do i need a personal statement for clearing

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What do I need for Clearing?

Ucas clearing can be unpredictable, but it's also a great opportunity for students to find their perfect university. .

Make sure you're prepared and know what you need if you go through Clearing - it will take a lot of stress and guesswork out of the process. Read our guide to getting the most out of Clearing. 

Who can apply through Clearing?

What documents do i need for clearing, do i need a prsonal statement for clearing, who can apply through clearing .

As long as you've applied through UCAS ( Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) you're eligible to use Clearing if you: 

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

If you're using Clearing to apply to university for the first time,  you must register with UCAS and submit an application.  You will also need to pay an applic a ti on fee of £27.50. 

1. A notepad and pen/laptop or computer 

Keeping notes will be essential during Clearing as you keep track of your university research, contact details and Clearing hotlines, important pieces of information and questions you might want to ask when you speak to a Clearing adviser. 

You can use a notepad and pen, a Word document on your laptop, tablet or computer, or the notes section on your phone - whatever you prefer. Ideally, you want something that's easy to access during a call.

Keep your notes simple and organised. If you're preparing notes in advance of Results Day; you may even have time to colour-code them.

Clearing can be a whirlwind so the easier you make things for yourself, the better. 

2. A list of Clearing courses you're interested in

Use the UCAS Course Finder to check which universities still have spaces available on their courses. You'll also find details on university websites.

If you spot a course you're interested in that still has vacancies, make a note of it alongside the university's contact details and any key bits of information you can use to showcase your interest in the course during the call.

3. A fully charged phone and a good internet connection

You can apply through Clearing via university hotlines or online chat. If you're planning on using your mobile phone and/or laptop make sure they are fully charged or have plenty of battery life. Check your internet connection, too, so that when you're looking up Clearing courses online or accessing the chat function, your connection doesn't drop out.

Taking other devices off WiFi - such as PlayStations, tablets or other mobile phones - can lighten the load on your internet bandwidth.

4. Questions to ask during your Clearing call

Wherever you choose to study, you will be an asset to that university. You have so much to offer, and it's important to remember that when you're applying through Clearing.

You don't have to commit to the first university that offers you a space unless you're 100% sure it's the right one for you. Instead, ask lots of questions and do some digging.

Asking insightful questions also shows you have a genuine interest in the course, which will appeal to the Admissions team.

Questions to prepare beforehand could include: 

• how is the course taught and what is the seminar-to-lecture ratio?  
• are there any opportunities, such as Open Days, to visit the university?   
• are work placements, internships or other career support offered? 
• are bursaries or scholarships available?   
• what support is available to students who are struggling?   
• what accommodation is available?

The documents you need to prepare for Clearing are:

• your UCAS number
• your personal Clearing number
• your A Level, AS, GCSE /or equivalent results

Have all the important information you need close by, so you can find it quickly. 

If you're an international student, y ou’ll only have a UCAS number if you originally applied to study in the UK through UCAS. Y ou’ll only receive a Clearing ID if you applied through UCAS but are not holding any university offers. The ID number helps Admissions staff look up your details, but don’t worry if you don’t have this – Clearing advisers will still be able to guide you through the application process.

Do I need a personal statement for Clearing?

Many Admissions teams recommend you have your personal statement to hand for Clearing. 

Though it's not essential to the process, it's a great resource to rely on during your call with a Clearing adviser. It can help you talk through what makes you want to go to university, and why you're passionate about the subject you want to study.

If you have time, why not practise what you want to say on the call? This can really help if you're feeling nervous.

For more information, read our guide on what to say during Clearing.

Published By Amy Cousins on 17/06/2021 | Last Updated 15/08/2024

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Medical School Expert

The Ultimate Guide To Medicine Clearing

Every article is fact-checked by a medical professional. However, inaccuracies may still persist.

As you navigate the medical school application process, you may find yourself considering medicine clearing as an option if your initial choices don’t work out.

Medicine clearing offers a unique opportunity for those who didn’t receive an offer from their preferred medical schools or missed their grade requirements on results day.

While it’s often thought of as a last resort, it can also be a valuable chance to secure a place at a medical school that you may have simply overlooked during the initial application process.

In this ultimate guide, I’m going to provide you with all the information you need to understand and successfully navigate medicine clearing when the time comes.

INCLUDED IN THIS GUIDE:

What Is Clearing?

Clearing is a process within the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) system that allows students to apply for university course places that haven’t been filled yet.

You may want to consider clearing if you’ve received no university offers, or if you’ve changed your mind at the last minute about what or where you’d like to study.

It offers students who haven’t been successful in securing a place during the main application cycle a second chance to apply for a medical degree.

Does Medicine Have Clearing?

In the context of medicine, although the competition for places at medical schools can be fierce, some universities do have spaces available through clearing.

However, there are typically very few places available.

This is primarily due to the high demand for medicine courses and the limited number of medical school places each year, resulting in almost no unfilled seats.

Since competition for spaces at medical schools is so strong, it is rare (but not unheard of) for spaces to become available through clearing.

If you find yourself in this situation, it’s a good idea to start thinking about other subject areas you might like to study.

Why Might You Need To Go Through Clearing?

If you recently made a UCAS application and were unsuccessful in receiving any offers, clearing can help you secure a place at a university that still has available spaces.

This might happen if your predicted grades were not met or you had received conditional offers but were unable to fulfil the necessary requirements.

Additionally, clearing can be an option for those who have only just decided to apply for university courses.

If you missed the main UCAS application deadlines, clearing allows you to find and apply for courses that are still available.

This is especially helpful if your circumstances have changed or you have made a last-minute decision to pursue higher education.

When Does Clearing Open?

Clearing essentially opens as soon as your A-level results come out, generally in mid-August. It then remains open until mid to late October.

During this time, you can explore available options and potentially find open spots at medical schools that may have gone into clearing.

To make the most of this period, you’ll need to be proactive and vigilant in your search for a potential place.

Keep a close eye on updates from medical schools, UCAS, and universities’ social media accounts to identify potential opportunities.

You’re able to add a clearing choice on UCAS Track from 2pm on results day. However, should never do this until you’ve got a confirmed offer.

Considering the fact that medical schools almost always interview clearing applicants, it’s likely to be at least a week from results coming out to receiving a clearing offer.

Although this can be an extremely stressful time, try to remain positive and keep your options open as opportunities can arise at any point during this period.

How To Make An Application Through Clearing

Here’s how you can make an application through clearing for a medicine course:

Step 1: First, check your eligibility for clearing. You’ll be eligible if you haven’t received any offers, you’ve declined all your offers, or if your results don’t meet your conditional offers. Make sure to register in UCAS if you haven’t already done so.

Step 2: Use the UCAS search function to find Medicine courses with vacancies. Keep in mind that these courses may not be at your preferred universities, but clearing is an opportunity to find alternative options. Be quick, as the vacancies can be filled rapidly.

Step 3: Before contacting the universities, have your UCAS Personal ID and A-Level results (or equivalent qualifications) handy. You may also need your UCAT test score, depending on the universities’ requirements.

Step 4: Contact the universities with medicine vacancies directly. You can do this either by phone or through the universities’ websites. Be prepared to answer questions about your results, your motivations for studying medicine, and any relevant work experience.

Step 5: Once you’ve received a verbal offer, make a note of the details – course title, university, and start date – and ask for a written confirmation by email. You will need this information for your UCAS Track account.

Step 6: Log in to your UCAS Track account and click on the ‘Add Clearing choice’ button. Enter the details of the course you received an offer for, and confirm your choice. Make sure to do this within the deadline provided by the university, as the offer may be withdrawn if you don’t respond quickly.

Which Universities Go Into Clearing For Medicine?

Essentially, there’s no way to predict which universities (if any) will offer places for medicine through clearing each year.

Unfortunately, the trend seems to be that fewer and fewer places are coming up through clearing as time goes on.

The only way to really predict which universities might have places available is to look at which have offered spots in the past. In recent years, these include:

• The University of Buckingham (note the fees)
• St George’s
• King’s College London
• Hull York Medical School
• Queen Mary’s (Malta- note the fees)
• University of Sheffield
• University of Leicester
• University of Sunderland
• University of Central Lancaster

If you are attempting to get a spot for medicine via clearing, it’s not a bad idea to ring round any university that you’d want to go to even if they haven’t publicly advertised any spaces as far as you can see.

The worst they can say is no and you really aren’t losing out on anything just by asking!

How To Prepare For Medicine Clearing

Before embarking on the medicine clearing process, it’s crucial to understand what it entails and how to navigate your options.

