Clearing FAQs

Clearing is for applicants who've received their exam results but don't yet have a confirmed place at university. The Clearing process helps match applicants to university places that haven't been filled after the main application deadlines have passed. Find out more about how Clearing works.

Already applied through Clearing and wondering what happens next? Visit our Clearing next steps webpage.

Clearing 2025 officially opens on 5 July 2025. Results day for most people will be on Thursday 14 August 2025.

Clearing 2025 will open on UCAS on 5 July 2025. Visit our how Clearing works webpage for information on how to apply.

Online

When Clearing opens we have an online form available to use. If you are successful, you will receive an automatic offer via email within a few minutes. 

By telephone

Phone lines open early on results day so don't wait around. Make sure you contact us yourself as we will want to talk to you. We will have a chat with you about the course you want to apply for and your qualifications. We can make you a preliminary offer right there on the spot. Calls don't usually last longer than a few minutes.

Through chat

Chat will open later this year and you'll be able to use our live chat to speak to our team. Here we'll speak to you about your results and if you meet the entry requirements, we might be able to make you an offer.

You can only add a Clearing choice once you have permission from the university.

• Click 'add Clearing choice' and fill in the details of the course you want to study
• By adding the Clearing choice it means you are accepting the offer. If the university confirms the choice this will show as an acceptance on your application
• You can only add one choice at a time. If the university doesn't accept your offer, you can add another choice
• Once the university confirms your place, you'll be able to apply for accommodation

UCAS Extra is an option that allows you to add more choices to your UCAS application. The free service is for anyone who has currently used all five choices on their application, and holds offers for none of them.

UCAS Extra can help you secure a place at a university before the Clearing period.

To find out more, you can visit our UCAS Extra page.

You can still apply to us through the normal application cycle. To find an undergraduate course for 2025, use our course search or discover our subjects. 

If you have received an offer from us, we'll send you an email with information about what to do next. Please follow the information detailed within the email carefully.

If you applied through UCAS you can log on to UCAS Hub (previously UCAS Track) to accept your place by clicking the 'Add Clearing choice' button. Enter the course details and institution code (C30).

For more information about what to do next, visit our Clearing next steps webpage.

Once you have your results, you need to check your UCAS Hub (previously UCAS Track) as early as possible to confirm your application status if you applied via UCAS. You'll automatically be entered into the Clearing process if you are eligible. This may be because you didn't receive any offers or you didn't get the results you needed.

You can apply through Clearing by calling your university of choice. Most universities will have a variety of ways to apply. At UCLan, you can contact us via:

• Telephone - call us on 01772 830777
• Apply online
• Chat
• Social media

On results day, the phone lines usually open at 8am. Our normal opening hours are 9am to 5pm.

When calling to discuss your Clearing options, we recommend having the following information to hand:

• Your personal UCAS ID number
• Your results (GCSE, A-Level, BTEC etc.)
• A list of courses you're interested in
• Relevant portfolio, if needed for your course
• Any relevant/transferrable work experience that may support your application
• Some courses require an interview, so please be prepared as you may be interviewed on the day by a member of our academic team over the phone.

Confirming your Clearing offer can take anything from a few minutes up to enrolment. Usually offers are confirmed within a couple of days. Confirming your place depends on a variety of factors. These factors include your qualifications/results and the course you're applying for.

Once you have received an offer, you will receive an email confirming what you need to do next.

Clearing will officially close on UCAS on Monday 20 October 2025.

Most university Clearing deadlines are before the UCAS deadline, usually around the end of September.

Yes, you can go through Clearing even if you have current other offers. However, you have to decline your existing offers on your UCAS Hub before you can apply through Clearing.

Before you do this, we encourage you to explore your options with any universities you're interested in applying to through Clearing. It's best to get in contact with your chosen university to discuss:

• Whether the university offers the course(s) you're interested in
• Will the course be available in Clearing?
• Do you meet the entry requirements to apply to your desired course(s) through Clearing?

You should consider these points before declining any of your current offers.

Clearing is available for anyone who applied to university through UCAS and currently has no offers, or has declined all offers made. 

You can also go through Clearing if you have not previously applied and have just decided you want to study at university. 

This means that if you were eligible to apply for a course through UCAS, you will be eligible to enter Clearing.

UCAS state you can use Clearing in 2025 if:

• You’re applying for a course through UCAS after 6pm on 30 June 2025 (for September 2025 entry)
• You've paid the multiple choice application fee
• You haven't received any offers, or you've declined all the offers you've received
• You haven't met the conditions of your offers
• You’ve declined your firm place using the ‘decline my place’ button in your application

Open Day

Attend our Preston Campus Open Day in August before you start in September. You can explore your subject, chat with tutors and students, and tour the campus and accommodation.

