Clearing 2023 image - students walking along the beach
 
 
 
 

Search for a course

 
 
 
 
 
Feeling confused?

Follow our step-by-step guide to Clearing

Find detailed guidance and information about what to do to, in what order, to help you secure your place through Clearing.

You can apply through Clearing if:

  • you haven’t met the conditions of your offers
  • you haven’t made a UCAS application this year
  • you haven’t received any offers (or none that you want to accept).

I'd already gone through the whole application process on UCAS, but once I had figured out that I definitely wanted to study at Plymouth, it was so late that I then had to apply at the last minute. Applying through Clearing at the University was easy. I phoned the hotline and asked if they still had space on the course and they said yes! Then it took me maybe a week in total to go through Clearing, then apply and deny my other offers.

Brodie
BA (Hons) Anthropology student
Brodie Ba (Hons) Anthropology student 
Bethany, BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult Health) student
 
Clearing might be your opportunity for a change

Take another look at courses

Even though you might be set on applying for a particular course, Clearing provides a great opportunity for those who might want to explore other course options and new subject areas.
Whether you have already made an application or not, it’s worth using the extra time to consider the possibilities.

Consider studying a foundation year

If you’re unsure whether a new academic direction is for you, or you don’t quite achieve the grades you expect, we provide a wide range of low-entry-tariff degrees with a foundation year.
These degrees offer a strong basis to help students to perform to their full potential a during a four-year degree.
 
 
 
 
 
 



One parent’s 10 tips for other parents during Clearing

Parent Mark helped support his son to apply through Clearing last year. He tells us how the day looked for them and what his advice would be to parents.

Our son did look at league tables for his subject and locations he was interested in, but I tried to remind him other things were important to him initially and that the league tables fluctuate so much, they aren’t everything. From our own experience with Clearing, here are some suggestions...

  1. Do some further research on the universities and courses you have as offers
  2. Make a list of others that you might also consider in Clearing
  3. Look for student reviews and even live chats (not directly on their website)
  4. Just before Clearing, have links or open web pages for all the university course pages – get phone numbers and pre-register
  5. Make sure phones and laptops, etc. are all fully charged
  6. Check on anything important like clubs and societies, guaranteed accommodation, or halls policies and costs, and make a shortlist
  7. Speak to friends who are considering university to see what they’re researching
  8. See whether your child can talk to one of the lecturers or a student who is studying the subject they are interested in
  9. Double-check any reviews before accepting
  10. Ensure that your child has made a note of names and contact details and is clear on what they need to do next

I basically hung around my son’s room and joined him (when I was allowed!). The key was to let him know I was showing an active interest in his research, and ultimately encouraging him to come to his own decision.

Campus entrance Roland Levinsky