To make the best use of the system and secure a place in a medical school, follow these steps:

• Research medical schools and courses: Get well-acquainted with different universities and the medicine-related courses they offer. Pick a handful of universities as your top preferences, and familiarise yourself with their entry requirements.
• Have your UCAS details ready: Medicine clearing is facilitated through the UCAS system. Ensure that your UCAS profile is updated, and have your UCAT scores, A-Level/IB results, and UCAS Personal ID at hand.
• Be quick to act: Medicine clearing slots can fill up rapidly. Be prepared to act right after receiving your results. Prior to the clearing process, familiarise yourself with the UCAS clearing website, the clearing contact number for your preferred universities, and keep an open line of communication with your school’s career adviser.
• Prepare for interviews: Some medical schools might require further interviews or additional assessments. Make sure you’re prepared through adequate practice and know what to expect.
• Keep an updated CV and personal statement: Make sure you’ve got an up-to-date personal statement reflecting your motivation for studying medicine and showcasing your relevant experiences. This will be crucial when applying through clearing.

What Do You Need To Get A Clearing Offer?

While clearing might seem like a bit of a backdoor into medicine, unfortunately, many of the same entry requirements will apply as for the main application cycle.

Reapplicants

It’s important that you’re not a reapplicant from the same application cycle for a university’s clearing places.

Clearing is meant for candidates who haven’t secured a place at a university through the regular application process.

If you have already applied to a medical course in the same cycle, and been rejected, you likely won’t be eligible for their clearing process.

Academic Requirements

To get a clearing offer, you still need to meet the academic requirements set by the university.

These requirements may vary among medical schools but typically include achieving three As in relevant subjects such as biology, chemistry, and maths.

Make sure to review the specific entry requirements for each medical school you’re interested in.

UCAT Or Other Entrance Exams

Most medical schools require applicants to complete an entrance exam, such as the UCAT, BMAT, or GAMSAT.

If you want to apply for medicine through clearing, you need to have already taken the necessary exam or be prepared to take it on short notice.

Check each university’s website for information about their exam requirements and keep in mind that entrance exam scores are often an essential factor in receiving a clearing offer.

During clearing, medical schools may still conduct interviews as part of their selection process.

You’ll need to be prepared for this and be able to demonstrate your motivation and passion for studying medicine.

Practice your interview skills and be ready to discuss your qualifications, interests, and any relevant work experience you have.

Keep in mind that interviews can take place within a week after you receive a verbal or written offer from the university.

Tips For Making A Medicine Clearing Phone Call

Before making a phone call for medicine clearing, it is essential to be well-prepared and organised. Here are some tips to help you make a successful call:

• Gather all essential documents: Have your clearing number and UCAS Personal ID number ready, as these will be required during the call. They can be found on your UCAS Track account under ‘Your Choices’.
• Be prepared for UCAT and BMAT requirements: Keep in mind that most medical schools will maintain their UCAT and BMAT cutoffs, so you will need to meet them in order to be considered for a place through clearing.
• Find the appropriate phone number: Look for a specific clearing number on the university’s website. This number may be released on the day or available beforehand. Alternatively, you can call the university’s regular number and follow the instructions to be directed to the clearing line.
• Have pen and paper ready: When you’re on the phone, you may need to jot down important information, take notes, or record any follow-up actions.
• Stay calm and composed: Remain confident and knowledgeable during the call, as well as clear and concise in your communication. Remember that the person on the other end wants to help you, so it’s in your best interest to maintain a neutral tone of voice.

How Many Clearing Places Are There?

The truth is that the number of available clearing places for medicine tends to fluctuate each year.

This is due to a variety of factors, including the number of applicants, the number of students who secure places through the standard application process, and university capacities.

Clearing placements for medicine are generally very limited though, as medicine is a highly competitive and demanding field of study.

Unlike other courses, medical schools tend not to lower their academic standards during clearing. So, it’s crucial to maintain a strong academic record.

Who Can Offer You Help With Clearing?

When you’re navigating the complex world of medicine clearing, it’s essential to have a support system in place.

With so many steps to follow and important decisions to make, here are a few key sources of assistance that can make all the difference:

Your School or College: They are your first point of contact for clearing-related advice. They have experience with the entire UCAS application process, and their knowledge of available resources can be invaluable. Even more importantly, they will have a thorough understanding of your academic history, making them well-equipped to provide personalised advice.

UCAS Clearing Helpline: UCAS offers a dedicated clearing helpline to assist students with any questions they may have. By dialling their number, you can speak with trained advisors who can guide you through the process, from eligibility to application.

University Admissions Offices: When it comes to specific courses or institutions, the admissions office at your prospective university is the best source of information. They can clarify entry requirements, confirm available places in the medicine course, and explain the application process in detail.

Careers Advisors: For those still unsure about their path in medicine or considering other options, a careers advisor can play a vital role in clearing. Their knowledge of different medical fields, along with general career development advice, can help you make informed decisions about your future.

Online Forums and Student Platforms: Sharing your experiences with other students navigating clearing can provide useful insights and valuable advice. Platforms like The Student Room and Reddit can offer a space where you can discuss your situation, receive tips, and find support from those in a similar position.

What Are The Alternatives To Medicine Clearing?

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to explore alternatives to medicine clearing, there are several options available to you.

Taking a gap year can be a valuable opportunity to gain relevant work or volunteering experience in the healthcare sector, helping to strengthen your application for future medicine courses while also allowing you to reflect on your career path.

With a year to plan, you can:

• Volunteer in a healthcare setting
• Work on your personal statement and application
• Prepare for required medical entrance exams

Additionally, a gap year can provide a much-needed break from education, allowing you to focus on other interests and develop personal skills before returning to a demanding medical course.

Graduate Entry Medicine

Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) programmes offer an alternative route into medicine for those who have completed an undergraduate degree. These accelerated courses typically last four years but offer a condensed programme, focusing on building on your existing knowledge.

To apply for a GEM course, consider the following steps:

• Research GEM courses and entry requirements
• Evaluate your undergraduate degree and related experience
• Look into funding options for GEM

Studying Medicine Abroad

Studying medicine abroad can be an excellent option for those unable to secure a place through clearing.

Many countries offer highly regarded medical courses taught in English, providing you with an opportunity to experience a different healthcare system and broaden your horizons.

To explore studying medicine abroad, you should:

• Research reputable institutions and courses in other countries
• Investigate entry requirements, language proficiency, and any visa requirements
• Calculate the financial costs of studying abroad, including tuition fees, living expenses, and travel

Allied Health Course

If you are passionate about healthcare but unable to secure a place in medicine, an allied health course can provide an alternative career path.

Allied health professionals work alongside doctors and nurses, often with a more focused specialisation.

Some popular allied health courses include:

• Physiotherapy
• Radiography
• Occupational therapy
• Speech and language therapy

A Clearing Success Story

Getting an offer through clearing is definitely somewhat more of the exception rather than the rule.

However, it can very much be done.

One of my best friends actually managed to get a medicine offer through clearing for the University of Leicester and spent five years studying there with me.

He was insanely lucky, managing to get a spot secured on results day, and I doubt he’d wish the stress of that results day on anyone, but it does go to show that it can be done.

He’s now a junior doctor and has just entered a public health training scheme.

If you think you may end up going into clearing, all you can do is set yourself up for success with the preparation tips I talked about above and then hope for the absolute best!

Final Thoughts

In summary, medicine does have clearing, but the opportunities for securing a place through this process are limited due to the high demand for medical courses and the limited number of available spots.

However, although the clearing process can be competitive, it’s an invaluable opportunity to secure entry into medical school if you weren’t initially successful.

If you are considering clearing as an option for entry into medicine, it’s crucial to remain flexible and be prepared with alternative plans, such as pursuing other subject areas or reapplying the following year.

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Convert your interviews into offers

Learn the best ways of turning your upcoming interviews into medicine offers here.

© 2024 Medical School Expert Ltd

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What is Clearing? Your questions answered

Have a quick read through these Clearing FAQs. From What is Clearing? to When does Clearing start? They'll help you understand what happens in Clearing and they are based on questions other students ask us.

Clearing 2024

If you have your results you can apply online for a place through Clearing .

Or if you need to speak to us, call now on 01273 644000

Our call centre is currently closed – check our opening hours below.

Top Clearing FAQs: The most common Clearing questions 

• What is Clearing?
• Can I apply through Clearing?
• What do universities look for in applicants when they make offers?
• When does Clearing start and when does Clearing end?
• Can I still apply for uni?
• What courses are available through Clearing?
• Who can use Clearing for university entry?
• What financial help is there for students in Clearing?
• Clearing and T-Levels: Do universities accept T-Levels in Clearing?
• Do I need to wait until August to apply through Clearing?
• Can I apply to more than one university through Clearing?
• What happens about my student loan application?
• What if I decide to apply for a different course or university through Clearing?
• What should I have ready for Clearing?
• How do I prepare / send my portfolio for Clearing?
• How do I prepare for a Clearing interview?
• What does referred mean on UCAS?
• Can I use Clearing to transfer to Brighton from another university?
• What is UCAS Clearing Plus?
• Can you get into Clearing with lower grades?
• Do I need a new personal statement for Clearing?
• When do universities confirm your place?
• When can I apply through Clearing?
• Can you get rejected from Clearing?
• How do Access course students apply through Clearing?
• Do universities check your GCSE results?
• When can I add a Clearing Choice?
• Do I need to be in UCAS to apply through Clearing?

