How does clearing work in Northern Ireland? What you can do if you don’t get the A Level results you expected

A Level Results day is on August 15, and for some that means a bit of uncertainty about what’s next. Maybe you won’t get the grades you were expecting or you’re having second thoughts about Plan A. Whatever the reason, this is where clearing comes in.

Clearing is usually thought of as a last resort if results day didn’t go well, but it’s also for anyone who is rethinking their options. If you’re not sure about your first choice university, or if you got better grades than expected, clearing is also for you.

Whatever the reason, here’s everything you need to know about the process.

What is clearing?

Clearing is how anyone without a university offer can secure one. The most common reason for this is that your A-Level results didn’t meet the requirements of your first and second choice universities.

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For you: Find out when A-Level results will be available

But it is also available to those who didn’t apply before June 30, or if you’ve decided to decline an offer from your firm choice.

Clearing has been open since July 5 and will close on October 21. If you haven’t met entry requirements you will automatically be moved to clearing and your clearing details will be available through your UCAS Hub account.

This information will only be updated on results day and not before.

What do I do if I haven’t got the results I expected?

If you’re unsure where to start, speak to a teacher or adviser at your school who can advise you on the options available to you. If you decide to apply to another course or university, then head over to the UCAS website and check what’s available.

If you can’t find the course or subject you wanted, consider widening your search. Maybe you could do a joint honours degree, combining your initial choice with another subject, or there could be another similar subject you might enjoy.

As you go through the choices available keep a list of any courses you would want to apply to. Make sure to take note of the course code and name, this will make the next step easier.

Preparing for your clearing call

Now you have your list of choices, the next step is contacting the universities. To add a clearing choice to your application you need to contact the university and give them your details and ask if they will accept you.

As well as confirming your spot this is also a good opportunity to ask any questions you might have about the course, and other things like accommodation.

When you make the call to universities they will want to confirm your details and grades, and the course you are looking to apply to. They might also ask why you want to study with them so have some bullet points written down about why you’ve chosen the university and the course.

To make the process easier, have all the details you need to hand, including contact numbers, your grades and any questions you have. Make sure you also have course codes, your clearing number and personal ID to hand.

For you: Find out when A-Level results will be available

Final Steps

Once you have spoken to a university they will usually be able to confirm your offer over the phone, or they may take your details and get back to you.

Once your spot has been confirmed, you then need to add the course to your application. This will count as acceptance, so if you add a course and the university then accepts this, you have formally accepted the place.

You can only add one option at a time, but if things don’t work out with your first choice you can go back and another option after you have spoken to them.

But most importantly remember to stay calm and take your time with your decisions.

More information on clearing is available on the Ucas website. If you have any questions you can reach the Ucas team on 0371 468 0468.