Clearing FAQs

Clearing is part of the UCAS process for undergraduates. It is a way of matching students without a university place to universities that have course places available.

Read a more detailed explanation in our complete guide to Clearing.

Universities that still have some places available will publish a list of their courses with Clearing spaces when Clearing starts in early July.

If you already have the qualifications required, then you can apply right away. However, most candidates will need to wait until they receive their results in August. When you have your results, you can contact the university directly to apply for your Clearing place.

Find out more about how Clearing works on our blog. 

There is a wide range of reasons why you might choose to apply for a course through Clearing, for example: 

• you missed the UCAS deadline and applied after 30 June; or 
• you applied, but aren't holding any offers; or
• you changed your mind and declined the offers you did receive; or
• you didn't get the results you expected. 

On results day, log in to UCAS Hub and check if you are eligible for Clearing. If you are, you should research Clearing university places and find one that appeals to you. 

Once you have found a course you're interested in, contact the university to see if you meet the entry requirements and if they have vacancies for you. Read our blog on what to say when you call our Clearing hotline. 

If you are offered a place, you will be guided 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 (01786 466 166) or talk to us on Live Chat.

How much you will need to pay for Clearing depends on how many courses you have applied for through UCAS already:

• If you haven't applied for any courses in this UCAS application cycle, you will need to pay the full application fee of £27. 
• If you have only applied for one course and paid the reduced fee of £22.50, you will need to pay an additional £4.50 to apply through Clearing. 
• If you have applied for two or more courses and paid the full application fee already, your Clearing application is included in the cost. You do not need to pay any more.

University Clearing usually opens in early July each year. In 2024, it will start on 5 July. Most candidates will apply for Clearing when they get their results in August. 

See the whole Clearing timeline for 2024 on our Clearing dates page.

Clearing at the University of Stirling normally ends before the teaching of our undergraduate courses begins. 

The UCAS deadline for adding Clearing choices is around mid-October, but most undergraduate courses start in September and have limited availability. So you really shouldn't leave Clearing until the last minute.

See the whole Clearing timeline for 2024 on our Clearing dates page. 

Check out our Clearing dates page which lists all the important Clearing dates for this year. 

Once the process gets started, Clearing can be very quick. Once we have your results and a chance to find out more about you, we can often give a verbal offer over the phone. You will then have a limited time to formally accept that offer, usually a day or so. So the whole process can only take a couple of days, end-to-end. 

That is why it is so important to research Clearing places and universities ahead of time, so you have a clear plan and can make decisions quickly and confidently. Find out how you can prepare for results day on our blog.

Yes. Our Clearing places are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, which is why it is so important to contact us as soon as possible.

You can make this easier by doing some research before results day and making a Clearing plan, so you can phone your chosen universities quickly and maximise your chances of getting an offer. 

Yes. In fact, you need to contact us directly so we can offer you a Clearing place. You can contact us in lots of different ways: 

• Call our Clearing helpline: 01786 466 166
• Email: clearing@stir.ac.uk
• Chat with us on Live Chat (you will find a pop-up box at the bottom of this page when Live Chat is open).

We are available from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, and for extended hours around SQA and A-level results days.

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

• Scottish Clearing courses
• Clearing courses for students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland

You can also search on the UCAS website.

There are lots of ways that you can contact us about Clearing. Our friendly and experienced team are on hand to help. 

• Call our Clearing helpline: 01786 466 166
• Email: clearing@stir.ac.uk
• Chat with us on Live Chat (you will find a pop-up box at the bottom of this page when Live Chat is open).

We are available from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, and for extended hours around SQA and A-level results days.

You will typically be eligible to use Clearing if you:

• apply to university after 30 June; or
• have applied but aren't holding any offers; or
• declined the offers you did receive; or
• didn't meet the criteria of your conditional offers.

No. If you don't currently hold any offers, then Clearing is a fantastic way to get a university place. 

The only thing to be mindful of is that you will be expected to make decisions quickly, so do some research ahead of results day to make sure you are well prepared for the Clearing process. Here are top 5 university Clearing tips to help you get started.

No. Clearing has no age limit, and at the University of Stirling, we accept Clearing applications from all students, not just school leavers. Check out our Clearing advice for mature students and find out more about coming to us from college.

Yes! But you need to be quick. We recommend contacting one of our Clearing Advisers on our helpline (01786 466 166) or through Live Chat. They will guide you through the process. 

