How Clearing and Adjustment work

What is Clearing? This information should help you understand how Clearing and Adjustment work, including how to apply and what happens if you are made an offer through Clearing and Adjustment to study with us. We hope this information will help you to feel fully prepared for whatever happens on results day.

Clearing is when students apply for courses after their exam results are not as good as expected, or when they already have their exam results and are applying for the first time after 30 June.

Adjustment is when students change the provider (or course) they want to study at because their exam results are better than expected.

Clearing and Adjustment are open to UK and International students.

Key dates for 2019:

Clearing and Adjustment operate through UCAS.

• Friday 5 July 2019: UCAS opens Clearing
• Thursday 15 August 2019: Universities open their Clearing telephone hotlines and online enquiry forms. UCAS opens Adjustment

Who can apply?

I applied before 30 June, but my results are worse than expected and I haven't got my original choice of course / university.

You can use Clearing to find a place.

I applied before 30 June, but I've changed my mind about the course place I accepted.

You can use Clearing to change the course / university you want to study at.

I haven't made any university applications yet this year and I'm not holding any offers, but I've decided I'd like to go to university this September.

You can use Clearing to find a place.

I applied before 30 June and my results are better than I expected, so I'd like to find a different course / university.

You can use Adjustment to change the course / university you want to study at.

The Clearing and Adjustment process:

1. Register your interest - you will have the opportunity to be the first to be notified when our Clearing vacancy list with entry grades goes live. 
2. First vacancies go live (as of 2019) - in mid July 2019 we released our first list of course vacancies followed by our entry grades just before 15 August 2019. 
3. Results day - you'll be able to call us, or use our online form to contact us, to discuss your options and find out if we can offer you a place through Clearing or Adjustment. 

Adjustment works on a slightly different timeline.

Adjustment opens on 15 August 2019, or the date your firm choice offer is made unconditional (whichever is the later). Adjustment remains open for five continuous 24 hour periods. You will only be eligible for Adjustment if you have exceeded all of the requirements of your firm choice offer.

For example, if you had to obtain A level grades AAB and you achieved AAA then you will be eligible for Adjustment. However, if you had to obtain AAB to include an A in Mathematics and you achieved A*AB with a B in Mathematics you would not be eligible for Adjustment.

Top tips:

• Please note that telephone and online enquiries are handled in exactly the same way and it doesn't make any difference which method you use to contact us. We have now closed Clearing and Adjustment for 2019.
• Not all of our courses will be available through Clearing and Adjustment, as many courses are already full.
• You can find comprehensive information about how Clearing and Adjustment work in the UCAS guide to Clearing.

If you still have questions about Clearing and Adjustment you may find the answer in our Clearing FAQs.

After receiving an offer through Clearing and Adjustment

Congratulations if you receive an offer to study with us. These are the next steps you will need to think about:

1. Visit us

When we offer you a place through Clearing and Adjustment we will invite you to come to a special Open Day, so you will have a chance to come and explore our campuses before you make your decision. 

If you would like to visit us now there are plenty of opportunities to do so. You can sign up for a Campus Tour, or for an Undergraduate Open Day.

2. Book your accommodation

We guaranteed a single room in halls to every student who joined us through Clearing and Adjustment 2019 (terms and conditions applied).

See more of Tom and Emily's top tips on our Clearing playlist.

3. Contact Student Finance England

If you are a UK / EU student and you gain a place through Clearing and Adjustment and you haven't applied for finance you will need to do this as soon as possible. If you have already applied for finance, but there have been any changes to your course or university, then you will need to update Student Finance England. Watch Student Finance England's short video on what you need to know about finance through Clearing and Adjustment:

4. Sort out your visa (international students)

If you are coming to study with us from abroad you may need to apply for a visa. As soon as you have accepted your place through Clearing and Adjustment you should apply for your visa. Learn more about visa applications.