A step by step guide to Clearing
To some, Clearing will seem like a daunting prospect, compounded with anxiety, anger or sadness that exams have not gone as well as hoped and that places at preferred universities have been lost. This step by step guide aims to take some of that strain away by explaining how Clearing works, from start to finish.
Clearing is a process that enables applicants to find places on degree courses across the country for a number of reasons, and not just for those who have not necessarily met the conditions they needed to get into their preferred choice of university the chance to still find a place on a degree course. Clearing is also used by applicants who have got into their preferred institutions, but have had a change of heart about their plans, what they want to study and in some cases what their future plans are. Clearing is also used by any applicant who did not apply through UCAS before 1st July. So, if you have found yourself in Clearing, don't panic - you're not alone and we are here to help.
The best way to secure a place on a course you want to study is as follows:
2. Make contact with universities
3. Talk to Admissions Staff/Tutors
1. Searching for vacancies
The first part of the process is to start looking - you need to find which universities offer your choice of subject area and then to see if they have places. The best places to look are:
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The UCAS web site - universities frequently update their vacancies on the UCAS site www.ucas.ac.uk , and you can also find more information about the university and view the entry profile.
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The universities web site - universities will have up to the minute information regarding their Clearing positions and also more importantly, the telephone numbers and email addresses of who or where to contact. You can also see more information about accommodation, finance, the university, the faculty/school and much more. City University London's web site updates its information on Clearing at least once an hour, so the information on our vacancies is up to the minute. You can view our Clearing vacancies here
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The Independent Newspaper - The Independent publish the Clearing vacancies each year, although remember that newspapers are printed overnight and so a course that may be listed as open in the paper may have closed by the time you read it.
2. Make contact with universities
So, you've searched and found some courses or universities that you are interested in. Now you need to speak to the universities to see if there are still places. Although there may be places advertised in the Independent and on UCAS and university web sites, sometimes for certain courses Clearing moves so fast there may not be vacancies by the time you call.
The individual university web sites may show the best way to contact them, by phone, email or in person. Here at City University London, our advice would be to call us on +44 (0)20 7040 8877 and speak to one of our Clearing Centre staff. You can email us as well at clearing@city.ac.uk , but by calling you will be able to get things moving a lot faster. If you are near or in the London area, you can always come and visit us in person as well (although if you are thinking about doing so over a weekend, check our web site for our opening times).
At this stage, the most important things to be are calm and patient. Lines do get very busy, particularly on the day of the A Level Results (which is also the first day of the Adjustment Period) so if a line is engaged at first, keep trying.
When you get through to the Clearing Centre, the person on the other end of the line will be able to tell you if there are places and also if you would be able to be considered for the course due to your qualifications. In some cases, they may take your details and pass them on to the relevant department or they may put you through to a member of staff or an Admissions Tutor straight away to start discussing your application in greater detail.
3. Talk to Staff/Admissions Tutors
When you call, you may be put through to an Admissions Tutor almost straight away to discuss your application further. The most important advice here is not to panic. It may seem daunting to be speaking to the person who may be teaching you for the next three or four years, and that this person decides if you go to your chosen university, but the Admissions Tutors will also be aware that you are feeling nervous, and apprehensive about going through Clearing. The Admissions Tutors are there to help, as well as make an academic decision.
The Admissions Tutor will probably talk to you about the course, ask you why you want to study the course, ask a few more questions about your qualifications and also a few more questions about you.
4. Agreeing a place
After talking to you, the Admissions Tutor will then decide if they wish to offer you a place on the course. It is important to remember that the place will be unconditional, there are no conditional offers in Clearing.
It is advisable to think carefully before agreeing to accept the place. You may want to contact other departments within the university, such as accommodation, student finance, student support etc to see if any arrangements you may need (such as accommodation in halls if residence) can be made in the short space of time between Clearing and starting the course (at City University London, about four weeks).
If, after thinking about it, you decide you still wish to take up the place offered (or decide not to), then you will need to contact the Admissions Tutor or the relevant department or school to let them know of your decision.
5. Confirming Your Place
Further information regarding this step of Clearing at City University London can be found here
Once you have informally agreed a place with your university of choice, you and the university will then need to formalise this with UCAS. When you were placed in Clearing, you will have noticed that on your UCAS Track account, there is a button at the bottom of the page marked "Clearing".
You then need to click on this and submit yourself to the university, by completing the institution code, course code, campus code, point of entry and date of entry. If you need help with this information, your chosen university will be able to tell you this information. City University London's institution code is C60, and we do not have a campus code - UCAS will give you the option of "Main Site" which should always be selected.
Once you have done this, your chosen university will then agree to accept you on a course and send this to UCAS. Once the university has done this, UCAS will contact you to confirm your place, and that's it - your place is secure!
Good luck in your search!
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