How to Add A Clearing Choice on UCAS?

Applying to university through UCAS Clearing can be both exciting and overwhelming. You’ve worked hard to get to this point, and now it’s time to secure your spot at a UK university or college through Clearing. 

Having previously published a full guide on all things UCAS Clearing 2023, in this post we’re going to be giving you a rundown on how you can add a clearing choice on UCAS. 

This way, you’ll be able to smoothly transition into the next step of your educational journey by applying through clearing.

Let’s get started! 

When Does Clearing Start and End? 

UCAS Clearing is open from the 5th of July until the 17th of October 2023, for those who have completed a UCAS application, who did not get any offers, or for those who have rejected the offers they have received. 

Given A-Level Results Day has just taken place this August, you may be looking to apply for university or college through UCAS Clearing, if so, we’re here to help you. 

Where Is The Add Clearing Choice on UCAS? 

If you want to secure your place at a university or college that offers courses through UCAS clearing, we’ve done a step-by-step breakdown of how to do it. 

First things first, you’ll need to log In to your UCAS Account using your registered email address and password, and then head to your UCAS Track page. 

Here you’ll find important updates about your application status and you’ll see the “Add Clearing Choice” button, which you can click to search for available courses through Clearing. 

You can use the search filters to narrow down your university or college options based on the subject, the location, or other preferences.

It’s important that you browse through the list of courses to find ones which match your criteria, you meet the entry requirements of, and are interested in the course details. 

You should properly research through the different prospective universities websites before deciding which one to formally apply to using UCAS clearing. 

How To Apply Through UCAS Clearing?

Before you submit a Clearing choice, you will firstly need to contact the university or college you’re wanting to apply for, and give them your Clearing number and Personal ID, so they can check this information.

You should ask the specific higher education provider if you meet the entry requirements for the course and whether they still have vacancies available. If you’ve already applied to the university or college earlier, you can ask if they’d reconsider your application. 

If you do have confirmation from them that you’re able to apply for the course and have received an informal offer, you can then add a clearing choice. 

Once you’ve done this, you’ll need to click the “Add Clearing choice” button and fill in the course information by the date the university or college gave you over the phone.

Next press the “Submit Clearing Choice” button, then UCAS will then confirm your choice and send it to the university or college. 

The university or college will then review your Clearing choice and respond to you directly, which could be an offer, a rejection, or a request for additional information. 

Make sure to keep an eye on your UCAS Track page as well as your email or telephone for any updates regarding your clearing application, the last thing you want to do is leave things until the last minute. 

Whilst you’re only able to add one UCAS Clearing application at a time, if the university or college does not accept your place, you’ll then be able to add another. 

Why Can’t I Add A Clearing Choice? 

We know, adding a UCAS Clearing choice can be frustrating and you may encounter some issues during the process, but don’t worry as we’re here to help.

Below we’ve listed some of the common reasons why you may not be able to add a clearing choice, and what you can do! 

Missed the Deadline: If you’re trying to add a Clearing choice after the deadline (17th October 2023), you may not be able to apply through UCAS, instead you will need to contact the university or college directly. 

Unmet Entry Requirements: If your grades do not meet the entry requirements of the course you’re interested in, UCAS may not let you add the Clearing choice. You should consider contacting the university or college directly to discuss your options or search for alternative courses.

Incomplete Application: It’s important to ensure that your UCAS application is complete and you’ve included all the information required of you, do a double-check to make sure! 

Pending Offers: If you have outstanding offers from universities or colleges, you may need to wait until these are resolved before you’re able to add a Clearing choice on UCAS.

Do You Need To Apply To Clearing Through UCAS? 

If you’re a prospective student looking to secure a university or college place in the UK, you’re able to apply to Clearing through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). 

Whilst it’s normal to apply for universities via UCAS, you can apply to universities directly through their clearing process, but not all higher education institutes will offer this alternative, or even have clearing course vacancies listed. 

Such as, Oxford, Cambridge, and other Russell Group universities do not allow prospective students to apply through Clearing at all, which means you’ll have to wait and re-apply the following year. 

If you do not wish to apply to Clearing through UCAS, you can find out whether you can apply directly to a university by getting in touch with the admissions team to find out about their direct application process.

Should this be an available option, you will be asked to provide more information such as your personal statement, your A-level grades, as well as a reference. You may also be asked to send over a portfolio of work, depending on the course. 

There we have it, in this guide we’ve dived into the nitty-gritty of how to add a clearing choice on UCAS, we hope it’s been helpful. 

From all of us at Homes for Students, we wish you the best of luck in applying to university through clearing, you’ve got this! 

Got any questions regarding your UCAS Clearing application? If so, you can give the UCAS team a call on 0371 468 0 468, or get in touch via social media.