5 Things You Should Know About Clearing
- 07/30/2021
- Guest Author
- University Advice
Clueless on Clearing? We’re here to help! With more than 70,000 students using this route to accept their university place in 2020, understanding Clearing can become a crucial part of the admissions process. With this in mind, here are our top 5 tips on navigating this stage of the UCAS journey. 1. Research can start before results day: Clearing opens on 5th July 2021, and although you cannot start discussing Clearing offers until you have your grades, you can start checking which courses have spaces available beforehand on the UCAS search tool. When grades are released, Clearing will automatically become available through UCAS for those students who don’t receive any offers, don’t accept any offers, or aren’t successful in meeting the conditions of their offers. 2. Clearing updates will help you stay connected: Universities will allow you to sign up for Clearing updates before results day, to receive information about advice, guidance and available vacancies to keep you in the loop. If you are interested in registering for Swansea University’s updates, please visit our website. 3. Contact universities directly: Once you have your results, you must speak to universities directly to discuss Clearing course options and receive informal offers. There are now a range of ways to do this at Swansea, including calling by phone, messaging on Facebook or Whatsapp, or sending an email. Whichever method you choose, you will be connected to a friendly, reassuring member of our Clearing Team to discuss options for your future. 4. Peruse before you choose: That’s the motto! Selecting a course through Clearing can be a daunting decision, resulting in many students panicking and accepting the first course they are offered. Allow yourself to slow down, do your research and find out whether the university’s student life, accommodation options and location are suited to you. Remember that you will be studying at your choice for 3 years or more, so you need to make sure these details also match your criteria. 5. Complete the process online: When you have permission from your chosen university, you can then add your Clearing choice through the UCAS Track system. Only one choice can be added at a time, but if the university later decide not to give you a place, you can continue to add another choice. Once a Clearing choice is confirmed by a university, this is considered as final and will appear as an acceptance in the ‘Choices’ area of your UCAS Track. During these unprecedented times, it is important to remember that you are more than the grades you achieve. At Swansea University, we were widely commended for our flexibility with offers in 2020, and will continue to support prospective students as best we can in 2021.