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1 What is Clearing?

Clearing is part of the UCAS application process.

It matches you with available university places and is a chance for you to make a positive move and choose a course that's right for you. It also allows you to find a place at university if you don't yet hold an offer.

You can still find a place in Clearing even if you have not applied via UCAS already.  You can contact the university directly. Call us on 01273 644000 and we’ll talk you through your next steps to find a course.

2 Can I apply through Clearing?

You can apply for Clearing if you already have your A-level, BTEC, IB, Access course or equivalent level exam grades and you are not holding any university offers.

Am I eligible for Clearing with my exam grades?

Call us on 01273 644000 to discuss your situation. If you are eligible with your current exam grades our admissions team could make you an offer.

3 What do universities look for in applicants when they make offers?

Each university is different. We welcome a range of qualifications and consider each application individually. Our approach is about you as an individual and we look beyond grades at your personal experience, ambition and potential.

Take a look at the flexible and inclusive way we consider applications in Clearing to see how it can work for you.

4 When does Clearing start and when does Clearing end?

UCAS Clearing starts officially on Friday 5 July 2024, but if you are waiting for exam results you will have to wait to receive them before you can apply. From that point you can seek out Clearing places by contacting universities by phone. Our Clearing hotline is: 01273 644000 . When does Clearing end? Clearing ends on Monday 21 October 2024.

5 Can I still apply for uni?

Is it too late to apply for uni? No. You can call us on 01273 644000 . There's always people here to help you.

6 What courses are available though Clearing?

Once Clearing is open you can use our course finder to find out what courses are available through Clearing.

7 Who can use Clearing for university entry?

Many students aiming to secure a place are eligible to apply through Clearing for university. There are several different reasons for doing so. You are eligible to use Clearing if:

• you are applying for a university place after 30 June
• you applied through UCAS for a place, but are not holding any offers
• you do not meet the grades required by your firm and insurance choice universities
• you have had a change of heart about your choice of course or university
• you are a UK, European, Irish or international student.

8 What financial help is there for students in Clearing?

You can get some financial aid for your studies if you apply through Clearing.

If you are eligible for Student Finance England loans for tuition fees and living costs, you will also receive these if you apply through Clearing. You may also be eligible for our bursaries and scholarships .

At Brighton, students applying through Clearing are also eligible for the Brighton Boost . Through the Boost you could receive £1, 250 towards halls costs or up £500 towards your travel to study costs.

Other Boosts include free campus parking for eligible students, free technology loans and our student job hub.   It's also worth checking what's included in your tuition fee , it could be more that you think.

9 Clearing and T-levels: Do universities accept T-levels during Clearing?

Some universities will accept T-levels during Clearing in 2024, however, we don’t accept them for all courses. Take a look at Clearing courses you might be interested in and you'll find everything you need to know in the entry requirements section. 

10 Do I need to wait until August to apply through Clearing?

Clearing for university places is open from 5 July and continues until mid-October. You must know all your exam results before you can get an offer of a place through Clearing.

• If you already have your exam results – for example, if you completed your qualifications last year – you can apply through Clearing from 5 July.
• If you receive your exam results in July – for example, if you are completing an Access course, the International Baccalaureate (IB) or some BTEC qualifications – you can be considered for a place as soon as you have your results in July.
• If you are still waiting for your exam results, you can call our Clearing hotline 01273 644000 on results day on Thursday 15 August 2024.

11 Can I apply to more than one university through Clearing?

One of the most popular questions about university Clearing. You can receive multiple verbal offers in Clearing. However, you can only confirm one university course as your final choice. When you receive a verbal offer in Clearing the university will usually give you a deadline by which to confirm your choice.

12 What happens about my student loan application?

If you've not already done so, you can apply online for your student loan via the Student Finance website .

13 What if I decide to apply for a different course or university through Clearing?

• First you should research what is involved in the new course and confirm that it is a good fit for you.
• Contact universities to check whether they can make you a verbal offer in Clearing.
• Your Clearing application will contain your original personal statement. If you wish to submit a new personal statement to reflect your interest in the new course, contact the university to ask them how to do this.

14 What should I have ready for Clearing?

• A list of the courses and subject areas you're interested in.
• Your qualifications or grades.
• Your UCAS ID number.
• If you haven't already applied through UCAS, we'll provide you with a link to our Confirmation of Clearing Acceptance form when you call us.
• Your date of birth, postal address, email address and phone number. For creative media, arts and architecture courses, a link to your online digital portfolio.
• If you're unsure, you can get more information about applying through Clearing  by looking around our site.

15 How do I prepare / send my portfolio for Clearing?

Some of our creative media, arts and architecture courses require you to prepare an online portfolio of your work. You can find out if your course needs a portfolio, and get advice on what to include and how to present your work on our online portfolio advice page.

16 How do I prepare for a Clearing interview?

For some courses you will need to attend an interview as part of the Clearing process. The interview helps us assess your suitability for the course and the profession you are interested in. Read our tips on preparing for a Clearing interview .

17 What does referred mean on UCAS?

This is a really common question students ask about Clearing, so we've included it in our What is Clearing section. Referred means that UCAS has sent your application to a university. It isn't anything to worry about, and you should receive more information quickly.

18 Can I use Clearing to transfer to Brighton from another university?

Yes, you can transfer to another university through Clearing. Call us on 01273 644000 and we'll talk you through your options.

19 What is UCAS Clearing Plus?

Clearing Plus is a new UCAS process for undergraduate applicants who are unplaced. It is accessible via UCAS Hub, and will match people to relevant courses with vacancies. Your best chance of receiving an offer is to contact us directly.

20 Can you get into Clearing with lower grades?

You can get into Clearing with lower grades because grades aren't everything that's used to decide if you get a place at university.

So, how does university Clearing work if you do have lower grades? Well, Clearing is about matching you with the courses that are available and we look at who you are and your aspirations as much as we do your examination results. If you are unsure, call the friendly applications team 01273 644000   and they can explain more.

21 Do I need a new personal statement for Clearing?

No you don't need a new personal statement for Clearing - unless you've changed your mind on which course or subject you want to study.

Your original statement will have all the details in there. However, one of the useful university Clearing tips you should take away is to update the university on any work experience or qualifications you've had since you completed your initial personal statement.

22 When do universities confirm your place?

If you applied to university in the main application cycle and if you meet the conditions of your offer your place will be confirmed when the university receives your results. If you are applying through Clearing and receive an offer, and meet its conditions you can accept the offer either via UCAS Hub or with our confirmation of clearing application form .

23 When can I apply through Clearing?

You can apply through UCAS Clearing when you receive your exam results: for A-levels this will be on 15 August 2024. You apply to uni through Clearing by adding our offer as your first choice on UCAS Hub. Clearing opens early at Brighton so you can get useful advice from our applications team. Give us a call: 01273 644000 .

24 Can you get rejected from Clearing?

You don't get rejected from Clearing. It's possible that there isn't a course available that matches what you want, but this isn't a rejection and you will get excellent support from our Clearing advice team who can help find alternatives you've not considered. Worse case scenario is you take a fresh look at your options and find another way to get onto a course the following year. Don't worry about being rejected from Clearing. Speak with us; we are here to help 01273 644000 .

25 How do Access course students apply through Clearing?

Access course students apply through Clearing in the same way once Clearing opens in July – you may receive a verbal offer straight away if you have your results.

Many Access students will get their results in July. Access course students are required to submit their results to their firm choice university. If you don't have a confirmed place or want to explore Clearing places with us we'll have an online Clearing application form in addition to our telephone hotline.

Once you have decided that you would like to accept an offer of a place through Clearing you will need to confirm your acceptance – either through UCAS or by sending a confirmation of clearing application form .

26 Do universities check your GCSE results?

Universities do check your GCSE results if they feel these are important in your application. You might want to change direction from the subjects you studied at A-level and have great results at GCSE, so don't forget to include these or mention them when you apply through Clearing.

27 When can I add a Clearing Choice?

If you receive a Clearing offer in July or early August before the main exam results day, you can add a Clearing choice on UCAS as soon as you receive your offer. There are some periods when UCAS will not be available due to the exam results embargo, but call us and we’ll be able to reassure you.

On the main exam results day, you can add a Clearing choice from 1pm (UK time) on Thursday 15 August 2024.  You must secure a Clearing offer from a university first. You can only accept one Clearing choice.

28 Do I need to be in UCAS to apply through Clearing?

You don't have to be in UCAS to apply through Clearing.  If you don’t have a UCAS account, you can still get an offer and we’ll talk you through how to accept it using our Confirmation of Clearing Acceptance form.

Clearing: The Complete Guide

A Level results day and finding out whether or not you’ve made it into university is a really exciting day, but it can also be really daunting, especially if you find out you’ve been entered into Clearing.

