What is Clearing?
Clearing is open to anyone not already holding an offer from a university or college, and the course still has places.
It runs from the early July until mid-September.
Sign up to keep in touch and receive updates on Clearing.
Why would I use Clearing?
There are a number of reasons why you may choose to go through clearing:
- You haven’t quite achieved the grades you were expecting
- You have achieved better grades than expected
- You've changed your mind about the university at which you wish to study
- You want to change to another course.
Whatever the reason, Clearing can be an opportunity to secure a university place that is just right for you!
How does Clearing work?
You can check UCAS to see if you're eligible for Clearing.
UCAS will not send anything in the post to tell you if you are eligible, so it is important that you check online.
If you are eligible for Clearing an 'Add Clearing choice' button will appear on your UCAS 'choices' screen, which you can use to accept a place on a course you have been offered through Clearing.
What are the Clearing 2023 dates?
Clearing is open from July to September. Here are the key dates:
30th June – Application deadline
5th July - Clearing Vacancies go live
17th August – A-level results day: call us on 0808 175 3071
Am I eligible for Clearing?
You’ll be eligible for Clearing if:
- You apply after 30 June
- You are not holding any offers from universities or colleges you’ve applied to
- Your place is not confirmed after exam results are published.
How do I apply for Clearing?
Follow these steps and be prepared for Clearing 2023.
- On results day check UCAS. Your application status will tell you if you are eligible for Clearing.
- Check the university website to see what courses are available in Clearing.
- Contact your shortlisted universities and speak to an advisor about your options. You will need:
- Your Grades
- Choice of course
- UCAS number
- Clearing number
- Get an offer! You usually have 24hrs to accept an offer before it will be released back into the Clearing pool.
- If you want to accept head to UCAS, you will see 'Add a Clearing option', input your university here.
If you’re going through Clearing, don’t be anxious, but Swansea will give you a chance and see what is the best option for youLucy, studying Medical Genetics
When does Clearing close?
This can depend on each institution but Clearing at Swansea unusually ends in October.
If you didn't receive or accept any offers still contact your university of choice as some take late applicants.
If you are unsure contact Swansea University's Admissions Team to discuss your options.
How do I secure Student Finance if I go through Clearing?
Take a look at our Clearing Finance Guide for information on how to secure Student Finance.
What is UCAS Extra?
UCAS Extra is a free service that allows you to keep applying for higher education courses even if you’ve already used up your original five choices, as long as you applied through UCAS and are not holding any offers or waiting for a decision on any of your initial five applications.
You can apply through UCAS Extra from 23 February until 4 July this year. If you still don’t have any offers after this point you will still be able to apply for a place at university through clearing.
Take a look at our Guide to UCAS Extra for further information.
What is Self-Release?
If you want to come to Swansea University but are already holding a place at another university, you can now self-release yourself into Clearing.
Discover how it works in our Guide to Self-Release.
Why study at Swansea
Our stunning waterfront campuses and friendly welcome make Swansea University the perfect destination for students from all over the world, enabling those who join us to develop skills and knowledge that will set them on successful and enriching careers.
Our figures speak for themselves. We’re ranked 15th in the UK for course satisfaction and top in Wales in the Guardian University Guide 2023. StudentCrowd placed us in the Top 20 Best UK Universities in the StudentCrowd University Awards 2022.
But don’t take our word for it, take a look at why Rinal, a final year Osteopathy student thinks ‘Swansea is a brilliant place to study’, in her Guide to Swansea.
Do you have more questions about Clearing?
Take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions page where we've added some more information about the things students tend to ask about Clearing - from questions about student life to how the Clearing process works.