Clearing is the UCAS service that helps people without a university or college place to find suitable vacancies on higher education courses. Some people decide at the last minute that they would like to do a higher education course, but most Clearing applicants have been unsuccessful in earlier applications.
This year with added pressure on higher education places, vacancies through Clearing may be limited and the process quite short and swift.
Before rushing into Clearing you may want to consider all your options and take some time to research the courses youre interested in. You may want to reassess your plans; you could think about taking a gap year, finding work or perhaps taking more qualifications.
How does Clearing work?
If you don't meet the requirements of your firm or insurance offers and are rejected you will automatically become eligible for Clearing. An Add Clearing choice button will appear on your Track choices screen when you become eligible for Clearing. You don't need to request entry into Clearing.
Adjustment
This system allows those candidates who pass their exams with better than expected results, exceeding the conditions of their firm offer, to apply for an alternative course if they so wish.
Adjustment is optional and will run from 19 August to 31 August 2010. Eligible students must register for Adjustment on Track and will have five days to secure an alternative place by contacting individual institutions.
How do I find out about vacancies?
This is the information on Clearing for 2010.
The Clearing course vacancy service will be available on the UCAS website from 19 August (5 August for Scottish vacancies).
Clearing vacancies will also be listed in The Independent and The Independent on Sunday from 5 August (Scottish vacancies) and then from 19 August until 9 September 2010.
I've found a course. What do I do?
You need to contact the university or college by phone or email. You may have a mini interview over the phone. So you need to prepare and be ready to talk about yourself and why you're interested in that particular course.
Don't be afraid to ring up about courses that really interest you, even if they are not advertising any vacancies. They may have vacancies about to come on line.
Once you are provisionally offered a place, you will need to enter the course details on Track. The institution who've offered you a place will give you a date by which you need to enter their details.
Only enter a Clearing choice if a university or college has provisionally offered you a place and you want to accept it. You can only enter details for one place at a time.
Once your place is confirmed, this will be displayed in the 'choices' section of Track. You will then receive a Confirmation letter, officially confirming that you have a place in higher education.
Need help?
Staff from your school or college will be around at results time.
Your local Connexions centre is open throughout the summer; your personal adviser will be able to help you consider your options and plan your way through Clearing.
You could also try these sources of help and advice:
UCAS Helpline - 0871 468 0 468
National Exam Results Helpline - 0808 100 8000