Don’t despair if you find yourself entered into Clearing, it could be the chance you need to get onto your dream course and go to a top university. The best way to be successful during Clearing is to get organised and know as much about it as possible.

That’s where we come in! At ApplytoUni we know everything there is to know about Clearing and applying to university. Just read through our handy guide to Clearing so you can put your best foot forward when you call the admissions team.

What is Clearing?

For those of you that don’t know Clearing is the UCAS process of matching students without university places to universities with course vacancies.

How do I check whether I’ve got a university place?

If you’ve just missed your grades your chosen university might still accept you so check on the UCAS website before you assume you haven’t made it.

Look on your UCAS Track page – if an “Add Clearing choice” button has appeared then you haven’t been successful and you’ve been entered into Clearing. You’ll also find your Clearing Number on this page – make a note of it as you’ll need it when you’re applying to universities.

Am I eligible for Clearing?

You’ll automatically be entered into Clearing if you meet the following criteria:

• You applied for university after the final deadline
• You haven’t yet applied for university – you’ll need to use UCAS to apply for university before using Clearing
• You weren’t made any offers by the universities you applied to
• You didn’t meet the requirements of your offers

You’ll need to make sure that you’ve paid the full UCAS application fee to be eligible for Clearing .  The 2024 application fee is £27.50 for up to five choices.

How long does Clearing last?

The Clearing period usually lasts for a month after A Level results day but bear in mind that course vacancies fill quickly, especially for popular courses.

Vacancies can fill on results day or within the first week afterwards so you’ll need to be prepared and move quickly if you want to secure a place at your ideal university. See Clearing dates for more information.

How do I prepare for Clearing?

If you think you might not get the grades for your firm or insurance choice universities it’s worth making a Clearing plan before the day so that you can get on the phone as soon as you have your results.

Here are our top tips for preparing for Clearing:

• Research alternative universities or courses – you might want to consider looking at different locations or slightly changing your degree subject
• Make a list of 5-10 options – put them in order starting with the one you’re most interested in
• Collect important telephone numbers and email addresses for the university admissions team
• Know why you’re interested in each university on your list – the admissions team will want to know
• Write a list of questions to ask potential universities to show you’re interested

Where can I find course vacancies?

University course vacancies aren’t released until A Level results day and you can find a full list in the following places:

• UCAS website
• The Daily Telegraph – they run a “Clearing special” on results day
• The Telegraph Clearing App

How many universities can I apply to during Clearing?

You can phone as many universities as you like during Clearing but you’ll only be able to apply for one at a time on the UCAS Track page. This means it’s important not to just accept the first offer that is made to you – make sure you’re making the right choice.

What do I need to apply during Clearing?

It’s vital to get everything together before you pick up the phone to admissions. They’ll be really busy during Clearing so don’t waste their time by scrabbling around looking for the important things.

You’ll need:

• Your UCAS Clearing number
• Your UCAS personal ID
• Your A Level results
• Your personal statement
• A list of important questions to ask the admissions team
• A pen and paper
• A good reason to want to go to each university

You might also want to have your GCSE results handy in case the admissions team get down to the nitty gritty.

How do I choose a course during Clearing?

It’s worth keeping an open mind during Clearing as you might find yourself having to consider a university or course you haven’t thought about before. Here are some things to consider when you’re deciding courses during Clearing:

• Look at different locations – whether you wanted to be local or go to the other end of the country, think about doing the opposite.
• Think about a joint degree – if a university doesn’t offer the course you want consider taking a joint degree, for example, English and History instead of straight English.
• Why did you choose your original university? You might find that another university offers exactly the same things.
• Be open minded – didn’t get the grades for a Russell Group uni? There are still plenty of great universities and their degrees aren’t worth any less.
• Compromise – so what if an alternative university is an extra 10 minutes away, if the course is great the extra travel time is worth it.

What do I say when I phone universities during Clearing?

The biggest tip we can give you when phoning universities is to keep calm and be polite. Here are some other tips for contacting universities during Clearing:

• Get on your mobile at your college or get on the phone as soon as you get home.
• Phone yourself – this is obvious but universities need to see independence and getting your parents to phone for you doesn’t demonstrate that!
• If you don’t get through the first time then keep phoning throughout the day.
• Send an email – if you’re really worried that you won’t get through then send a short, polite email to the admissions department with your grades and contact details.
• Note the names of people you’ve spoken to – you might need to know if you have to call them back.
• Accept their decision is final – it’s disappointing if you don’t get an offer but don’t argue with them. Be polite, thank them for their time, and move on to phoning the next university on your list.

How do I add a Clearing choice on UCAS Track?

Once you’ve decided which university offer you want to accept you’ll need to add it on your Track page . This counts as you definitely accepting the offer.

You can only add one Clearing choice at a time but if the university doesn’t confirm your choice then you’ll be able to add another one.

Here’s how to add a Clearing choice on UCAS Track:

• Click “Add Clearing choice” on your UCAS Track page
• Fill in the course details by the date the university gave you on the phone
• Wait for the university to confirm your application – when this happens it will show as “accepted” on your Track page
• Wait for your confirmation letter from UCAS

What do I do if I don’t find a place during Clearing?

Unfortunately there are so many students that apply during Clearing there isn’t a place for everyone, but don’t panic, there are plenty of options if you don’t get a place.

• Gap years– use this time to build your CV and add amazing skills and experience to your personal statement.
• Retake your exams– getting better grades gives you the opportunity to reapply to your original university next year.
• Choose a vocational course– an academic degree might not be the right option for you and if you were looking at taking a vocational subject there are many practical courses available (HND, HNC, Foundation degrees, Access courses, and Apprenticeships)

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Clearing and results day 2024 guide: how you can apply for a different course or university

Find out how Clearing works and how you can apply through Clearing 2024 if you change your mind about your course or university.

Alistair went through Clearing after changing his mind about his course choice. Hear his story .

Applying through Clearing if you decide on a different uni or course

Having second thoughts about your course or university choice is perfectly normal. Thousands of uni applicants find themselves in this situation every year. The good news is it’s not too late to change your mind – just apply again through Clearing.

In fact, Clearing may be the perfect time to rethink your choices. It gives you a chance to discover courses and subjects you might not have even considered before. Ultimately, you want a course and uni you’re most happy with, that aligns best with your future aspirations. Clearing is an opportunity for you to find just that.

Our website has everything you need to help you through the Clearing process, from our Clearing course search tool to expert tips and FAQs to guide you along the way. You can find and compare courses, book open days, find out which unis have places available, and see your chance of acceptance, all in one place.

How UCAS Clearing works

Think of Clearing as another chance for you to find a place at university. An increasingly popular route for students, it matches students looking for a place at uni to unis with unfilled places.

When Clearing opens, unis will publish a list of courses with places still available – you can find them using our Clearing tool .

Key dates for Clearing 2024

• 5 July: Clearing opens
• 21 October: Clearing ends

Remember you can’t enter Clearing before you have your grades.

How to apply for Clearing courses

The first thing you'll need to do is 'release' yourself into Clearing. You can do it in two ways:

• Contact the university you originally applied to and ask to be released – once they release you, you'll be automatically entered into Clearing
• Self-release yourself into Clearing (see below)

After you're released, follow these four steps:

• Search and compare Clearing courses – register with Whatuni to search, save and compare courses all in one place
• Contact shortlisted unis through their Clearing hotlines – have your UCAS ID, Clearing number, personal statement , results and any questions on hand before calling
• When you have a verbal offer, add the course on UCAS Hub – the uni will then confirm your offer
• Start preparing for uni – once your place is confirmed, it’s time to update your student finance details and sort out your accommodation

Clearing self-release

Self-releasing lets you enter Clearing if you're already holding a firm offer from a university but want to decline it to accept an offer from another uni.   

To self-release, log into your UCAS Hub account and select ‘decline my place’ next to the course you want to be released from. Be thorough in your research and make sure you get an informal offer from another uni over the phone before taking this route, as you won't get your old offer back if you change your mind again.

Learn more about Clearing self-release .

Clearing 2024 helplines

You can call these numbers for more guidance and advice on Clearing:

• UCAS: 0371 468 0468
• For those with hearing difficulties: Text Relay service. Download the app and follow the instructions to get started.

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Don’t worry if you’re a UK student that hasn’t applied by the June deadline. Applying directly to Clearing gives you another chance to apply.

What’s a direct Clearing application?

How do i apply this way, who can apply directly, why should i apply directly, clearing 2024, looking for clearing advice.

The Clearing concierge has the answers

A direct application is made for a Clearing course by a student who hasn’t already applied for university. Any student applying to university for the first time after the 30 June deadline will have to make a direct Clearing application. 

Direct Clearing applications can be made in two ways. 

The most common way is to apply through UCAS Clearing. Clearing 2024 opens on 5 July and will close for applications on 21 October . You’ll need to create a UCAS Hub account, where you’ll be given a unique UCAS ID number. You’ll need to write a personal statement and provide an academic reference.  

