Skip to main content
N I Direct government services

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
  • Contacts
  • Help
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Higher education
  4. Applying for a course

Clearing

If you don't get the grades you need for your firm or insurance choices, you have another chance to secure a place at institutions with last-minute vacancies during 'Clearing'. For further information and advice contact your local Careers Office.

Your exam results

UCAS supplies exam results to universities and colleges, so they can check whether you have achieved the grades you needed.

If you’ve missed your grades by a small margin, you may still get your place confirmed by your first choice university or college.

You may find you’ve been turned down by your first choice but accepted by your insurance choice. If you’re not keen on taking up your insurance choice, you could consider withdrawing your application and reapplying next year.

Discuss your choices with the people that know you best - your family, friends and teachers or lecturers.

  • What to do after your A level results

How Clearing works

If your first choice and insurance institutions turn you down, you can use 'Clearing' to find another place.

If you're eligible, you’ll see your Clearing Number on your Track screen. If you have not yet submitted a UCAS application, you will need to do so before you can enter Clearing.

Looking for a course through Clearing

From the day the A level results come out in August, course vacancies are advertised on the UCAS website and in the national press.

After looking at vacancies, you should talk to the admissions staff at any universities and colleges with places available on courses you’re interested in. You should let them have your Clearing Number.

Staff will be able to tell you whether they are prepared to offer you a place. If they are, and you choose to accept it, you should enter details of the institution and course on Track.

You can only enter details for one choice. If a university or college confirms your place in Clearing, you are committed to taking up that place and you can't seek a place elsewhere.

However, if the university or college decides not to offer you a place in Clearing, the 'Add Clearing Choice; button will re-appear on Track and you will be able to apply for another course.

  • UCAS website

Financial help

If you accept a place through Clearing, you should tell the people who deal with your application for student finance. In most cases, this will be your local authority. They can then make the necessary arrangements for any financial help you're entitled to.

  • Qualifying for student finance

More useful links

  • Get facts and figures on universities, colleges and courses
  • Careers Service
  • Where to go, what to study
  • Student finance
Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on Twitter (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Applying for a course

  • Changing your UCAS application
  • Clearing
  • Completing your UCAS application
  • Getting an offer from a university or college
  • How to apply for a higher education course
  • UCAS Extra

Translation help

How to translate this page

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?
Report a problem
Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

Messages

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

What is your question about?

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

Related sites

  • gov.uk
  • nibusinessinfo.co.uk

Links to supporting information

  • Accessibility statement
  • Crown copyright
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS