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A comprehensive guide to Clearing
Available places on university courses with students.
Clearing 2012 Dates
30 June 2012: This is the deadline for applications - any applications
received after this date will be entered directly into clearing 2012.
4 July 2012: The deadline for applications via UCAS Extra
19 July 2012: The fi nal date for your fi rst and second choice universities to
make decisions. If no decision is made, UCAS will automatically decline your
application on behalf of the universities.
26 July 2012: The deadline for responses from your chosen universities. You
must accept or decline the o� ers to the universities by this date or UCAS will
automatically decline them for you.
7 August 2012: SQA (Scottish Qualifi cations Authority) releases results of
Scottish Highers and, Scottish Clearing opens.
16 August 2012: A-level results day. Clearing opens.
20 September 2012: Deadline for courses starting in 2012.
30 September 2012: Clearing close by UCAS.
22 October 2012: Clearing 2012 closes down - after this date universities
will not be able to accept applications from Clearing 2012.
What is clearing and how does it work?Clearing is the system operated by
UCAS to assist those students every
year who don’t quite get the predicted
grades needed to gain them access
to their chosen university and course.
It is also for those that may want to
change their minds or direction late in
the day and allows a certain amount
of fl exibility with your application.
The Clearing system matches available places on university courses with students.
How does it work?Firstly you need to fi nd out if you are
eligible to enter clearing. The easiest
way to do this is to log on to UCAS
Track. If a Clearing number appears
against your profi le in Track, then you
are eligible to apply through Clearing.
It is worth making a note of that
number for future reference as you
will need it when you come to accept
o� ers during the Clearing period itself.
On August 16th (for 2012 entry) when
the results are distributed, some
students fi nd that they have missed
out on achieving their predicted
grades. If this happens you need to log
into UCAS Track to fi nd out whether
your second choice institution will still
o� er you a place.
If not, and you are still keen on
attending university you need to
consider taking part in the Clearing
process.
The idea of Clearing is that it matches
up students to places available on
courses once the dust has settled
through the main UCAS sorting
process.
Every year there are thousands of
students who are in this position, but
equally there are large numbers of
places still available through Clearing.
You need to now spend some time
looking at the available course and
university options and do some
research into the programme details,
the institution itself and the potential
outcomes from taking the degree
before making a decision. You may
have spent a long time making your
mind up in conjunction with parents,
careers advisers and teachers to reach
a decision on your choice of course,
but during Clearing, the longer you
take to make a decision, the less
choice you will have unfortunately.
When you have found a new fi rst
choice course you need to make
contact with that university directly as
quickly as possible. Most universities
will have a special telephone number
set up for dealing with calls during
clearing, so you will need to fi nd this
by searching their web pages.
Make the call outlining your reasons
for being interested in the programme
of choice, giving some information
about yourself, your background and
possible career aspirations and sound
positive! The person at the other end
of the phone has the power to make
you an o� er of a place at university
on the spot!
Clearing 2012 University
Hotline Numbers ……Before you pick up we are here to help.The Apply To Uni team have compiled
a list of every UK University Clearing
Hotline number and some tips that may
help you with your University Application
through Clearing.
Clearing in Scotland begins on August
7th when SQA results are published
and the Scottish Clearing vacancy
information service starts.
On the 16th of August 2012 GCE and
Advanced Diploma results are published
and the full Clearing vacancy information
service starts. Lines at most Universities
are open from early morning until 8pm
on Thursday 16th August. Do remember
that there will be lots of other students in
the same situation so lines can be busy
particularly early on in the day.
Be available you may be asked to attend
an interview so make sure you are
available during the Clearing period - it
will be di� cult to secure a place if you
are away on holiday.
It’s usually best to call universities
yourself. If you’ve received disappointing
results then, understandably, you may
be feeling upset, but you are more
likely to be successful if you call and
speak to tutors yourself rather than
asking a parent or friend to do it for you.
Admissions tutors will want to be sure
that you have a genuine interest in their
course and will aim to help you make
the right decision.
