With results day just around the corner, you might find yourself overthinking about what grades you could receive. But trust us, there’s no need to worry – we’re here to guide you through your journey to higher education, whatever path that may take.
To find the best course for you, at the right university for you, Clearing can be a great option. Read our advice for Clearing and how to get the most out of it.
What is Clearing?
Clearing is a way of helping students without a university place and universities with course vacancies find one another. It opens in July every year. It’s not just for people who haven’t achieved the grades they expected either – this is a common misconception. Clearing is ideal if you’ve changed your mind about what you want to study, or if you haven’t applied yet.
Top tips for university Clearing
- Clearing is an opportunity to re-evaluate your options
- Clearing is a choice – you can choose to enter Clearing if your grades are better than expected.
- You can enter Clearing even if you haven’t applied for a university place before.
- If you find yourself in Clearing, research is key – so make sure you get a head start.
- Clearing is quick and easy – it’s not as scary as you first think.
1. Clearing is an opportunity to re-evaluate your options.
If your final assessments didn’t go as well as you hoped, understandably you might be worried about your grades and what the future holds. But you really shouldn’t be. There are plenty of opportunities out there if you don’t get the grades you expected, and Clearing is one of them.
Clearing offers students the chance to secure a place at university this September, closing a week before term starts or once a course is full.
If you find yourself not holding any offers, Clearing can open up a world of new and exciting opportunities to re-evaluate your options. But some key advice for Clearing: it isn’t just if you haven’t achieved the grades you wanted. If you’ve turned down an offer from a university previously, they may be pleased to reconsider you. Or perhaps you’ve accepted an offer already but have changed your mind about what or where you want to study. Clearing gives you the freedom to open doors to change. An opportunity to see where a new path could lead you.
Whatever situation you may find yourself in, we have a series of short Clearing guides that outline your options, explaining how to secure your place this September. So, why worry? Think of Clearing as an opportunity – your opportunity – to reassess your options and imagine a different future.
2. Clearing can be a choice. New goals, new horizons.
Firstly, give yourself a pat on the back if you’ve exceeded your expectations and your results are better than you anticipated. If you meet or outperform the conditions of your firm offer, Clearing can be a choice.
Through UCAS self-release, you can choose to place yourself into Clearing, giving you the chance to apply for a different course or university that has higher entry requirements. All whilst holding on to your original offer.
It becomes a chance to re-define your goals. An opportunity to not only swap your firm choice university, but consider an entirely new subject, study location or career path. The possibilities could be endless. Our advice would be to have a look at your choices, even if you choose to stay with your original offer. Open days are a great place to start.
Here at Edge Hill, we’ll be able to provide instant decisions to most enquirers on results day and our friendly lecturers and advisers will talk you through the process should you choose to decline your place.
3. Clearing is a chance to apply to university if you haven’t applied before.
No application? No problem. You don’t need to have already applied through UCAS to secure a place at university through Clearing.
Whether you missed the initial UCAS application deadline, have decided to apply last minute, or you’re a mature student looking to re-enter education, Clearing lets you bypass the main application period altogether. How great does that sound? No personal statements, no interviews. It may sound too good to be true, but it really is that simple.
If you’ve found yourself contemplating university when you haven’t considered it before, don’t feel like you’ve missed your chance. There’s still time to make a choice.
Looking at course vacancies is the best place to start. On results day, if you have some idea of what you want to study and have your grades to hand, we’ll help match you to a course that suits you.
Got your results already? Then apply direct to us now via our online application form.
4. Research is key, so get a head start.
Instead of worrying between now and results day, why not put this extra time to good use and reflect on your choices? If you’re unsure whether you’ll get the grades, it’s worth seeing which universities offer the same or similar courses that have slightly lower entry requirements than your predicted grades.
Do your research. You could start by revisiting those institutions which didn’t make your top five choices earlier in the year or discover somewhere entirely new. Either way, it doesn’t hurt to feel prepared. Having a back-up plan and knowing what to do will alleviate any concerns you might have.
How do I prepare for Clearing?
To prepare for Clearing, think about what is important to you in a course and where you want to study. This might mean:
- checking module content – is there a particular topic that you’re interested in?
- seeing what support is available, such as 1-to-1 tutors, support services for additional needs, or funding opportunities.
- considering location – is a city or campus-based university more important to you? Where do you want to live?
Check the UCAS website for universities that have vacancies which match your priorities. Make a list of their Clearing hotline numbers should you need to give any a call on results day.
As soon as you have your grades, which most of you will receive on Thursday 17 August, you can contact your chosen universities if you need or want to. If you have any questions in the meantime, rest assured you can contact us to talk you through your next steps. We’re here to help you build your dreams and make the right decision for you.
5. Clearing is quick, easy, and simple
If you find yourself in Clearing and you’ve decided where to apply, simply give the university a call on results day and see if they can offer you a place.
What do I need for Clearing?
Have your questions ready, your personal Clearing number and your results to hand so they can give you the best advice as quickly as possible. Questions to ask might include:
- how is the course taught and assessed?
- are work placements, internships, or Sandwich Years available? What careers support is offered?
- what bursaries, scholarships or funding opportunities are available?
- what accommodation is available? Is this on or off campus?
Take your time
At Edge Hill, we’ll be able to make you an informal offer over the phone instantly. There’s no limit on how many offers you can hold, so don’t panic and take your time. You don’t need to make any big decisions on the day.
If you have time, our best advice to see what a university is like is to attend an open day. Lots of universities hold open events around Clearing, so check with the university when their next one will be. Take a look at Edge Hill’s open day events. If you can’t attend in person, you can request a campus tour or see if any virtual events are taking place.
Once you’ve decided you can add and confirm your Clearing choice on UCAS track, filling in the course details that the university gave you over the phone. And that’s it. You’re in!
You can then start preparing for university, like arranging student finance and choosing your accommodation. And with over 2,500 rooms to choose from on campus, with everything you need in one place, Edge Hill is a perfect second home if you’re moving away from home for the first time.
Start your higher education journey through Clearing
Clearing opens on Wednesday 5 July 2023. Whatever results day brings, one thing you can be sure of is that we are here to support you during Clearing and beyond. Call us on 0800 028 6677 and our friendly advisers will guide you through your options. Got your results already? Then why wait – apply direct online and see if we can offer you a place.
Clearing could be the best decision you ever make. New goals. New horizons. And at Edge Hill, you won’t just go on to do great things. You’ll go on to inspire others.
July 11, 2022