the course and the university – you have to ‘sell’
yourself.
Also, read through your Personal Statement to focus on your
strengths and give yourself positive thoughts.
Although you are in a competitive market and need to make a quick
decision this does not mean that you have to accept the first offer
you are given.
If you get offers make a note of the
Course Code and Institution
Code.
Gather your options, talk to teachers, friends, family and even
visit the institution – many hold special
open-days for Clearing.
Without any doubt, visiting the institution is the best thing to do.
Once you have made your choice and the University
has offered you a place, add the course to the add Clearing course
in Track. You must only do this if you are accepting the place.
You can also register for the Direct Contact service, which is an optional service. Once you sign up, universities and colleges can contact you from August 15th until September 20th, 2019, if they have places on courses that might be suitable for you.
If you do not make the grade this time around you could also
consider resitting your ‘A’ Levels, and re-applying next year. You
need to consider your priorities and ambitions, and accepting a
Clearing place at a university you do not really want to go to, or
to study on a course you are not suited for may not be the best
solution for you in the long run.
Video courtesy of UCAS
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