What is clearing and how does it work?

UCEN Manchester student and laptop.

Learn all you need to know about clearing at UCEN Manchester.

What is clearing and how does it work?

If you’re in the process of applying for university, you need to know what clearing is so you can make sure you’re well prepared for it in case you don’t get into your first choices.  

Each year, 50,000 students use clearing to get to university. So, to help you get clued up on clearing, we’ve made this helpful guide.  

What is clearing?

Clearing is how universities fill any places they still have on their courses. Clearing is a good option for you if you’ve decided to change course or didn't achieve the results needed for your firm and insurance choice on UCAS. You can also apply directly to clearing if you’ve not applied to any degree courses yet.

Why would someone go through clearing? 

You can go through clearing if: 

  • You have a UCAS undergraduate application with no offers.
  • Your exam results have been published.
  • You apply within the clearing dates for entry.

Some reasons why someone chooses to go through clearing include: 

  • You didn't meet the conditions of your conditional offer.
  • You changed your mind about their original choice of university/course.
  • You didn't receive any offers from your chosen universities.
  • You decided to apply to university after the regular application deadline.
  • You attained better grades than expected and want to explore more competitive options.
  • You faced personal challenges during your exams or application process that affected your results.
  • You decided to pursue a different career path and need to find a suitable course through clearing.
  • You applied late due to unforeseen circumstances, such as illness or family emergencies.
  • You want to switch universities to be closer to home or for other personal reasons.
  • You took a gap year and now want to apply to university for the current year through clearing.

How does clearing work?

The clearing process is really straightforward. Simply figure out what course you would be interested in doing and call our dedicated clearing hotline 0161 674 7777 to discuss it further with someone from our team. 

You’ll be given instructions for next steps once you have confirmed your interest in the course. You can check out our How to Apply through Clearing guide to help you get a better idea of what happens.

Why go through clearing with UCEN Manchester?

Looking for Manchester clearing courses? 

We have over 1,500 current undergraduate students and more than 10,000 alumni – you’ll be in good company.

Our degree programmes are validated by one of three top universities:

  • Manchester Metropolitan University
  • Sheffield Hallam University 
  • University of Huddersfield

Our well-established Higher Education provision is constantly reviewed and shaped by academics and industry experts, providing the best career opportunities possible. 

What are the benefits of applying to UCEN Manchester?

Thinking about choosing a clearing course?

Here are a few benefits of clearing at Manchester's UCEN:

  • Our expert tutors retain their links to industry and are passionate about giving our students the latest knowledge and skills needed to succeed in their chosen careers. 
  • Our work-focused courses provide access to leading industries, world-class technical environments and like-minded learners. 
  • Our state-of-the-art campuses are based across Manchester within easy access to public transport. 
  • 95% of our students go onto work or further study within 6 months of graduating and we’ve been shortlisted in the Best Further Education College category of the national What Uni Student Choice Awards for three years running.

So what are you waiting for? You can apply now via our dedicated Clearing page. We look forward to having you at our higher education institute!