How to navigate the clearing process – from a university admissions director

A level results day is this week – and up and down the country, many of you will be receiving your exam results and making decisions about the next stage of your lives. 

And a large proportion will be planning on enrolling at a university or other higher education institution after the summer.

For some students, the process is easy – results received, you have met the conditions of your offer from a university and so you accept that offer and begin the celebrations.

For others, the process isn’t quite as clear-cut. 

You might not have received the results you were expecting. Or perhaps you’ve done better than you thought. Or maybe there was a plan but you’re not quite sure you’ve chosen the right course or you might have changed your mind about which university you want to attend. 

In which case, clearing is probably the next step. The clearing process can feel daunting but approached with the right mindset, it isn’t just an exciting process, it’s a potentially life-changing one.

There are two main parts to the process – finding a course and receiving an offer, then accepting that offer. 

If you want to enter the clearing process, here is what I would recommend to prepare:

• Take time to do some proper research by looking at courses online before making any calls
• Clearing applications are usually made over the phone – but check university and college websites to find out how to apply. If applying online, take your time, make sure all fields are completed and double-check the information is correct before submitting
• Before making any calls, have all the essentials on hand – results, including GCSEs and any other Level 2 qualifications, courses of interest, and a pen and paper
• It must be the student who contacts universities during the clearing process so it might help to have someone focused and supportive on hand to help prepare for calls
• During the call, speak clearly, listen to what the adviser is saying and note down any important information
• An offer will be followed up with an email. Read it carefully and check all the course details before accepting.

If you already hold a university place on results day and are looking to go through the clearing process to pursue an application elsewhere, you will need to be released from your existing firm choice. This is known as self-release.

Self-release can be done using the Ucas release function via the application on the Ucas Hub. It’s very simple, you will just need to answer a couple of questions to ensure you are certain you want to be released. Once self-release has been completed, students are then able to refer themselves to another university through clearing.

If you want to self-release from your existing firm choice, here is my advice:

• Students don’t have to be released into clearing before they submit a clearing application. You should contact universities you are interested in first (usually via phone) to see if you will be accepted before releasing from your confirmed place. 
• Research before release – students should take some time to see what is available and ensure there is an offer of a place elsewhere before releasing the firm choice
• Self-release is only available to students who hold an unconditional firm offer on results day. If any other application status applies and you want to be released from an offer, contact the university and they will advise what you need to do
• If you are changing course within a firm choice university, you don’t have to use the release function. Contact the chosen university directly first.

Once an offer has been received that you are happy with, it is important to ensure this is accepted. 

That’s it! Clearing complete, and you can look forward to the next stage in your education.