It’s normal to have second thoughts about your firm or insurance choice universities. These are the most frequently asked questions by those considering Clearing instead.
Updated: 18 Mar 2025
Alistair went through Clearing after changing his mind about his course choice. Hear his story.
Yes, but you won’t be able to accept a Clearing offer unless you self-release from your original unconditional offer.
You'll need to self-release from your firm or insurance offers before you can apply for Clearing places in UCAS.
Yes, you must reject any unconditional offers you hold before you can go through Clearing. However, don’t reject any offers until you have a verbal offer for a Clearing course and are sure you want to change.
You must self-release from your firm or insurance choice.
Self-release is the process of rejecting an unconditional offer you hold from your firm or insurance choice to enter Clearing. We suggest not self-releasing from an offer unless you’ve received a verbal offer for a Clearing course and are sure you want to change.
Log in to your UCAS Hub account and click the ‘decline my place’ button next to the course from which you’d like to be released. You’ll then be asked a series of questions before you can confirm your decision.
Only self-release from a course when you have a verbal offer for a Clearing course and are sure you want to change. You won’t be able to reverse the decision to self-release.
Hanna, who earned a place through Clearing to study the history of art, maintains: "Thinking consciously about your future and questioning your previous decisions in a healthy way is a sign of maturity and it shows that you truly care."
Your status in UCAS Hub show ‘you are in Clearing'.
No, you should first speak to your university about changing before you self-release. If you self-release without speaking to your university, all your accommodation and scholarship arrangements will be immediately cancelled.
Phone the university immediately so they don’t offer your place to someone else.
No, you must wait for your offer to become unconditional or unsuccessful.
Yes, you can still search Clearing courses and see what’s available.
Have these with you:
Your Clearing number
Your UCAS ID number
Course name and code
Your personal statement
Your grades
Any questions you’d like to ask
Emily, who earned a place through Clearing to study chemistry, believes: "The nature of that phone call on A-Level results day can really colour your impression about whether something feels right. It definitely felt like Plymouth cared the most - the person on the other end of the line was so lovely and I felt completely at ease."
No, you can give yourself time to consider the offer and call any other universities you’re interested in. Clearing courses can fill up quickly so don’t spend too long trying to decide.
No, you can’t defer entry through Clearing. You can only get an offer for a place on a course that begins this year.
Yes, but this should be stress-free. Most universities reserve spaces within their student accommodation for Clearing students. The university will send you all the information you need on how to apply for student accommodation once you’ve confirmed your place on a course.
You’ll need to let your student finance provider know if you change course. As soon as you confirm your place on a Clearing course, log in to your student finance account and update your course details.