What is Clearing?

Clearing is part of the UCAS university application process and gives applicants who don’t have a university offer – or those who want to change their plans – a chance to apply for available courses.

When does Clearing open?

Clearing opens on Saturday 5th July and we consider Clearing applications up until the start of the academic term, providing places remain available.

How does Clearing work?

Clearing might seem complicated, but it’s actually a simple, applicant-friendly way to help you find a place at university.

If you haven’t applied to university yet, didn’t quite get the grades you were hoping for, you've exceeded your expectations and want to explore new options, or you've simply changed your mind about where or what you want to study, Clearing could be the option for you.

Getting started is easy. All you need to do is find a course that interests you and get in touch with our Admissions Team for a chat about suitability. They are ready to support you every step of the way.

Call us: 03455 76 06 06

Can I apply?

Clearing is an opportunity for you to find a place at university if you find yourself in any of the following scenarios:

You haven’t applied to university yet
You didn’t receive offers from any of your choices of universities or colleges
You submitted your UCAS application after 30 June
You didn't meet the entry requirements of your firm and/or insurance choices 
You received offers from at least one of your five choices, but you do not want to take up any of the offers made to you

If you are eligible to apply through Clearing, you will see this on your UCAS Hub . If you haven’t applied for university at all this year, you can apply via UCAS now and automatically enter into Clearing.

How to apply

You can apply for a course in Clearing between July and early October each year, but places will only be confirmed where you have met the entry criteria from current or previous qualifications and passed any necessary interview.

Once you have found a course you’d like to apply for, give us a call to discuss your application. Remember to have the following information to hand:

Your UCAS applicant ID number (if applicable)
A list of your qualifications and grades
The course that you are interested in

Some courses may require a formal interview. If so, we will let you know when you can expect the interview to take place.

If you’re nervous about giving us a call, don’t be! We’re here to help you through every step.

How to apply through Clearing

UCAS Clearing runs from July to October. Here are some key dates you may want to note down for this year:

5th July Clearing opens
5th August SQA results published
14th August JCQ results published
21st August GCSE results published
20th October Clearing ends

Regularly check your UCAS Hub and email inbox on results day to see if you have secured a place at university. It is important to log on and check even if you didn’t get the grades you expected, as you may still receive an offer.

If you haven’t got a place, and you still want to study from this September, get in touch with universities to see if you can secure a place through Clearing.

On Results Day, learners can go to their school or college to collect their exam results – make sure to check the opening times in advance so that you know what time to arrive.

UCAS Hub will also update on the day to show whether you have secured a university place. You will not see your results on UCAS Hub, so make sure to collect them from your school or college so that you know exactly what grades you received.

If you have secured your place, congratulations – it is time to celebrate and start preparing for university. Enrolment and induction information will follow from mid-August onwards to the e-mail address on your application. If you applied using a school or college account, you may not have access to this any longer so you should update your e-mail address to a personal one.

If you grades differ from your expectations or you’ve changed your mind about what or where you want to study, you may want to consider applying for a course through Clearing.

If we can’t make you an offer for your chosen course, we may offer you an alternative.

Learn more about alternative offers.

Applicants from outside the UK who are interested in studying at the University of South Wales in September 2025 should contact [email protected] for a member of the International Admissions Team to discuss suitability and whether a late application can still be made.

If you have secured a place with us through Clearing, keep an eye on your emails – we will send you all the information you need to apply for on-campus accommodation.

We have lots of information available about accommodation and Clearing, so take a look for all the extra details including the steps to apply, terms and conditions, and how to get in touch with our Accommodation Team.

If you applied for university and changed your course or university through Clearing, you will need to update your student finance details as soon as possible by contacting your student funding provider.

If you didn’t apply through UCAS before 30th June and your Clearing application is your first application, you will need to apply for student finance as soon as possible to give yourself the best chance of receiving it before the start of term. Applications can take up to 6 weeks to process at peak times.

Our Exclusive Priority Pass

Get in on the action – before everyone else. Priority Pass is your exclusive shortcut to a smarter, faster Clearing experience. Only at USW.

Missing out is not an option. Secure your spot at USW faster with our Clearing Priority Pass and get exclusive access to top perks, including a £200 starter pack and guaranteed accommodation.

Get Your Priority Pass