Once you’ve received your grades, you can start calling universities to see whether you get any verbal offers. Each university will have a dedicated Clearing hotline for you to call, which can be found when  searching for Clearing courses .

You can also apply directly without UCAS , through Record of Prior Acceptance (RPA). Some universities will let you do this, but not all. The university will typically send your offer via email with a link to complete an online form. Check this with the university when you call .

It's more common for international students to apply directly without UCAS via an agent or a guidance counsellor, it’s rarer for a UK student to choose this option — unless their route doesn't fit the usual UCAS deadlines.

• Guide to UCAS Clearing
• Clearing FAQs
• University entry requirements
• Preparing for your Clearing call

Students who haven’t made a university application by the 30 June deadline can apply directly via UCAS Clearing.  Many direct applications are made by mature students but also by students who are:  

• waiting to see their results before applying to university,  
• still unsure whether to go or not, or  
• who have only decided to go to university after the deadline.

Applying directly gives you more time to consider what you’d like to study and where. You may not know what degree you’d like to do by the 30 June application deadline, so applying directly into Clearing gives you extra time. 

You may prefer to wait until you have your results, so you know what courses are realistic to pursue. By waiting you could have a greater chance of acceptance onto a course, as many universities lower their entry requirements in Clearing. 

However, choosing to apply directly means you could miss out on certain courses and universities. Medicine and Veterinary Medicine courses often fill their places before Clearing opens, so you won’t find many available Clearing courses in these subjects, but this can vary from university to university. 

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What is Clearing?

UCAS Clearing is a system that operates between 5 July and 17 October . It is a second chance to get your place at university. You can participate in Clearing if you have already applied through UCAS and one of the following situations applies to you:

• You have not received any offers .
• You have declined all your offers or not responded by the due date .
• Your offers have not been confirmed because you have not met the conditions (for example, you have not achieved the required grades).
• You have declined a changed course, a changed date of entry and/or changed point of entry offer.
• You applied for one course which has been declined/unsuccessful and you have paid the full £27.50 fee.
• UCAS receive your application after 30 June 2024 . If they receive your application after this date, they will not send it to any universities and colleges.

If you only made a single choice on your original application, you can pay a further £4.50 and apply to other universities and colleges through Clearing.

You are allowed to complete an application until 21 September 2024 . If you apply after 30 June you will automatically be entered into Clearing so you must not fill in any choices on your application. A full list of course vacancies is published between mid-August and late-September on both the UCAS website and in the Telegraph newspaper .

I’m worried I’ll have to go into Clearing – what can I do?

If you’re concerned that you under-performed in your exams and may have to enter Clearing , there are a few things you can do to give yourself a head start before Clearing begins:

• Find out what courses were still on offer in UCAS Extra at the end of June.
• Check out the entry requirements for these courses (although you should not assume they will be lowered for Clearing, however in some cases they might be) and be realistic in terms of the grades you expect to gain.
• Take a look at the university websites for these courses to make sure you are happy with the course content and you will be taught everything you want to learn.
• Make a list of these courses so you can look out for them when the Clearing list is published on results day.
• This way, when you call up an institution about a particular course you will have the advantage of knowing something about it and will sound like a much more attractive candidate than someone who had never even heard of the course until 15 minutes before ringing them.

Also, the more informed you are, the less likely you will be to make a bad choice on the spur of the moment.

How does Clearing work?

Once you've found a vacancy you wish to apply for through the UCAS search tool, phone the university to check you meet the entry requirements, and that they definitely still have vacancies available.

If the university offers you a place, and you want to accept it, you can add it has a Clearing choice in your application by simply clicking the "Add a Clearing choice" button. You'll then need to fill in the details of the course, university, etc.

Unfortunately, you can only add one choice at a time, but if the university/college doesn't confirm your place, you'll be able to add another.

Please note that if you only applied for one choice in your original application you’ll need to pay an additional £4.50 to go through the Clearing process.

You can only enter one choice, and you must have discussed your application with the university first. If you enter a choice without doing this you are likely to cause yourself significant delays and may even lose out on a course you were really keen on.

The last date you can enter a Clearing choice in 2024 is 17 October - this is also the last date a university or college can accept an applicant in Clearing.

How can I prepare for Clearing?

During Clearing, it is your job to find a university that is happy to accept you on to one of their courses. The best way is to check UCAS or the university website, then phone them and tell them what you want to do.

If they have an appropriate vacancy, they will take your details and either give you a decision straightaway, or soon afterwards.

Here are a few pointers if you plan to use Clearing (or you wish to look around for another opportunity):

1. Do some research

Even if you’re confident you will get the exam results required, do some contingency planning before results day .

Make a list of possible courses and universities you’re interested in and put them in order of importance. This will help when looking at the Clearing listings after they are published in the Telegraph newspaper, and online at UCAS .

2. Don’t wait until A level results day

If you’re studying a different qualification to A levels, Clearing starts on 5 July.

Many international , mature and EU students may have their results as soon as Clearing opens, so act quickly if possible.

3. Be around

Don’t go on away on holiday at this crucial time.

4. Be positive

Clearing might not have had a great reputation in the past, but after the hike in tuition fees in 2012, most reputable universities will have some vacancies in Clearing. In 2023, a record number of 10,400 UK school leavers were admitted through Clearing, so things should hopefully look positive for you.

5. Keep checking your application online

If you become eligible to use Clearing, an ‘Add Clearing choice’ option will appear on your application. You can also check directly with your firm and insurance choices whether you have met their requirements or not.

6. Consider alternative courses

Maximise your choice by considering a joint degree with another subject, instead of a single subject course.

7. Start contacting universities straight away

Vacancies at highly ranked universities can be filled quickly, so make sure you get in early, and remember to have your Clearing number close by!

8. Always phone the university yourself

Universities won't be happy if someone rings on your behalf, and are unlikely to be able to offer a place unless they are speaking directly to you.

9. Keep at it

Clearing can be stressful, but don’t stop trying. If you’re not having much luck on the phone, try sending an email too. You're not the only one going through this process, so you're not alone. Remember, you WILL find a place eventually!

10. Don’t forget...

You can only add one Clearing choice at a time to your application.

Key dates for Clearing 2024

• Clearing fully kicks off on A Level results day , which is Thursday 15 August 2024
• Scottish students  also receive their results on Tuesday 6 August 2024
• For those taking the International Baccalaureate, Clearing opens on 6 July 2024
• If you're doing a BTEC or other vocational qualfication, then Clearing opens when you get your results in either July or August
• Clearing in 2024 will remain open until 17 October .

If you know before this that you will be in Clearing, you can start looking for information and trying to decide where you want to go.

Universities may publish vacancy information on their website as soon as it’s available.

This may potentially be from the start of results week , so keep your eyes peeled.

Some universities may say you can contact them before results day to discuss things, but unless they specifically say you can do not call them until Thursday 17 August.

How do I enter Clearing?

If you missed your firm and insurance offers and they both rejected you.

If you missed both your firm and insurance offers, then you don't need to do anything. Look for your Clearing number under your 'Application status' and start calling up universities - with your Clearing number admissions tutors will be able to see your full application and might ask you to apply. If they do this then they are offering you a place - if you wish to take up that place then add it as a Clearing Choice. The university should give you a date by which you must enter their course details. If you want to be formally considered, you need to click on your 'Add Clearing choice' button and enter the course details. Remember that you can only enter details for one choice at a time. If you didn't have an insurance offer, then the above also applies to you. However, if you didn't have an insurance place because you only originally applied to one university, you will need to pay an extra £4.50 since you will have paid the reduced fee of £22 with your original application.

If you change your mind about your firm or insurance offer

If you no longer wish to go to your firm and/or insurance but you met the offer (or they're accepting you with lower grades) then you can choose to use self-release option.

This allows you to release yourself into Clearing in order to apply to a different institution. Previously, students had to contact their chosen university and ask to be released before they could apply elsewhere.

The self-release process is fairly straightforward. To use it, you should:

• Sign into your online account and click the ‘Decline my place’ button on your profile page.
• You will be then see a page explaining what this involves and asked to answer a series of questions and confirm your decision.
• You will then receive an email confirming you are now in Clearing.
• You should immediately phone UCAS if you think you have made a mistake.

Self-release has several advantages compared to the system used previously. First, you no longer have to wait for your university to release you into Clearing, and it saves you spending time on the phone during the busy Clearing period on results day and immediately afterwards. It also removes a lot of stress for students, as different universities have different ways of implementing the release process.

Once your release has been processed, your Clearing number will show on your application under 'Application status'.

Start calling around universities - with your Clearing number admissions tutors will be able to see your full application and might ask you to apply.

If they do then they are offering you a place, and if you wish to take it up you should add it as a Clearing Choice on your application.

It's important to think carefully before using the UCAS self-release feature - if you change your mind, it is unlikely your existing place will still be open.

Changing universities at this point means you will also have to reapply for accommodation and amend your student finance application, so make sure you use this option with caution and be certain that this what you really want to do.

