Key things to remember
UCAS Clearing is a process in the United Kingdom that allows students who have not secured a place at a university or college through the main application cycle to find alternative courses or institutions. It is primarily used by students who did not receive any offers, did not meet the conditions of their offers, or did not apply before the application deadline.
Clearing provides an opportunity for students to explore alternative study options and secure a place at a university or college, even if they did not initially receive an offer or missed the main application cycle.
Here are some key things to remember about Clearing:
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Clearing opens on 5 July 2023
Clearing opens on Wednesday 5 July 2023. Applicants can add a choice once their place has been confirmed by the institution they would like to apply to through Clearing.
But do remember that there will be an influx of places available on Thursday 17 August 2023 as UK students get their results. For instance, students studying the International Baccalaureate may begin their Clearing search when they receive their results on the 6 July.
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The embargo
Each year, UCAS and universities and colleges are given early access to results under strict embargo arrangements with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ). The embargo period allows universities and colleges to prepare and make decisions by the official publication dates of exam results.
The SQA and JCQ results embargo periods for 2023 are:
- 31 July at 18:00 (UK time) – 8 August at 09:00 (UK time)
- 11 August at 14:00 (UK time) – 17 August at 08:00 (UK time)
UCAS systems do not update during the embargo - this can be a barrier for international applicants as many UK providers won't make Clearing decisions during the embargoes. It's always worth contacting providers if you have your results before the main UK results days on 8 and 17 August.
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Finance and accommodation
Make sure that students have considered accommodation and financial arrangements when they're applying through Clearing.
We have useful information on financial options for international students and ways to find accommodation.
Key terms to understand
| Clearing | For students who apply after 30 June or applicants who want to apply elsewhere to start their studies this year. Clearing vacancies are displayed in the UCAS search tool from 5 July. |
| Clearing Plus | Also for students who apply after 30 June, and those not holding an offer. We use their application information to match them to suggested courses. They can see these courses by clicking the ‘My matches’ button in their application. |
| Decline my place | For applicants who have changed their mind, ‘Decline my place’ enables them to add another choice to their application. The ‘Decline my place’ button will appear for eligible applicants. Applicants should secure a new place before using this service as it’s not reversible. |