Clearing – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Is Clearing the right option for you? Getting lower than predicted grades at A-level may mean using Clearing to secure a spot at university, but is it the right choice?

What is clearing?

University clearing is the process used to allocate university places that are yet to be filled after the initial round of applications. It allows students who did not receive offers from their preferred universities or who did not achieve the required grades to find available courses. 

Clearing is not just limited to those who did not achieve their required grades, though. It provides an opportunity for students to explore alternative options. If, for example you have changed your mind about where in the country you would like to study, or which course subject you’d like to enrol in, clearing can help with that. 

It can also be a valid option if you initially did not apply to university but have now changed your mind and want to apply and attend. Sometimes, a lack of belief that you will achieve the required marks or a change in circumstances can mean you are applying to university after the initial deadline has passed. Clearing is there to help you.

It allows students to secure a place at a university by contacting institutions directly to inquire about and apply for open spots. This process ensures that both universities and students can make the most of available opportunities and resources.

The Good

Let’s start with the great aspects of Clearing! For many students who miss their first choice options because their grades were not in line with what they predicted, then Clearing is a great option. It allows you to search the database of courses which still have places available and to find a course place open to lower grades or at least to the negotiation and compromise on those grades. 

There are many success stories of people who have gone through the Clearing process, received an offer for a course, excelled, and completed their degree.

UCAS have tried to make applying through Clearing as simple as possible, and if you think that you may need to use this system, then you are eligible if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You are applying for a course past the 30th of June.
• You have declined your firm choice place.
• You were not offered a place by any of your choices.
• You did not meet the entry requirements of the offers you were given.

You can complete the process online and apply via UCAS. Still, we always recommend that you speak to the university in question too so that you can discuss what is on offer and allow them to know that your application is coming through.

That being said, just because you didn’t get the grades originally required by your chosen university, if you have an initial offer in place, it is always best to speak to them first as they may be willing to negotiate. Check out our blog post on Negotiating.

The Bad

As with any process, some elements are poor and need improvement. For some candidates, Clearing can be stressful and there are many horror stories of students missing out on university placements because the system is unable to handle the traffic. UCAS do take precautions to ensure that the site does not get overloaded, but with more and more students using clearing each year, some site downtime or lagging is to be expected. 

When Clearing opens, thousands of students will rush to contact their university of choice and access the UCAS website. Increased phone and site traffic means that many prospective students could be left unable to contact universities; phone lines become jammed, the UCAS website is known to crash and offers may not be processed as quickly as you would expect, meaning that many students are then left with very little choice.

It can be a very stressful time of year for students when results come out and it is worth remembering that there are other options available if Clearing does not provide you with the options you want or need. 

Check out our article on other options.

The Ugly

The ugly truth of Clearing is that statistically, students who have lower grades or who were given unconditional offers in the first place tend to drop out at a higher rate than those who achieved the required grades for their initial choice. As more data evidence comes to light, it is clear that those students who do not have a firm choice in place are at greater risk of failure if they need to pass through Clearing.

If you are looking to change course, it is simple to do so on the UCAS website through the Clearing process, BUT you must release your provisional offer first. This can be a nerve-racking prospect as it means you may not be able to get that place back if you don’t find anything more suitable. If you have an offer on the table, think hard before you decide to release it. 

The other ugly truth that prospective students must be aware of before entering the university system is that these institutions are businesses and need to recruit students to get income. Clearing is often accused of being a system where universities sell seats without considering whether a person is right for the course, and so it is your job to work out if you are going to get what you need by accepting a place on a course that may not be your first choice.

The Verdict

The reality of the Clearing system is that while it is not perfect, it fulfils a need for those students who do not get the grades they need to take up the offers they already have or have changed their mind about what or where they want to study. 

However, if you are considering going through Clearing, it is important to consider whether there is a suitable course in a suitable university that will give you the experience you need to go on and have the life you want. Schools and colleges often make staff available to students on results days for them to get advice about how to proceed. If you don’t get the results you were expecting and are unsure how to proceed, try to speak to a teacher or advisor in your current school or college; they may be able to help you decide if Clearing is the right process for you. 

Clearing can be a stressful process for students, and as the system currently stands, universities clearly benefit more because they can fill spaces on courses that would otherwise have been vacant for the year. 

The verdict? Being honest with yourself and your academic ability is the key to finding the right pathway for you.

Find out more about the university journey by clicking here; we have a range of articles, tips and resources for you to use such as Top Tips On Securing Your Place if You Fall Short of the Grades.