If you are not holding any offers

If you are not holding any offers, but did apply through UCAS before 30 June, you will have automatically been entered into Clearing, and your Clearing number will be on your application from mid July. Start phoning around universities - with your Clearing number admissions tutors will be able to see your full application and might ask you to apply. If they do then they are offering you a place, and if you wish to take it up you should add it as a Clearing Choice on your application. You may be in this position for a number of reasons, e.g. if you rejected all your offers; if you were unsuccessful in your applications; or if you changed your mind about the courses you wanted to apply for.

If you have not applied through UCAS yet, or applied after 30 June

If you apply through UCAS after 30 June (12 June for Art & Design courses) then you'll only be going through Clearing. You need to complete a UCAS application as normal on the UCAS website, including all of the usual things such as a personal statement and a reference. The only difference is that you will not be able to choose 5 universities/courses to apply for . This will cost the usual £27.50 fee. Your Clearing number will show up on your application in mid July or as soon as your application has been processed by UCAS if submitted later than this. Start ringing around universities - with your Clearing number admissions tutors will be able to see your full application and might ask you to apply.

If they do then they are offering you a place, and if you wish to take it up you should add it as a Clearing Choice.

Do I have to wait until my Clearing Number appears on my UCAS Hub to apply?

Yes - but that doesn't mean you can't approach universities informally.

Most of the Clearing process happens over the phone - it's only the last step that requires a Clearing number and the 'Add a Clearing Choice' button on your application form. If you had to be released by either your firm or insurance, you will need to wait for confirmation that this has been done, which may take up to 2 weeks.

Will universities accept lower grades through Clearing?

Some will, but some won't - it depends on a lot of things. The only way you'll know for sure is by asking them or looking on their website. They may be willing to accept you with lower grades if you're enthusiastic about the course, or if you have relevant work experience or extracurricular activities, so make sure you sell yourself as much as possible when talking to the admissions tutor. This is why it may help to have a copy of your personal statement to hand.

Try to be yourself when talking to them, and just do your best - if they don't offer you a place, try not to panic, as there will be other universities you can try instead.

How many universities can I apply to?

You can approach as many universities as you like over the phone or by email, although remember that you can only add one clearing choice at a time on your application. Don't add a Clearing choice on your application before a university asks you to apply to them - if you do they will likely just reject you (and until they reject you, you can't apply anywhere else!). Research each Clearing choice as thoroughly as possible before adding them to your application – remember that you are committing yourself for the next 3 or 4 years of your life! Don't just choose the first university that shows any interest in you, because there will be plenty of Clearing places available and any of them could offer you a place where you’ll be really happy.

Can I use Clearing if I want a deferred offer?

Yes, you can, although universities usually expect to deal with applications for entry for the current year. If you want a deferred offer, make sure you tell the university as soon as you contact them that you want to defer your place, although don't be disappointed if they say no. However, if you're taking a gap year anyway it might be better to reapply through UCAS in September. This way, you'll have the choice of all universities and courses rather than just the limited selection available through Clearing. You'll also have the advantage of knowing your grades when reapplying, so you can make more informed choices.

How long is Clearing open?

Clearing officially closes on 17 October 2024. However, most people won't take that long to find a suitable place.

It depends how quickly you can make your mind up where you want to go. If you're absolutely sure you’ve found the right university and course for you, it can be done within a few days.

However, if you are undecided, it’s best you take a bit longer. Many people wish to visit several universities, and they may have special open days set up to help with your choice.

Of course, if you entered Clearing by getting released from your firm or insurance choice then you might not actually be eligible for up to 2 weeks after Clearing has opened. In this case, the Clearing process will take longer for you.

What if I’m off on holiday on results day or just after?

In a nutshell: do not do this. Clearing doesn't finish until 17 October, so it’s best that you make yourself available until then. It’s only a few weeks, and you will have the rest of the summer to make other plans and take a break. Consider the fact that if you are on holiday, it will be hard to discuss things with the universities you're interested in applying to, plus your phone bill will be pretty expensive! Also, how will you get your results anyway?

I’m applying through Clearing – what do I do now?

To find a university that is prepared to accept you through Clearing, start looking for opportunities through the UCAS Clearing search tool, The Complete University Guide , or visiting university websites directly (if you know which ones you're interested in). Once you’ve found a place(s) that you think are suitable, the first thing you should do is phone the university(s) and discuss it with them – remember, you shouldn’t apply for a place unless a university actually asks you to. The first step in the Clearing process is contacting the university(s) by phone or email - not applying. It’s important not to rush into a decision - take time to talk things through with your family, friends, and teachers, and make sure that you are making the best decision for yourself and your future.

What do I say to the university when I phone them?

Before calling up the university, make sure you have some decent notes written down on why you want to study this particular course and why you want to attend this university. Have a copy of your personal statement with you, and make any notes on your achievements, etc. that will help sell yourself. Include anything you’ve done more recently that isn’t in your personal statement. Highlight any particularly good results you got, e.g. you may have passed an exam with almost full marks. Tell them if there are specific areas of the course that you are interested in and why. It will take several or more things to get yourself accepted on to a course, so be prepared to sell yourself to the university. If you sound enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the course and university, they will be more likely to ask you to apply.

Should I contact the university as soon as possible?

Do not rush to dial the university – take some time to prepare yourself. As the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression! You will want to make a good first impression on the university, so once you’ve made some notes on exactly what you want to say and you feel ready, phone them up.

Again, have a copy of your personal statement to hand, and think about how your qualifications, experience and extracurricular activities/hobbies make a you good candidate for the course.

What’s the best way to contact them?

You should always try to phone the university – this means YOU and not your parents. Make sure you have your notes, a pen, spare paper and your UCAS number with you when you call. You will also need your UCAS Clearing number, which you should see on your application under 'Application status'. The university will be busy fielding calls, so expect to wait before you can speak to someone. Phone is the most direct way of contacting the university, and if you try another way such as email, you may have to wait a while for them to get back to you. If you don’t get through to an admissions tutor straight away, don’t worry – sometimes you will have to speak to an advisor first to see if your grades and experience match what they are looking for. If this is the case, you will be told that an admissions tutor will call you back later, or you may be asked to call them. When you speak to an admissions tutor, you will normally have an informal discussion with them, but remember that you need to sell yourself and portray yourself in the best possible light to stand a chance of being asked to apply.

Should I visit the universities I’m considering attending?

It’s a good idea to go to an Open Day if you are invited – that way you can meet the tutors who will be teaching on the course, as well as fellow applicants and students already studying at the university. If you decide you aren’t very keen on it, then it’s best to know before committing yourself to a 3 year course there. You shouldn’t let distance, cost of travelling there or anything else prevent you from attending an Open Day – this is your future, so you should prioritise securing the best place possible for your degree.

Many universities run open days specifically for Clearing applicants (and their parents and carers) to visit the campus, view the facilities and talk to staff and students about life at the university.

What about getting accommodation?

You will find that some universities guarantee accommodation to those entering through Clearing, which is good if the university you have been asked to ally to offers this. This you will be able to find out on their website, or certainly at their Open Day at least (there will be plenty of people to ask). If the university you are applying to can not guarantee you accommodation, they will help you find somewhere to stay. They will give you lists of approved landlords and/or details of suitable private accommodation.

Further information and advice

1. people you know.

The most important place to look for advice is from the people around you.

Discuss things with your parents, your teachers, and even your friends (if they are not too busy sorting out their own university place).

3. SQA Candidate Advice

The SQA candidate advice line: 0345 279 1000, open between Tuesday 6 and Friday 9 August. You can also email: [email protected].

Skills Development Scotland

Skills Development Scotland's exam helpline offers advice on careers and university and college vacancies.

The helpline will be open from 8am–8pm on 9th and 10th August and 9am–5pm until 17th August .Call 0808 100 8000. 

4. Learn Direct

Learn Direct can offer careers advice, and advise you on a wide range of courses in the UK.

They can help you decide if university is the right step for you, and tell you about other courses or possibilities.

Further information

For more tips and advice, please see:

• A-level Results Day
• How Does UCAS Extra Work?
• Should I Retake My A-levels?
• Applying to university
• Finding a job
• School leaver programmes

The Uni Guide has a fresh new look

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• Bangor University
• Birmingham City University
• Sheffield Hallam University
• University of Aberdeen
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• University of Hull
• University of Kent
• University of Reading
• Clearing and results day
• Preparing for university
• Ucas application
• Student finance
• Student accommodation
• Choosing a course
• A-level results day: what to expect
• A guide to Btec results day
• How Ucas Hub works on results day
• What to say in a Clearing phone call
• 10 tips to help you with Ucas Clearing
• A guide to Clearing 2024
• Which university is right for you?
• What you need to know about getting a university scholarship, grant or bursary
• How to decide on a university course
• Is a higher or degree apprenticeship right for you?
• Universities

By Nik Taylor (Editor, The Uni Guide) | 18 August 2023 | 22 min read

How to write an excellent personal statement in 10 steps

Stand out from the crowd: here's how to write a good personal statement that will get you noticed

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Email & print.

