Step-by-step guide to Clearing

Detailed guidance and information to help you secure your place through Clearing
Clearing student Christina

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Step 1: Do your research

Start your research as soon as you can and have a backup plan if you don’t do quite as well as you expect. Clearing is the last chance for you to secure your place at the University of Plymouth for September, but there is still time to consider your options and make a decision that is right for you.
 

Step 2: Register your interest

Whether you've already applied or yet to make an application, use our helpful online application support tool at any time to find out what you need to do to secure your place at the University of Plymouth.
 

Step 3: Get your results

You will be able to see your results from 8am on 14 August 2025 and see whether you have a confirmed place at university.
If you didn't get the place you applied for, don't worry – we're here to help you explore your next steps.
Contact our Admissions team to discuss your options: 01752 585858
 
 

Top tips for when things don’t quite go to plan...

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Stay calm and take your time

UCAS won't allow you to make any new applications until 3pm on results day so there is time for you to phone universities and consider your options on results day before you commit to any decisions.
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Consider your options

If you need to find a new course, think about courses that are like the one you originally applied for. Studying joint honours or a degree with a foundation year might be the right option for you.
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Keep an open mind

You may eventually settle for a course that is completely different to the one you originally applied for but it may work out much better than you expect.
 
 
 
 
 

Step 4: Secure your place through Clearing


You can apply through Clearing if you…

  • haven’t met the conditions of your offers
  • haven’t made a UCAS application this year
  • haven’t received any offers (or none that you wanted to accept).
You will need to contact us directly to see whether you can secure a place through Clearing.
Contact our Admissions team to discuss your options: 01752 585858

If you’ve already registered in advance...

You’ll get a priority service when you call our hotline on results day.


When you speak to us, we’ll…

  • talk to you about your results
  • take some of your personal details
  • check our course vacancies
  • provide you with a verbal offer if you meet our entry requirements
  • once you have a verbal offer, you’ll be asked if you’d like to speak to our accommodation team.
Remember: have your results and a copy of your personal statement to hand when speaking to our Admissions team about your application.


Make your final decision

Once you have received a verbal offer you are happy with, you can update the ‘Your choices’ section of your UCAS application and ‘Add Clearing choice’.
You can only make one Clearing application through UCAS Hub and you must have a verbal offer to do so.
Keep checking UCAS Hub until your place is confirmed. If it is not confirmed within 24 hours of updating your application, you will be able to make another choice.

Step 4: Secure your place through Clearing

You also have the chance to find an alternative course or place to study if you do better than you expected in your exams.
You will only be eligible if you meet and exceed the conditions of your conditional firm choice offer.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Step 5: Prepare for university


Applying for student finance

Course tuition fees are shown in the fees, costs and funding section on our course pages.

Secure your accommodation

If you're a new first-year undergraduate applying through clearing, we guarantee to offer you a place in halls (either University-managed or with an accredited private halls provider) or in other suitable student accommodation, provided you meet our terms and conditions.
Once you have received a verbal offer, our accommodation team will go through the options available. You will need to provide:
  • Your contact details
  • Your budget per week for accommodation
  • Which hall or room type you would prefer and if you would like alcohol free or single sex accommodation. We are unable to guarantee the room offered will match all of your preferences due to availability.
You will be matched to suitable and available accommodation as soon as possible. Your updates and offer will be sent by e-mail from uniaccommodation@plymouth.ac.uk so please add us to your safe senders list, and ensure you can access the e-mail address you have provided, for example some school addresses will expire.
You can also call the accommodation team direct using the clearing phone line.
Surfing for clearing information day

Clearing information day

Saturday 16 August
For students who are applying through Clearing (or current applicants for 2025 entry), providing a final opportunity to learn more about the University and city.
Booking for this event will open from July 2025.