Holding another offer does not stop you from coming to the University of Stirling. If you contact our Clearing Helpline (01786 466 166), we can check your eligibility and talk you through the processes involved. 

Read our blog for more tips on what to do if you change your mind about your course choice. 

Yes. Some universities have Clearing places open for international students. 

No. The Clearing process is only for undergraduate course places. But don't worry. 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.

Yes, you can contact several universities through Clearing. You can even get several offers, but you can only accept one.

Once you've made your decision, the Clearing team at your chosen university can guide you through the process of formally accepting your offer. 

Yes. In fact, many of our Clearing course places are for joint honours degrees. Take a look at our Clearing places and find a combination that appeals to you. 

Yes. Many students use Clearing as an opportunity to change direction and consider something new. If you meet the admissions criteria, you can apply for any course through Clearing, even if it differs from your original UCAS choices. 

Yes, as long as you meet those entry requirements. Some students use Clearing because they get better results than expected.

We have lots of advice on our website to help you prepare for Clearing. Check out our Clearing advice hub, and sign up for Clearing updates to get lots of hints and tips on how to get ready for results day. 

You will unlikely be able to apply through Clearing until you have received your exam results. Once your results have been confirmed, you can contact us to find your Clearing place. 

Waiting for exam results can be nerve-wracking, and sometimes it feels like they will take forever to arrive. But you can use this time to prepare for Clearing. Most universities (including the University of Stirling) publish their Clearing places well before results day, so why not do some research ahead of time and make a note of the universities and courses that appeal to you? That way, you will have a plan of action once the big day finally arrives. Find out how you can prepare for results day on our blog. 

Do lots of research and ask plenty of questions when you talk to our Clearing team. 

Only you will know what aspects of university life matter most to you, so think about what questions you would like to ask to help you make your decision. Good questions to ask may include: 

• What is the campus like? 
• Is there accommodation available? 
• What student support services are there? 
• What are the careers prospects for graduates in my chosen course? 
• What are the sports facilities like? 
• Are there any clubs or societies I could get involved in? 
• What is the town / city / community like? 

Get more Clearing tips in our advice hub.

Clearing can be a challenge if you haven't decided what career you would like to have yet. You might want to defer your studies for a year and take some time to think about it, or you may want to choose a course that has some flexibility so you can change the focus of your degree further down the line. 

At the University of Stirling, we are renowned for our undergraduate degree flexibility, with over 170 single and combined courses. You can graduate with joint honours or, in some cases, in a different subject entirely. 

If a university does not go into Clearing, you cannot apply for a Clearing place at that particular institution. Do some research, open your mind to new possibilities and find out if other universities have Clearing places in similar courses to what you want to study. You may be pleasantly surprised with what you discover. 

However, if your heart is really set on a particular university that doesn't have any Clearing places available, you will probably need to wait and try again in the next UCAS application cycle. 

First of all, congratulations! Having several Clearing offers is a great position to be in. But unfortunately, you can only accept one Clearing offer. 

The decision on which to pick is ultimately up to you. Make sure you thoroughly research all the universities and courses you hold clearing offers for, and don't be afraid to contact the university Clearing team if you have any more questions that might help you make your decision. If you gather enough information about the aspects of the course and university life that matter to you, you are bound to make the right call. 

Don't give up - keep an open mind and research universities with Clearing places perhaps you didn't initially consider. You might uncover an exciting opportunity that you didn't see first time around. 

If you feel like you have truly exhausted all of your options and you still don't have a Clearing place, you could take some time to get some work experience or do further study to get closer to meeting the requirements of your chosen course. Then you can try applying again in the next UCAS application cycle.

Going through Clearing can be a stressful time. Check out our Clearing advice hub and sign up for Clearing updates for help and support while you find your Clearing place at the University of Stirling. 

You can also contact us with any questions you have. Our Clearing team is happy to help: 

• Call our Clearing Helpline: 01786 466 166
• Email: clearing@stir.ac.uk
• Chat with us on Live Chat (you will find a pop-up box at the bottom of this page when Live Chat is open).

See our Clearing guide for teachers and careers advisers. 

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

Log into UCAS Hub and check your status. If you are in Clearing, your status will say "You are in Clearing".

Don't panic! As soon as you have your results, you can log into UCAS Hub to see the status of your offers. 

