For students hoping to gain a place at university, A-level results day can be especially tense. Many will be relying on grades to secure a place on a given course and some will inevitably be left disappointed.
For students who do not make it on to their chosen course, there is still a route into higher education. These students can find unfilled places via the university clearing process.
What is university clearing?
Clearing is a system run by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) to fill vacancies on university courses. Clearing Plus is a Ucas tool that matches students to suitable courses available through clearing.
Clearing provides an opportunity for students who have not accepted university places or have not met the requirements for their conditional offers to find themselves a place.
When does university clearing open?
University clearing opens on 5 July 2024. This system is for students who haven’t accepted an offer from a university or who have failed to meet the conditions of their offer or who have agreed with the university whose offer they have accepted to be released to go through clearing.
When does university clearing close?
University clearing closes on 21 October 2024.
What if a student does better than expected?
If a student does better than expected with their results, they can decline their university offer and use clearing to find a course.
What is Clearing Plus?
Clearing Plus is available to students who have been unsuccessful with their application to university or are applying for the first time for a place in clearing.
Students are matched to courses based on their profile. You can read more about Clearing Plus here.
University clearing: 2024 timeline
30 June 2024: The deadline to apply to a specific university course. All applications after this date will automatically be entered into clearing by Ucas.
5 July 2024: Clearing opens.
15 August 2024: A-level results day. Students can receive their results from 8am.
21 October 2024: Clearing closes.
When students are using clearing to search for courses, it is advisable to have all the relevant information to hand when they are contacting university admissions.
This includes: Ucas personal ID number, details of their qualifications (including GCSEs) and copies of personal statements and references.
Students can search for clearing courses via the Ucas website.
How many students use clearing?
In 2022 data from Ucas showed that more than 50,000 students used clearing to search for a place at university.
This included 16,000 students who applied directly through clearing.
There were 21,000 students who had originally used Ucas to apply to specific universities but had not received any offers. Out of those students, 12,000 found a place through clearing.
In addition to this, 37,000 students entered clearing after they declined their place from their “firm offer” university. Out of those students, 20,000 then found a place through clearing.
Read more about how to support students who have missed their grades on A-level results day.
