Why is Clearing seen as a bad thing?
Think Clearing's second best? Think again. Our myth-busting guide sets the record straight.
CONTENTS
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Why can UCAS Clearing be stressful?
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Busy phone lines
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How can you best prepare for Clearing?
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Clearing can be really positive
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Clearing isn't just for if you miss your grades
- Clearing Key Dates 2026
Why does Clearing have a bad reputation?
UCAS Clearing is a way of matching universities without students to students without a university place.
For some, this has led to a misconception that a course available through Clearing is of lower quality. Or that a university offering courses through Clearing isn't somewhere students want to go. But this is not the case. You can find top-ranking universities in Clearing; it all depends on whether a course has places left to fill.
Can it be a straightforward process?
Clearing is a straightforward process, especially if you do your research beforehand. Results day can be stressful if you get different grades to your expected outcome. Preparing beforehand means you can learn how to use Clearing and have some alternative courses or universities in mind. Learn more about what Clearing is and how it works in our useful guide.
Why can UCAS Clearing be stressful?
Clearing can be stressful, especially if you are disappointed with your grades. It’s a process that requires you to act and make decisions quickly, as many vacancies are filled within a week of results day.
But you don’t have to settle on the first university that gives you an offer. You can call lots of universities, and often they will give you a couple of days to consider the offer. So, when you call them, ask what the deadline is for you to respond to any offer, so you don't feel rushed.
Busy phone lines
You will need to call universities yourself to explore alternative courses or campuses. Phone lines can get very busy, so try to stay calm. You might need to ring several times before you get through.
Calling UCAS hotlines
You can find all the numbers for universities through our Clearing course chooser. Search by either subject or university and click on the green CALL NOW button to reveal the number.
If you need to contact UCAS directly, their hotline is 0371 468 0 468 or +44 330 3330 230 if calling from outside the UK. You will need to have your UCAS ID ready to help them find your record on the UCAS Hub.
How can you best prepare for Clearing?
Staying positive is important when preparing for Clearing. Make a list of universities with available courses that you’d consider, their phone numbers and email addresses. Our Clearing Concierge will help; you can register for this now.
Think about what you might say beforehand and make notes if you need to. Check out our guide to help you prepare for your Clearing call.
Clearing can be really positive
Many people go through Clearing and find great alternative options. But don't just take our word for it! You can read the experiences of real students who found their place through Clearing in our library of Clearing success stories.
Clearing isn't just for if you miss your grades
You might go through Clearing for lots of reasons. Perhaps you didn’t receive an offer, or you didn’t apply originally? Or perhaps you chose to decline an offer because you’d changed your mind about a course or university.
On the flip side, some students get better grades than expected and explore new options open to them. If any of these reasons apply to you, Clearing could be a good route to explore.
Clearing Key Dates 2026
Find out the dates for each step of your Clearing journey in 2026.
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