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

Whatever happens with your results, you will still have plenty of options. See our guide to preparing for Results Day for more hints and tips.

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

You can search on the UCAS website, or you can go to the university website.

On the University of Stirling website there is a list of available courses depending on where you're from:

• Scotland
• England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland

Yes, if you already have the qualifications you need to apply for your chosen course, you can apply when Clearing opens in early July. 

However, most candidates will need to wait until they have received their results before they can apply. Information on our Clearing courses will be available from early July, so you will have a chance to research your options. 

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

You don't need any documents as such, but when you call us (01786 466 166) or contact us through Live Chat, you should have the following details to hand: 

• UCAS personal number,
• UCAS Clearing ID number,
• your results (National 5 or GCSE results), and
• any questions you want to ask about the university or the course. 

Read more hints and tips for preparing for results day on our blog.

No. We will get the information we need for your Clearing application from your current personal statement, or we will find out more about you and your reasons for applying for your chosen course when you call us (01786 466 166) or talk to us over Live Chat. 

It depends on the course you are applying for. You may have to complete a small, informal interview for some of our courses. An interview is not an official part of the application for many of our courses, but our team would still like to hear about your motivations and reasons for applying for your chosen course. So, it is a good idea to think about it before you pick up the phone to us or log in to our Live Chat.

Log into UCAS Hub and click "add a Clearing choice". If we can offer you a place, our team on the Clearing Helpline and Live Chat will guide you through the process of officially accepting it.

It depends on what you would like to change. Some details you can change yourself in your UCAS application, other things (such as start date or course choice), you may need to contact your chosen university. UCAS has a full guide on making changes to your undergraduate application. 

The Clearing helpline (01786 466 166) opens in early July each year when Clearing opens. We are available from 9:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday, and for extended hours around SQA and A-level results days.

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. Read our blog on what to say when you call our Clearing hotline. 

When you call us (01786 466 166) or contact us through Live Chat, you should have the following details to hand: 

• UCAS personal number,
• UCAS Clearing ID number,
• your results (National 5 or GCSE results), and
• any questions you want to ask about the university or the course. 

Read more hints and tips for preparing for results day.

As tempting as it is to get someone else to call the universities' Clearing phone lines on your behalf, most of the time we will want to speak to you directly. Someone can only speak with universities on your behalf if you have given nominated access on your UCAS form. 

We want to find out more about you and your motivations for applying for your chosen course, and the best way to do that is to speak directly with you. 

If you feel a little nervous about picking up the phone, check out our blog with top tips for what you say when you call us. 

Please keep trying. Our lines will be busy, especially on results day, but we will answer your call as soon as possible. You will also be able to contact us through Live Chat. 

Check out our blog post on what to say on the phone when you call universities for Clearing.

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.

Once you have a verbal offer from us, our team will tell you how long you have to consider it and formally accept in UCAS Hub. We will give you a little bit of time to think about it, but some courses will have very limited spaces so it would be best if you accept any offer as quickly as you can to avoid disappointment.

No. All of the Clearing places we offer are for the current academic year. If you would like to defer your studies, consider making a fresh application in the next UCAS cycle. 

Log into UCAS Hub and self-release from your choice. This will re-enter you into Clearing. You can then add another course choice or consider taking a year out to think about your next step.

No. Clearing is a common and well-established way to get a University place. You have earned your place just like everyone else and will be treated the same as all your peers on your course.

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

• England: GOV.UK student finance
• Northern Ireland: Student Finance NI 
• Wales: Student Finance Wales
• Scotland: Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)
• Republic of Ireland: Students from the Republic of Ireland who are living in the Republic of Ireland, who have been ordinarily resident in the Common Travel Area of the UK, Islands or Ireland for three years prior to the relevant date (for autumn start courses this is 1 August) who are studying in Scotland will be eligible to apply for a tuition fee loan of up to £9,250 from SAAS. Find out more on the SAAS website.

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 Republic of Ireland, we guarantee you an offer of University-managed accommodation in your first year of study if you meet the eligibility criteria. See our accommodation.

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.

Clearing students will have access to all the same student support services as their peers. When you study with us, you will have access to a wide range of student support, including: 

• Mental health and wellbeing
• Money support
• Student Learning Services
• Careers support
• Accessibility and Inclusion
• LGBT+ student support