Your personal statement forms a core part of your university application, and the sooner you get going, the better you can make it. You may think that your personal statement won’t matter as much to unis as your grades and experience but a great personal statement could make all the difference between you and a candidate with the same grades. Sure, your application might not reach that deal breaker stage. But is it something you want to leave to chance?  Here we’ll take you through the process of planning, writing and checking a good personal statement, so you end up with something you can submit with confidence. And to make sure the advice we're giving you is sound, we’ve spoken to admissions staff at loads of UK universities to get their view. Look out for video interviews and advice on applying for specific subjects throughout this piece or watch our personal statement playlist on YouTube .

• Are you looking for personal statement examples? Check our library of hundreds of real personal statements, on The Student Room

Personal statement deadlines

You'll need to make sure you've got your personal statement written well in advance of your application deadline. Below are the main university application deadline dates for 2024 entry.

2024 entry deadlines

16 October 2023: Deadline for applications to Oxford and Cambridge universities, along with most medicine, dentistry, and veterinary courses.   31 January 2024: Deadline for applications to the majority of undergraduate courses. After this date, universities will start allocating places on these courses –   but you can still apply after the 31 January deadline , as this article explains . 30 June 2024:  Students who apply after this date will be entered into Clearing .

• Read more: Ucas deadlines and key application dates

What is a personal statement?

A personal statement is a central part of your Ucas application, where you explain why you’ve chosen a particular course and why you’ll be good at it. It's your chance to stand out against other candidates and hopefully get that all-important offer. You only write one personal statement which is then read by each university you apply to, so if you are applying for more than one subject (or it's a combined course) it's crucial that you include common themes or reference the overall skills needed for all subjects. Personal statements are especially important if you’re trying to get on a very competitive course, where you need to do anything you can to stand out to admissions tutors. Courteney Sheppard, senior customer experience manager at Ucas, advises that your personal statement is "the only part of the application that you have direct control over. Do lots of research to demonstrate your passion, curiosity and drive to pursue your chosen subject." There’s a limit on how much you can write: your personal statement can be up to 4,000 characters (including spaces) or 47 lines of 95 characters (including spaces); whichever is shorter. This may appear generous (read: long) but once you've got going you may find yourself having to edit heavily.

• Read more: teacher secrets for writing a great personal statement

1. Plan what you want to cover

The first thing you need to do is make a plan. Writing a personal statement off the top of your head is difficult. Start by making some notes, answering the following questions:

• What do you want to study?
• Why do you want to study it?
• What is there about you that shows you’re suited to studying this subject at university? Think about your personality, as well as your experiences.
• What are your other interests and skills?

These few points are going to form the spine of your personal statement, so write them in a way that makes sense to you. You might want to make a simple bulleted list or you might want to get all arty and use a mindmap. Whatever you choose, your aim is the same. You want to get it clear in your own head why a university should offer you a place on its course. Getting those details down isn't always easy, and some people find it helpful to make notes over time. You might try carrying a notebook with you or set up a memo on your phone. Whenever you think of something useful for your personal statement, jot it down. Inspiration sometimes comes more easily when you’re thinking about something else entirely. It might help to take a look at The Student Room for some sample personal statements by university and sample personal statements by subjects , to give you an idea of the kind of thing you want to include. 

• Read more: personal statement FAQs

2. Show off your experience

Some things are worth adding to your personal statement, some things are not. Firmly in the second camp are your qualifications. You don’t need to mention these as there’s a whole other section of your personal statement where you get to detail them very precisely. Don’t waste a single character going on about how great your GCSE grades are – it’s not what the admissions tutor wants to read. What they do want to see is: what have you done? OK, so you’ve got some good grades, but so do a lot of other applicants. What have you done that’s different, that shows you off as someone who really loves the subject you’re applying for? Spend some time thinking about all the experience you have in that subject. If you’re lucky, this might be direct work experience. That’s going to be particularly appropriate if you’re applying for one of the more vocational subjects such as medicine or journalism . But uni staff realise getting plum work experience placements is easier for some people than others, so cast your net wider when you’re thinking about what you’ve done. How about after-school clubs? Debating societies? Are you running a blog or vlog? What key skills and experience have you picked up elsewhere (eg from hobbies) that could be tied in with your course choice? Remember, you’re looking for experience that shows why you want to study your chosen subject. You’re not just writing an essay about what you're doing in your A-level syllabus. Use this checklist as a guide for what to include:

• Your interest in the course. Why do you want to spend three years studying this subject at university?
• What have you done outside school or college that demonstrates this interest? Think about things like fairs/exhibitions, public lectures or voluntary work that is relevant to your subject.
• Relevant work experience (essential for the likes of medicine, not required for non-vocational courses such as English )
• Skills and qualities required for that career if appropriate (medicine, nursing and law as obvious examples)
• Interest in your current studies – what particular topics have made an impression on you?
• Any other interests/hobbies/experiences you wish to mention that are relevant either to the subject or 'going to uni'. Don't just list your hobbies, you need to be very selective and state clearly what difference doing these things has made to you.
• Plans for a gap year if you’re deferring entry.

Read more: 6 steps you need to take to apply to university

3. Be bold about your achievements

Don't be bashful about your achievements; that’s not going to help you get into uni. It's time to unleash your inner Muhammed Ali and get all “I am the greatest” with your writing. Do keep it focused and accurate. Do keep your language professional. But don’t hide your qualities beneath a layer of false modesty. Your personal statement is a sell – you are selling yourself as a brilliant student and you need to show the reader why that is true. This doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and if you’re finding it difficult to write about how great you are it’s time to enlist some help. Round up a friend or two, a family member, a teacher, whoever and get them to write down your qualities. Getting someone else’s view here can help you get some perspective. Don’t be shy. You are selling your skills, your experience and your enthusiasm – make sure they all leap off the screen with the way you have described them.

• Read more: the ten biggest mistakes when writing your personal statement  

4. How to start your personal statement

Type your personal statement in a cloud-based word processing program, such as Google Docs or Microsoft Word and don’t copy and paste it into Ucas Hub until it’s finished.  One of the benefits of doing it this way is that you can run spell check easily. (Please note, though, that Word adds "curly" quotation marks and other characters (like é or ü) that won't show up on your Ucas form, so do proofread it on Ucas Hub before submitting it to ensure it is how you typed it.)  Another big benefit is that you'll always have a backup of what you've written. If you're being super careful, you could always save your statement in another place as well. Bear in mind that extra spaces (eg adding spaces to the beginnings of paragraphs as indentation) are removed on Ucas. In your first sentence, cut to the chase. Why do you want to do the course? Don’t waste any time rambling on about the daydreams you had when you were five. Just be clear and concise – describe in one line why this course is so important to you. Then, in the rest of your intro, go into more detail in demonstrating your enthusiasm for the course and explaining how you decided this is what you want to do for the next three or more years. However you choose to start your statement, just avoid the following hoary old chestnuts. These have been some of the most used lines in personal statements over the years – they are beyond cliche, so don’t even think about it.

• From a young age I have (always) been [interested in/fascinated by]…
• For as long as I can remember, I have…
• I am applying for this course because… 
• I have always been interested in… 
• Throughout my life I have always enjoyed… 
• Reflecting on my educational experiences… 
• [Subject] is a very challenging and demanding [career/profession/course]… 
• Academically, I have always been… 
• I have always wanted to pursue a career in… 
• I have always been passionate about…   

5. Focus your writing on why you've chosen that subject

So you’ve got your intro done – time to nail the rest of it. Bear in mind that you’ve got to be a little bit careful when following a personal statement template. It’s easy to fall into the trap of copying someone else’s style, and in the process lose all of your own voice and personality from your writing. But there is a rough order that you can follow, which should help keep you in your flow. After your opening paragraph or two, get into any work experience (if you’ve got it). Talk about extracurriculars: anything you've done which is relevant to the subject can go here – hobbies, interests, volunteering. Touch on your career aspirations – where do you want this course to take you? Next, show your enthusiasm for your current studies. Cite some specific examples of current work that you enjoyed. Show off your relevant skills and qualities by explaining how you’ve used these in the past. Make sure you’re giving real-world examples here, not just vague assertions like “I’m really organised and motivated”. Try to use examples that are relevant.   Follow this up with something about you as a person. Talk about non-academic stuff that you like to do, but link it in some way with the course, or with how it shows your maturity for dealing with uni life. Round it all off by bringing your main points together, including a final emphasis of your commitment to studying this particular course.

