Top tips to secure your university place through Clearing

Whether you’re a new applicant for this September, have changed your mind since applying, or think your results will be different to those you were predicted, Clearing could be for you.

Students opt to go through Clearing for a number of reasons: you may have changed your mind about your course or where you want to study, are worried about your results, or you might not have a place at university yet.

UCAS Clearing opened on Wednesday 5 July and is open until 17 October, so before Results Day on Thursday 17 August, get hold of the UCAS Clearing list by visiting UCAS Search and select the Clearing 2023 option. This facility is available now and will give you an opportunity to see what’s currently available (more choices will appear on Results Day).

Before Results Day

Get yourself prepared the night before and ring as soon as lines open to give yourself the best chance. I recommend you take note of the opening hours of university hotlines in advance as most will open earlier than normal office hours. At the University of Derby, our hotline opens at 7am on Results Day (17 August 2023).

On Results Day

On the day of your results, you’ll notice the Clearing list being constantly updated. Remember to also log onto university websites to see which courses are available in Clearing.

Make sure you have important details close by before you begin contacting universities. You’ll need to have your UCAS number, exam results and your log-in details for UCAS Hub. You may also want to compile a list of questions to ask and have your personal statement to hand to answer any questions.

Once you have a list of universities you wish to contact, find a quiet place, take a deep breath and start calling. Try to remain calm and composed so you can get across everything you want to. Ensure you take the details of anyone you speak to in case you need to contact them later. At Derby, you can also contact us via social media or our website, if making a phone call is not convenient for you.

If you receive a Clearing offer over the phone, make sure you get written confirmation of your conversation as well as the expiry date of the offer. At Derby, our friendly staff members will guide you through the process of what you need to do, so there’s no need to worry.

In addition, if you’re able to, try and visit your university choice as you will be committing to spending the next three or so years studying there. Most universities have visit options available throughout this period, so it is worth having a look. At Derby, we offer Campus Tours, to help people to get a feel for the place and what it would be like to study here.

We have created a set of FAQs which may help if you are considering applying through Clearing, but if you can't find the answers you're looking for, please get in touch.

You don’t have to wait until you get your results to start looking at courses through Clearing – you can call 01332 592023, or complete our enquiry form, and our team will guide you through the process.

Good luck!