UCAS Clearing: A Guide for 2023 Entry Students

Hopefully on results day you attain the grades required by your first choice or insurance universities. But what if you don’t? That’s when UCAS Clearing comes in handy. In this guide, we explain the ins and outs of UCAS Clearing 2023.

What is Clearing?

When students don’t meet the entry requirements for their chosen universities, they can go through the UCAS clearing process once they’ve received their results. This allows applicants to find and apply for vacant spaces on courses at universities. It’s a win-win for everyone: students still get to go to university, and universities get to fill up their spots. 

When would I use Clearing?

There are several situations in which you might go through the UCAS Clearing process:

• You don’t meet the entry requirements of your firm or insurance choices on UCAS
• You no longer want to attend your firm or insurance choices, or would like to study a different course
• You didn’t receive any offers from universities
• You applied after 30th June 

When is Clearing 2023?

UCAS Clearing 2023 starts on 5th July 2023, and ends on 17th October 2023. If you’re not holding an offer for a university and the course you want to be on has spaces, you can apply through Clearing between these dates.

Tips for Clearing

• Be prepared ahead of results day

You never know how results day will pan out, so it’s best to be ready to go through the Clearing process just in case!

Here are some things that you can do to prepare:

1. Speak to a careers adviser

Before results day, speak to a careers adviser or a teacher at your school or college. Discuss what your options are should you not achieve the necessary grades.

2. Have a look at the options through Clearing

From 5th July, you can browse the courses that are available through UCAS Clearing 2023. Use the UCAS search tool to find which universities have vacancies on their courses. This will help you to find alternatives with lower entry requirements than your firm or insurance choices. You could also consider different courses.

3. Practise what you’d say on a Clearing call

If you go through the Clearing process, you will have to call up different universities and make a case for being accepted. It’s a good idea to practise what you might say on these calls.

Know the various questions that you might need to ask the university.

• What courses can they offer you?
• Are there any spaces left in university halls?
• Are there any open days?

Also be aware that the university might interview you on the call to ensure that you are a good fit. Ensure that you can explain your interest in the subject that you are applying for.

• Be organised 

When going through the UCAS Clearing process, it’s important that you are organised and have all the necessary documents and information on hand. This includes your Personal ID, Clearing number, and grades from your GCSE and A Level exams. 

Also make sure that you keep a written record of your Clearing process. Make a note of any universities that you speak to, and the date and conditions of any offers that you receive. 

Staying organised will help the process to be as smooth and stress-free as possible.

• Stay open-minded

Throughout the UCAS Clearing process, it’s important to stay open-minded and flexible.

It might be tough to deviate from your original plan, but maybe you’ll find something even better suited to you through Clearing! Try to focus on the skills and content of the courses on offer. This could be a great opportunity to explore a university or a subject area that you previously hadn’t considered. 

• Reach out to universities

If you’re going to go through the Clearing process, you need to be prepared to get on the phone and speak to different universities before you add them as Clearing options on your UCAS application.

Get informal offers over the phone from a range of universities so that you can keep your options open- you can decide later which one you’d like to accept. Make sure to keep a written record of these.

Ask about the courses that they are offering, the accommodation that they have available, the student life at their institution, and anything else that you might want to know. 

• Don’t be afraid to negotiate

When approaching a university through Clearing, make sure to be polite yet assertive. If the course that they offer you is not quite what you were hoping for, there’s no harm in negotiating. Explain why you are better suited to your course choice.

• Add your Clearing choice to your UCAS application after receiving permission from the university

Once you have received an offer over the phone from a university, you can add it to your UCAS application as a formal choice. 

Press ‘Add Clearing choice’ and fill in the details of the course offered to you over the phone. This means that you definitely accept the offer, so make sure that you are certain about your decision! If the university confirms the offer, it’ll show up as accepted. If they don’t accept it, you’ll be able to add another option. 

• Seek support if you need it

The UCAS Clearing process can be really daunting, so don’t hesitate to seek support if you’re feeling unsure or overwhelmed. Reach out to a trusted teacher, careers adviser or mentor that can guide you through the process and give you advice. 

You can also reach out to UCAS on 0371 468 0468, where a representative can explain the UCAS Clearing 2023 process and answer any questions that you may have. 

• Consider alternative options to university

If you are not satisfied with any offers that you receive through Clearing, it might be time to consider alternative options. 

If you are really set on your original choice for university, retaking your exams is an option. You can then reapply via UCAS next year. Of course, there is no guarantee that you will attain the necessary grades.

You could also consider alternatives to university, like undertaking an apprenticeship or getting a job. University is not for everyone, so don’t feel pressured into going if you are not happy with your options.

Thank you for reading our guide to the UCAS Clearing process for 2023 entry university students. We hope that this guide clarifies the Clearing process for you and helps you to feel more prepared ahead of results day. 

Remember that exam results are not the be all and end all, and that they do not define you! Whatever your results are, and whatever your path is after results day, know that you will go onto great things.

Be sure to check out the Roome website, where we post loads of tips and tricks for university students every single week. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook to learn more about how we’re revolutionising the student housing market!