The ultimate Clearing guide: part one

Clearing officially opens on Saturday 5 July 2025, so we've created the ultimate guide to help you along the way.

In this two-part guide, we’ll be covering all the things you need to know about Clearing so make sure you check back for part two.

An introduction to Clearing

So you’ve probably heard the word 'clearing' a few times during your time applying for university, but if you’re still not sure what it is, don't worry – here’s a quick overview.

Clearing is part of the UCAS application process and is there to help you find a place at university if you haven’t got any offers, you’ve declined all your offers, you didn’t meet the conditions of your offer, or you’ve changed your mind and want to apply for university late.

Clearing timeline

Dates to make a note of when getting ready for Clearing

5 July - Clearing opens. Remember, you can’t apply for Clearing unless you have received your exam results, but if you're applying late to university you can find a place now.
5 July - Solent's Clearing hotline opens. If you need any advice for applying at Solent you can call our hotline on: 023 8001 1722.
5 August - SQA results day. It's results day for those of you studying your SQAs. Your certificate should be arriving today too.
14 August - RQF, BTEC and A-level results day. Also known as the busiest day of Clearing, this is when most students will receive their results. We’ve got our fingers crossed for you. But if you’re entering into Clearing, don’t panic. We’re on hand to help.
20 October - Clearing deadline. This is the last day you can submit an application for 2025 entry. Applications must arrive to UCAS by 6pm (UK time). If you’ve missed this deadline then you’ll have to apply for 2026 entry.

Making a clear choice

Set a course criteria

When you’re selecting your university, you still need to research your Clearing choice. Remind yourself about why you made those original choices and see if you can still apply that criteria now. If you didn't get the results you expected, you may need to have a rethink about what you’d like to study if your original offers have been withdrawn. If you’ve not applied to university at all yet, check out our article Which course is right for you? for tips on finding the right fit.

Check the course is available

Before calling the universities you're considering, it's worth seeing if the course is available through Clearing. You can find out on the UCAS website or on the university's course pages.

See what the university is like

Don’t forget, you’re going to be spending the next 3-4 years there, so it’s worth checking out what the university is like. See what facilities they have and if the location is convenient for you. Lots of universities will offer visit days or open days so try to attend them if you can.

Get calling

You can call as many universities as you want and enquire about as many courses as you like. You can also accept as many verbal offers as you’d like. However, you’ll only be able to apply for one. There should be plenty of Clearing places about, so it’s worth calling around before making your final choice.

Consider a different route

If your results were much lower than expected and you’ve not quite reached the amount of points needed for your course, you may need to consider a different course entirely. It may be worth looking at the foundation years that a course offers. Foundation years are essentially an extra year at university where you will learn the skills needed for a degree.

Applying for a course

So you’re in Clearing and you’ve got an idea of which course/courses to apply for, here’s what you need to do next in three easy steps:

Check UCAS Hub. Here, you can see the status of your applications. If you're in Clearing it will tell you that you are and there will be a button saying 'Add a Clearing choice'.
Grab a pen and paper. You're going to need to jot down a few things: 1. Your UCAS application number. 2. Your qualifications and how much they equal in tariff points (there's a handy calculator here). 3. Any questions you may have about the course.
Pick up the phone. You're going to have to start calling your selected university choices to see if they have space and if you're eligible to apply. They will then give you your next steps on what to do. Or, if picking up the phone isn’t your preferred option, there are other ways to contact the universities you’ve chosen. At Solent we’re available via WhatsApp and live chat too.

Check out our video for some top tips to help you through the Clearing process.

What next?

Once you’ve got your Clearing place, another thing you may have to think about is where you’re going to live and how you’re going to fund your studies.

Finding a home

Most universities set aside a few extra rooms for people who are applying through Clearing, so it’s worth asking what accommodation is available.

Halls of residences full? Don’t panic. Contact your university's accommodation team and they’ll be able to point you in the right direction. They'll have a list of landlords who are accredited and have been vetted to make sure their houses are safe for you to live in.

If you’re applying to Solent through Clearing, we’re guaranteeing accommodation to anyone who puts us as their Clearing choice (visit our Clearing page for more info). If you’re not applying to Solent, it's worth seeing if your university is offering anything similar.

Funding your studies

After you’ve selected your Clearing choice and it’s been accepted, it’s time to sort out your funding. If you’ve already applied for student finance you’ll need to contact them and change your university. Here’s how you can do it but bear in mind you’ll need to do this ASAP.

If you’ve not applied for student finance yet, you need to do this as quickly as possible. Check out our how to register article and then get that application filled in fast.

It’s also worth looking into if you’re entitled to any bursaries or scholarships your university offers. If you’re considering more than one, make sure you check them all! Here’s what Solent offers to give you an idea.

If you require additional support at university, you may also be eligible for the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA). It’s a non-repayable grant that provides extra funding to support you, so that’s worth checking out too.

A bit of extra info

You can ask us any questions you have about the Clearing process on any of our social channels or via WhatsApp:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/solentuniversity

Instagram: www.instagram.com/solentuniversity

WhatsApp: 07712 402 951