There are many different reasons why you might decide to go down the Clearing route, and it’s not just for those who didn’t get the results they wanted. You might also decide to apply for university after the UCAS deadline has passed, or you may have changed your mind about the course (or university, or city) after getting your results.

Here we take a look at some of the things to consider during Clearing, with some helpful advice from Coventry University.

Plan and research in advance

Don’t wait until A-level results day to start thinking about your Clearing options. Use your time wisely right now to research places you might want to go – most universities (including Coventry University) start putting up Clearing information from late June or early July.

If you’re worried about results, spending your time productively to look for alternatives can help take your mind off it and give you confidence that there are plenty of options available.

If you haven’t already applied for uni, you don’t have to wait for the UCAS deadline to come around again – have a look at Clearing options now and you could be in university by September!

Make a shortlist

Don’t fall into the trap of ringing around every single university come results day in a frantic panic to find any place which is going. Picking a place this way is a sure-fire way to guarantee turning up and hating it.

Instead, as Simon Jones, Deputy Director (UK Admissions Operations) at Coventry University, says, “Prepare a list of contact details for universities you know you’re interested in so you’re not searching on the day.”

Think about a variety of factors. What kind of course do you want to do? Where do you want to study? What kind of reputation does the university have, and so on.

Prepare

Make sure you’ve got everything you need to hand while making those all-important phone calls. Have your UCAS ID and exam results in front of you, so you’re not searching while speaking on the phone.

Simon Jones also advises being ready to talk about yourself, “Have a copy of your personal statement to hand to remind yourself how good you are and why the university and admissions tutor will want to make you the offer you want.”

Remember you are important

Universities want you as much as you want a place, and realising that can help you to feel better about going through the Clearing process.

Sonia Raja is a student at Coventry who got there through Clearing. She reminds us that “going into Clearing is not the end of the world. It may seem like a step down and that in some way you feel like you’ve failed yourself but it’s not.”

Simon Jones agrees: “tackle Clearing with confidence,” he says. “Remember universities are just as keen to recruit for the courses for which they have vacancies as you are to find a course that’s right for you. In recent years, there have been over 30,000 courses with vacancies listed on the UCAS website, in a full of range of subjects – so there is no need to rush into a decision.”

Visit Clearing open days

Lots of people take places through Clearing and end up moving to a city they’ve never been to, attending a university they’ve never seen before. Some will get lucky and it will work out – others won’t. To lessen this risk, if you can, attend an open or Clearing day. Most universities have specific Clearing open days. 

Ask for advice

If you’re not sure about anything, don’t be afraid to seek advice from those who are there to help.

Simon Jones explains the process at Coventry, “We have specially trained admissions staff on hand to ensure that enquiries are dealt with fairly and speedily as we know that applicants will be keen to hear if they secured a place as quickly as possible. Teaching staff play a crucial role in the decision-making process and this approach gives students the opportunity to receive expert advice about their chosen course.”

“Calls are forwarded to our academic staff, so students can get expert advice about the course, the subject area, next steps and likely career opportunities.”

Be patient

The Clearing process can be daunting, but remember that essentially it’s taking place over a very condensed period of time. While a normal admissions process may stretch from January to September, Clearing crams all of that into one month. Universities are prepared for your call, but they’re likely to be dealing with hundreds of enquiries at a time. Be prepared to wait, and keep calm throughout to avoid making any rash decisions.

Sonia Raja recalls, “When I called Coventry it was my fifth or so phone call. I was so stressed out, but the lady on the phone was so calming. She spoke to me really kindly and made me feel like I was worth something.”

You’re all in this together

Once you get a place through Clearing, you’re exactly the same as any other student. You won’t be treated any differently to any other student, no matter how you got there.

Simon Jones says, “We value and welcome all our students equally and their method of arrival at the university makes no difference to the way they are treated and the high level of support, guidance and opportunities they can access.”

Be open minded

Maybe Clearing wasn’t the route you expected to go, but it is a respected and valid way to end up at university. Most people who go through it end up having a great experience, even if the course, university or city wasn’t something that you initially had in mind.

To find out more information about Coventry University and to see if they’ve got Clearing places, head this way…

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