• Read more: how to write your personal statement in an evening  

6. How long should a personal statement be?

You've got to work to a very specific limit when writing your personal statement. In theory you could use up to 4,000 characters – but you’re probably more likely to be limited by the line count. That's because it's a good idea to put line breaks in between your paragraphs (to make it more readable) and you only get a maximum of 47 lines. With this in mind, 3,500 characters is a more realistic limit. But when you’re getting started you should ignore these limits completely. At first, you just want to get down everything that you feel is important. You'll probably end up with something that is far too long, but that's fine. This is where you get to do some polishing and pruning. Keep the focus of your piece on the course you’re applying for, why you want to do it and why you’re perfectly suited to it. Look through what you’ve written so far – have you got the balance right? Chop out anything that goes on a bit, as you want each point to be snappy and succinct.

• Read more: universities reveal all about personal statements  

7. Keep it simple

8. Smart ways to end your personal statement

Writing a closing line that you’re happy with can feel as tricky as coming up with your opener. What you’re looking for here is a sign-off that is bold and memorable. The final couple of sentences in your statement give you the opportunity to emphasise all the good stuff you’ve already covered. Use this space to leave the reader in no doubt as to what an excellent addition you would be to their university. Pull together all your key points and – most importantly – address the central question that your personal statement should answer: why should you get a place on the course?

• Read more: universities explain how to end your personal statement with a bang  

9. Make sure your personal statement has no mistakes

Now you’ve got a personal statement you’re happy with, you need to make sure there are no mistakes. Check it, check it a second time, then check it again. Once you’ve done that, get someone else to check it, too. You will be doing yourself a massive disservice if you send through a personal statement with spelling and/or grammatical errors. You’ve got months to put this together so there really is no excuse for sending through something that looks like a rush job. Ask your teachers to look at it, and be prepared to accept their feedback without getting defensive. They will have seen many personal statements before; use what they tell you to make yours even better. You’ve also got another chance here to look through the content of your personal statement, so you can make sure the balance is right. Make sure your focus is very clearly on the subject you are applying for and why you want to study it. Don’t post your personal statement on the internet or social media where anyone can see it. You will get picked up by the Ucas plagiarism checker. Similarly, don't copy any that you find online. Instead, now is a good time to make your parents feel useful. Read your personal statement out to them and get them to give you feedback. Or try printing it out and mixing it up with a few others (you can find sample personal statements on The Student Room). Get them to read them all and then try to pick yours out. If they can't, perhaps there's not enough of your personality in there.  

10. Don't think about your personal statement for a whole week

If you followed the advice at the very start of this guide, you’ve started your personal statement early. Good job! There are months before you need to submit it. Use one of these weeks to forget about your personal statement completely. Get on with other things – anything you like. Just don’t go near your statement. Give it a whole week and then open up the document again and read through it with fresh eyes. You’ll gain a whole new perspective on what you’ve written and will be well placed to make more changes, if needed.

• Read more: how to write your personal statement when you have nothing interesting to say  

10 steps to your ideal personal statement

In summary, here are the ten steps you should follow to create the perfect personal statement.  

Personal statement dos and don'ts

• Remember that your personal statement is your personal statement, not an article written about your intended field of study. It should tell the reader about you, not about the subject.
• Only put in things that you’re prepared to talk about at the interviews.
• Give convincing reasons for why you want to study the course – more than just "enjoying the subject" (this should be a given).
• For very competitive courses, find out as much as you can about the nature of the course and try to make your personal statement relevant to this.
• Be reflective. If you make a point like 'I like reading', 'I travelled abroad', say what you got from it.
• Go through the whole thing checking your grammar and your spelling. Do this at least twice. It doesn’t matter if you’re not applying to an essay-based course – a personal statement riddled with spelling mistakes is just going to irritate the reader, which is the last thing you want to do. If this is something you find difficult then have someone look over it for you.
• Leave blank lines between your paragraphs. It’s easier for the reader to get through your personal statement when it’s broken into easily digestible chunks. Remember that they’re going to be reading a lot of these! Make yours easy to get through.
• Get someone else's opinion on your statement. Read it out to family or friends. Share it with your teacher. Look for feedback wherever you can find it, then act upon it.
• Don’t write it like a letter. Kicking off with a greeting such as "Dear Sir/Madam" not only looks weird, it also wastes precious space.
• Don’t make jokes. This is simply not the time – save them for your first night in the union.
• Don’t criticise your current school or college or try to blame teachers for any disappointing grades you might have got.
• Be afraid of details – if you want your PS to be personal to you that means explaining exactly which bits of work or topics or activities you've taken part in/enjoyed. It's much more compelling to read about one or two detailed examples than a paragraph that brushes over five or six.
• Just list what you're doing now. You should pull out the experiences that are relevant to the courses which you're applying to.
• Mention skills and activities without giving examples of when they have been demonstrated by you or what you learnt from them. Anyone can write "I have great leadership skills" in a PS, actually using a sentence to explain when you demonstrated good leadership skills is much rarer and more valuable.
• Refer to experiences that took place before your GCSEs (or equivalent).
• Give explanations about medical or mental health problems. These should be explained in your reference, not your PS.
• Apply for too many different courses, making it difficult to write a convincing personal statement which supports the application.
• Write a statement specific to just one institution, unless you're only applying to that one choice.
• Copy and paste the statement from somewhere else! This means do not plagiarise. All statements are automatically checked for plagiarism by Ucas. Those that are highlighted by the computer system are checked manually by Ucas staff. If you’re found to have plagiarised parts of your statement, the universities you apply to will be informed and it could jeopardise your applications.
• Use ChatGPT or another AI program to write your personal statement for you. Or, if you do, make sure you thoroughly edit and personalise the text so it's truly yours. Otherwise you're very much at risk of the plagiarism point above.

You may want to look at these...

How to write your university application.

Tips for writing your university application, including deadlines and personal statements

The Ucas personal statement is changing in 2025

A question-based personal statement will be required as part of university applications from autumn 2025 onwards

How long does it take for universities to reply to your application?

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• Personal statement advice: dentistry
• Personal statement advice: drama
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• Personal statement advice: engineering
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• Personal statement advice: law
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• Personal statement advice: media studies and journalism
• Personal statement advice: medicine
• Personal statement advice: modern languages
• Personal statement advice: music
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• Personal statement advice: politics
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• Personal statement advice: sociology
• Personal statement advice: sports science
• Personal statement advice: statistics
• Personal statement advice: teacher training and education
• Personal statement advice: veterinary medicine
• Personal statement: finance and accounting
• Filling in your application
• Staying safe online
• How to write a personal statement that works for multiple courses
• The new personal statement for 2026 entry
• How To Write Your Undergraduate Personal Statement
• Fraud and similarity
• How to start a personal statement: The attention grabber
• How to end your personal statement
• Introducing the personal statement tool
• Personal statement week
• What to include in a personal statement
• Using AI and ChatGPT to help you with your personal statement
• Using your personal statement beyond a university application
• Carers, estranged students, refugees, asylum seekers, and those with limited leave to remain
• Personal statement guides
• References for mature students

Shona Barrie – Director of Admissions, University of Stirling

UCAS asked admissions tutors – the people who read and score your personal statement – for their advice on what you should and shouldn’t do when writing your personal statement. 

The most common piece of advice was not to worry about it – and don’t be tempted to copy anyone else’s.

Read our step-by-step guide to writing your personal statement

Then follow our simple tips below.

• Do talk about why you’re a good candidate – talk about you, your motivations and what brings you to this course.
• Do be enthusiastic – if you show you’re interested in the course, it may help you get a place.
• Do make it relevant . Connect what you’re saying with the course and with your experiences.
• Do outline your ideas clearly .
• Do avoid the negatives – highlight the positives about you, and show you know your strengths.
• Do expect to produce several drafts of your personal statement before being totally happy with it.
• Do ask people you trust for their feedback.
• Don’t be modest or shy . You want your passions to come across. 
• Don’t exaggerate – if you do, you may get caught out in an interview when asked to elaborate on an interesting achievement.
• Don’t use quotes from someone else, or cliches.
• Don’t leave it to the last minute – your statement will seem rushed and important information could be left out.
• Don’t let spelling and grammatical errors spoil your statement , but don't just rely on a spellchecker. Proofread as many times as possible.
• Don’t copy and paste – make yours original.
• Don’t post your personal statement on the internet or on social media or share your personal statement with anyone including your friends and family, unless asking for feedback from people you trust.
• Don’t worry about it – we have all the advice you need to help you stand out in your personal statement. 

The personal statement tool image

Don’t be tempted to copy or share your statement.

UCAS scans all personal statements through a similarity detection system to compare them with previous statements.

Any similarity greater than 30% will be flagged and we'll inform the universities and colleges to which you have applied. 

Find out more

Ana ghaffari moghaddam – third year law student and careers coach, university of liverpool.

You’ve got this. Follow those simple steps and use your personal statement as your chance to shine .Use the below as a checklist to make sure you've avoided all common pitfalls.

Want more tips on what to include in your personal statement? Use the links below.

• Get started with our personal statement builder . 
• Five things all students should include in their personal statement. 
• See how you can turn your personal statement into a CV, apprenticeship application or covering letter. 
• Read How to start a personal statement: The attention grabber .

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