Clearing FAQs

Whatever happens with your exam results, there’s still going to be plenty of options for you. See our guide to preparing for Results Day for lots more hints and tips.

On the run up to both the SQA and A-level results days we're running a number of online information sessions which can help give you a more detailed understanding on what to expect. Get more details on dates, times and what we'll be talking about.

Don’t panic! As soon as you’ve got your results you can log into UCAS track from 8am to see the status of your offers. (A-Level students can check from 8am while SQA results are not available until 9am.)

Don’t just assume you’ve automatically lost your place if you haven’t attained all conditions of your firm or insurance offer. UCAS track will tell you if you’re eligible to go into Clearing. You can then start searching for available university places.

Clearing is part of the UCAS application process for undergraduates. It’s a way of matching students without a university place to universities who have course places to fill. See more in our guide to Clearing.

You’ll typically be eligible to use Clearing if you:

• Apply to university after 30 June
• Have applied but aren’t holding any offers
• Declined the offers you did receive
• Didn’t meet the criteria of your conditional offers

Yes but you need to be quick. We recommend contacting one of our Clearing Advisers on our Helpline or through LiveChat on our website and they will take you through the processes that are most suitable for you.

No - you cannot apply for Clearing until you've received your results. However, information on our Clearing courses will be available from early July giving you a chance to research your options.

If you register for updates, we will let you know when our university Clearing courses are available.

Clearing opens on 6 July 2020 and closes in late September 2020. However, remember that the majority of undergraduate courses start in September and that most courses only have limited availability – so you really shouldn’t leave Clearing until the last minute.

Your UCAS track status will say “You are in Clearing”.

You can search on the UCAS website or you can go to the university website. On the University of Stirling website there’s a list of available courses depending on where you’re from:

• Scotland and EU
• England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• International

Once you’ve found a course you’re interested in then you should contact the university to see if you meet the entry requirements and that they have vacancies for you. If you are offered a place you will be talked through the specific processes you will need to go through and also have these emailed to you. Officially accepting your offer is a straight forward process for most applications but if at any time you have any questions you can contact the University Clearing Advisers through the helpline.

If you’ve already applied through UCAS and you’re eligible for Clearing, your Clearing number will be on your UCAS track welcome page.

Holding another offer does not stop you coming to the University of Stirling. If you contact our Clearing helpline we'll be happy to check your eligibility and talk you through the processes involved.

Go to the option “Add a Clearing choice”. You can only apply for one choice at a time on UCAS track. If you change your mind and want to apply for another course after you’ve added a choice, then you need to be released from that university which will cancel your place so you’re able to apply again through Clearing.

Yes you can but you’ll need to get in touch with your relevant student finance organisation.

• England:  www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance
• Northern Ireland:  www.studentfinanceni.co.uk
• Wales:  www.studentfinancewales.co.uk
• Scotland:  www.saas.gov.uk

If you’ve met or exceeded conditions for your conditional firm choice, you could potentially use adjustment to find a course at the University of Stirling. See how you can apply through UCAS Adjustment.

When Clearing opens all our available courses will be on our website. There’s a list of courses depending on where you’re from

• Scotland and EU
• England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• International

You can also search on the UCAS website.

Contact our admissions team on clearing@stir.ac.uk. They are open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm

You can also register your interest in Clearing 2020 at Stirling. 

Phone lines will be open from Monday 3 August to Friday 28 August.

Phone lines open 9am to 5pm, except the following 4 dates - Tuesday 4, Wednesday 5, Thursday 13 and Friday 14 August - it will be 8am to 8pm on those dates.

If you have any questions just now then you can email our admissions team on clearing@stir.ac.uk.

You can also register your interest in Clearing 2020 at Stirling.

You’ll talk to one of our friendly Clearing team members who is there to help you. Make sure you have a note of your exam results, UCAS personal ID and Clearing ID. They’ll check if you’re eligible for Clearing and then let you know of your options. For some of our courses you might be invited to have a short phone interview.

Please keep trying. On exam results day we will be busy but we’ll answer your call as soon as possible. You will also be able to contact us through live chat and Facebook messenger.

You need your exam results as well as your UCAS personal and clearing ID numbers. It also good to have read over your UCAS personal statement in case you’re asked about your motivations for study. We also recommend you have a list of questions prepared that you want to ask.

You’ll be given a verbal offer then we’ll send you a confirmation email the same day, usually from clearing@stir.ac.uk (remember to check your spam folders). You don’t have to accept straight away – you’ll have time to consider but please remember spaces can be very limited for certain courses and we may only be able to hold your space for a short time.

If you decide to accept our offer, we’ll give you details explaining the processes you need to go through.

Our Clearing helpline staff will be happy to answer any questions you have about studying with us. You can also go to our Welcome Website for new students which has lots of information about what you can expect in your first weeks.

After accepting your place we'll send you an email with instructions on how to apply for accommodation at Stirling.

If you're from England, Northern Ireland, Wales or Overseas, we’ll guarantee you an offer of University-managed accommodation in your first year of study if you meet the eligibility criteria. See our accommodation.

The Clearing process is only for undergraduate course place but don’t worry as at the University of Stirling we accept applications for our postgraduate Masters courses all year round.  Search our courses now to find your place and start your application.

Read our guide to Clearing for parents, guardians and carers with lots of advice about supporting your student through the Clearing process.

You can also call our Clearing helpline on 01786 466166 from Monday 3 August to Friday 28 August or email us on clearing@stir.ac.uk.

Please note in order to comply with data protection legislation we need to speak to the applicant directly or be granted specific consent from the student for another to act on their behalf.

See our Clearing guide for teachers and careers advisers.

You can also call our Clearing helpline on 01786 466166 from Monday 3 August to Friday 28 August or email us on clearing@stir.ac.uk.

Please note that we need to speak to the applicant directly and can’t discuss your student’s application with you unless we have agreed consent from the student.