How does Clearing work?

12 June 2025 | By: Amy Cousins | 2 min read

A Newcastle student sat thinking in front of a computer

UCAS Clearing can help you find the degree and the university that’s right for you. But how does Clearing actually work?

This year, Clearing opens on 5 July and runs until 20 October 2025. You can use Clearing if:

you apply after 30 June
you don't receive any university offers, or none you want to accept
you don’t meet the conditions of your offer(s)
you decline your firm place using the ‘decline my place’ function

Although the process is the same however you enter Clearing, this step-by-step guide to how Clearing works focuses on students who don't get the grades they need on Results Day for their university offer.

Our step-by-step guide to how Clearing works:

Prepare for Results Day
On Results Day
In Clearing
Add your Clearing choice
Changing your Clearing choice

1. Prepare for Results Day

Getting your exam results is the moment you've been working towards all year, so if you find out you haven’t got the grades you need for your university offer it can be a shock.

However, there are things you can do now that will help you navigate the Clearing process and find your dream degree on Results Day.

First, start exploring universities that have vacancies on courses you might be interested in. Use the UCAS Clearing search tool to find available courses by subject, or search by university location. Follow this up with more in-depth research on specific university websites.

Next, shortlist your course choices, writing down any key pieces of information you may need when you contact the university. This will give you confidence and help you demonstrate your interest in the university and its degree programme when you speak to a Clearing adviser.

Finally, check our blog for a full list of what you need to prepare for Clearing.

2. On Results Day

You'll be able to check the status of your offers on Results Day by signing in to your UCAS Hub.

If your application hasn’t been updated, you may need to contact your chosen university directly to confirm the status of your offer.

If you're eligible for Clearing, your application status will say 'You are in Clearing' and a unique Clearing ID number will show on your account.

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3. In Clearing

It’s time to start calling the universities you're interested in using their dedicated Clearing hotlines.

Once you're connected to a Clearing adviser, you'll be asked for your Clearing ID number and UCAS ID so they can access your details.

They'll talk through your grades with you and might want to chat about why you want to study a particular course.

Be prepared to talk about yourself, your passions, and your career ambitions, as well as what interests you about the degree and the university. This is also your chance to ask any questions you might have.

Remember, Clearing advisers are trained to guide you through this process. You can also find some great advice on what to say during Clearing in our blog.

If you do meet the course requirements, the Clearing adviser could make you a verbal offer.

4. Add your Clearing choice

After you receive a verbal offer from a university, you should also receive an email confirming what you need to do next. To accept an offer, sign in to your UCAS Hub and add the course as your Clearing choice to your application.

You can only add a Clearing choice if you've been given permission by the university to do so and you can only add one Clearing choice at a time.

Your email confirmation should also set out how long you have to accept your offer. Adding a Clearing choice counts as you accepting the offer. The university will then confirm your place and this will show as an acceptance on your application.

5. Changing your Clearing choice

If you change your mind and want to change your Clearing choice, don’t panic. Contact the university whose offer you've accepted and ask them to cancel your place.

Once you're released back into Clearing, you can start the whole process again and add your new Clearing choice to your account.

You may have to wait for your application in your UCAS Hub to update before you can do this, so be patient.