Campus tours

If you can't make our Open Day, we have regular student-led campus tours taking place throughout August. Explore our fantastic campuses and discover what life is like here.

If you're not able to attend campus in person, you can still check out the facilities. View 360 guided tours and other exclusive content.

Entry requirements for courses during Clearing can vary, and are often different to entry requirements during the main cycle. 

If you already have your qualifications, you can view our UCAS Points Calculator to work out how many UCAS points you have. If you don't quite meet the UCAS points for your course, don't worry as there are many different options available to you. Just give us a call when our phone lines are open.

We may still be able to accept you on to the degree for which you applied even if you don’t meet all the conditions of your offer. We'll make these decisions as quickly as possible and will update the status of your application on UCAS Hub (previously UCAS Track) as soon as we can.

If the University cannot accept you onto your original course choice, we may be able to offer you an alternative course. For example, a course with a foundation year. If this is the case, we will email you to let you know. You'll also see this on your UCAS Hub. You must accept or decline the offer via UCAS Hub within five days once you've received a decision from both you Firm and Insurance choices. If you accept it, information about course enrolment will be sent to you and your first choice accommodation guarantee will still stand.

If we're unable to offer you a place, or you decline an offer for an alternative course, you'll be released to take up your insurance place or enter Clearing.

If you've not received all of your results, please don’t worry. You should email the Admissions Team as soon as you receive your missing results. Please indicate clearly that the email relates to missing results in the subject heading. Ensure you include your name and UCAS Personal ID so we can identify your application quickly.

If you've received your examination results and are waiting for a re-mark, please note that this will need to be entered as a priority re-mark. You do not need to contact the University until the outcome of the re-mark is known.

If you've met the conditions of your insurance choice, but haven't been successful at your firm choice, UCAS will notify you that your insurance choice has been confirmed. However, check UCAS Hub as your firm choice university may have accepted you even with different grades. 

If you'd like to defer entry, please email confirmation to the Admissions Team. You should indicate clearly in the subject line of the message that your enquiry relates to deferred entry. You should also include your full name, UCAS Personal ID, and the reason you wish to change your year of entry. We will then consider the request depending on the course and availability of places.

Similarly, if you're holding an offer for deferred entry and now wish to come at another date instead, you'll need to put the request in writing. Remember to quote your UCAS Personal ID, full name, the course name and the reason you wish to change your year of entry. You can email this to to the Admissions Office. We will then consider the request depending on the availability of places.

If you decide not to take up your place at UCLan you can choose to be released into Clearing. This will allow you to seek a place at another institution.

You are able to self-release your place through UCAS Hub, unless you have already enrolled with us and your first term of studies has started. To do this you will need to contact us through the Student Hub using your university account details. 

If you decide not to take up your place and no longer wish to study at any university in the UK, then we will need to receive confirmation of this from you in writing. Please email the Admissions Team indicating clearly in the subject line of the message that your enquiry relates to withdrawal of your place. You should also include your full name, UCAS Personal ID and reason for your decision. 

We have accommodation available at all our campuses. Once our Admissions Team have confirmed your place at UCLan, you will be able to make accommodation arrangements.

We guarantee accommodation at Preston Campus for all first year students who apply through Clearing.

Please visit our accommodation page to start researching the accommodation we offer here Here you will also find information about fees, and how to apply. When you apply, make sure you have your University registration number handy. You'll need this at the point of application. Our friendly Accommodation Team are also on hand to answer any questions you may have. They can be contacted on +44 (0) 1772 892529.

For data protection reasons, the University is only able to discuss your situation with you once you provide us with your UCAS Personal ID. This lets us identify your application and ensure we are talking to the correct person.

We do prefer to talk to you personally. But, in some cases you might have asked your parents or another third party to ring on your behalf. In these circumstances, the person will need to be registered as the nominated contact with UCAS. We will ask for another form of identification from them, as well as your UCAS Personal ID.

We know going to university is a big decision, especially if you’re not sure which direction to take. That’s where we can help. We have a team of dedicated careers advisors. They're on hand to help you choose a course that's right for you. Simply call us on +44 (0)1772 830777 and we’ll be happy to talk you through your options.

Once our Admissions Team have confirmed your place, head over to our Welcome Portal.  Follow the handy checklist to prepare for your arrival. You'll also receive lots of important emails from us over the next few days. So, keep checking your inbox and junk folder for details, and respond as soon as possible.

You can also visit our Clearing next steps page for information on what happens next. 

It depends on when you apply. If you apply before Friday 1 September 2025, you’ll see our current name. From 1 September onwards, UCAS will show the new name. Either way, this won’t affect your application.

Yes, from Friday 1 September 2025, our name change will update across all UCAS systems automatically. An offer to study with us is valid regardless of the name of the University.