Sophia got a place in uni after applying directly through Clearing. Hear her story.
Many people think Clearing is only for students who don’t get their expected grades. That’s not true. If you’re a late applicant or a mature student looking to re-enter education, for example, Clearing becomes more of a window for you to apply to uni.
Applying directly through Clearing will be a different experience for you compared to most other students who enter after getting their grades. But the end result will be the same once you go through it: a place at the right uni for you, studying a course you love, and a step closer to your future goals.
You'll find everything you need to find out about how to apply for Clearing on our website, from our Clearing course search tool to expert tips and FAQs to guide you along the way. You can find and compare courses, book open days, find out which unis have places available, and see your chance of acceptance, all in one place.
We've got loads of handy Clearing articles and more on our Clearing Hub. Browse unis across the UK, find courses with open Clearing spaces, and get advice on your next steps in Clearing.
When you apply for Clearing courses, you can look at it as another chance to find a place at university. It matches students looking for a place at uni to unis with unfilled places, and is an increasingly popular option for students.
Universities will publish a list of courses with places still available when Clearing opens – you can find them using our Clearing tool.
5 July: Clearing opens
20 October: Clearing ends
Follow these four simple steps:
Search and compare Clearing courses – register with Whatuni to search, save and compare courses all in one place
Contact shortlisted unis through their Clearing hotlines – have all your info and any questions on hand before calling
When you have a verbal offer, complete a Record of Prior Acceptance form (see below) – the uni will then send you a letter formally confirming your place
Start preparing for uni – once your place is confirmed, it’s time to update your student finance details and sort out your accommodation
When applying directly to a university through Clearing, you’ll still have to provide your results, a personal statement and a reference. This process is called Record of Prior Acceptance (RPA). If the uni takes this route (not all do) and makes you an offer that you accept, you’ll have to fill in an RPA form. The uni will then submit this to UCAS on your behalf.
Remember, if you accept a university offer through RPA, you won't be able to apply for any other courses. In other words, you need to be absolutely sure about the course before accepting any offer.
You can call these numbers for more guidance and advice on Clearing:
UCAS: 0371 468 0468
For those with hearing difficulties: Text Relay service. Download the app and follow the instructions
SQA candidate advice line: 0345 279 1000