City university
020 7040 5060
City College coventry
024 7679 1000
city of sunderlamd college
0191 511 6000
coventry university
024 7679 1791
University for the creative arts
01252 892883
University of Cumbria
08080 024024
De Montfort University
08459 45 46 47
University of Derby
01332 591167
University of Dundee
01382 38 38 38
Durham University
0191 334 6128
University of East London
020 8223 3333
Edge Hill University
0800 028 6677
Edinburgh Napier university
08452 60 60 40
University of Exeter
01392 723855
University falmouth
01326 211077
University of Glamorgan
08455 190 111
University of Glashow
0141 330 2999
University of Gloucestershire
01242 714001
Goldsmiths
020 7078 5300
University of Greenwich
020 8331 9000
abertay dundee
01382 30 80 80
anerustwyth
0800 121 4080
acccrington and Rossendale college
01254 389933
college of Agriculture
0800 0284291
Anglia Ruskin
0845 271 3333
Anglo European chipractic college
01202 436200
The Arts university college at
Bournemouth
01202 363228
Askham Bryan College
01904 772211
Aston University, Birmingham
0121 204 4444
Bournemouth university
01202 524111
Brunel university
01895 265265
Bangor university
01248 383717
Bath university
01225 383 019
Bath Spa University
01225 875875
City of Bath college
01225 312191
University of Bedfordshire
0800 013 0925
Birbeck
020 7631 6316
Birmingham city university
0121 331 5595
University of birmingham
0121 415 8900
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
University college birmingham
0121 693 5959
Blackburn college
01254 292929
Blackpool and the Fylde College
01253 504346
University of Bolton
01204 903030
BPP university college
020 3131 0557
Bradford College
01274 433333
Bridgewater college
01278 441220
University of Brighton
01273 644000
City of Bristol college
0117 312 5117
University of bristol
0117 928 9000
University of the West of England
0117 32 83333
University of buckingham
01280 820299
Buckingham new university
0800 0565 660
Canterbury christ church university
01227 782900
Cardi� university
029 2087 6000
Cardi� Metropolitan University
029 2041 6044
University of Central Lancashire
01772 201201
Central school of speech and Drama
020 7722 8183
University of chester
01244 511000
University of chichester
01243 816002
H
I
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
W
Y
University of Huddersfi eld
0300 555 4444
University of Hertfordshire
01707 284848
Heythrop College
020 7795 4120
University of hull
0844 522 8001
Institute of Business and management
0800 268 7737
Kensington College of Business
027 404 6330
University of Kent
01227 827272
Kings college London
020 7836 5454
Kirklees college
01484 437070
London School of Business and Finance
020 7823 2303
London South Bank University
020 7815 7676
Lancaster University
0871 663 3006
University of Leeds
0870 126 0606
Leeds Trinity university college
0113 283 7123
University of Manchester
0161 275 2077
Manchester Metropolitan university
0800 915 0668
Coleg menai
01248 383333
Mid Cheshire college
01606 74444
Middlesex university
0800 069 6100
myerschough College
01995 642211
Neath Port Talbot college
01639 648032
Newcastle university
08457 88 77 22
New College Durham
0191 375 4210
New College Nottingham
0115 910 4584
New College Stamford
01780 484 300
Newman University college
Birmingham
0121 4761181
University of Northampton
0800 358 0066
New College Telford
01952 641892
Norwich university college of the arts
01603 751 485
Northumbria university
0191 243 7 243
University of Nottingham
0115 9516 565
Nottingham trent university
0115 848 6000
The Open University
0845 300 60 90
Oxford Brookes University
01865 483040
The university of Plymouth
01752 58 58 58
Pembrokeshire college
0800 716 236
University Centre Peterborough
0845 196 5750
University College St Mark and St John
0800 0152534
Queen Margaret University
0131 474 0000
Queen Mary University
0800 376 1800
Queen’s University Belfast
028 9097 3838
Regent’s College London
0207 487 7505
Roehampton University
020 8392 3000
Rotheram college of Arts and
Technology
08080 722777
Royal Agricultural College
01285 889912
Royal Holloway, University of London
01784 44 33 77
Royal Veterinary College
020 74685147
University of Salford
0161 295 4545
University of Shefi eld
0114 222 8015
Shefi eld Hallam University
0300 555 0567
University of Southampton
023 8059 8888
Southampton solent University
0845 676 7000
South Down’s College
02392 797979
South Nottingam College
0115 914 6464
Sta� ordshire University
0800 590 830
University of Stirling
01786 466166.
Stockport College
0845 230 3102
Stranmils University College
028 9038 4263
University of Sunderland
0191 515 3000
University of Sussex
01273 678416
Swansea University
01792 205678
Swansea Metropolitan University
0800 731 0884
Swindon College
0800 731 2250
University of Teeside
0800 9520226
University of Wales Trinity and David
01267 676767
University of Ulster
028 7028 7028
University of the west of Scotland
0800 027 1000
University of the Arts, London
020 7514 6197
Uxbridge College
01895 853333
University of Westminster
0800 027 9777
Wakefi eld College
01924 789111
University of Warwck
02476 533 544
College of West Anglia
01553 761144
West Cheshire Collge
01244 670600
City of Westminster College
020 7723 8826
West Thames College
020 8326 2020
Wigan and Leigh College
01942 76 11 11
Wiltshire College
01225 35 00 35
University of Wolverhampton
0800 953 3222
University of Winchester
01962 827234
University of worcester
01905 855 111
University of York
01904 324000
York College
01904 770400
York St John university
01904 876980
Yorkshire coast college of further and
Higher education
0800 7317410
Apply To Uni Guide to Open DaysOnce again the Apply To Uni team is here to help with your guide to every University Open Day between now and the end of the year.
But fi rst read about our handy hints and tips before attending……
1: Book Your Place!It may sound obvious, but you need to make sure you know when and where
university open days are taking place. If a university has multiple campuses or
departments, for example, make sure that the Open Day you are attending is
relevant to the course of your choice. You will almost certainly need to book your
place on an Open Day too (it shouldn’t cost you anything but universities need an
idea of numbers), so make sure you have fi lled in all the appropriate paperwork
before you turn up.
2: Give yourself plenty of timeYou need to fi nd out how long it will take to get to the universities you want to
see, particularly if they are in towns or cities with which you are not familiar.
While an Open Day is very di� erent from an interview (so relax!), you don’t want
to feel fl ustered on the day so make sure you’re not rushing around before you
get to meet the people who may end up teaching you for three or four years! It’s
also a good idea to get a feel for the area around the campus; so give yourself
some extra time to have a walk or drive around if at all possible.
3: Do some researchYou will have researched your course before applying, naturally, but you want
to make sure that you get to grips with the specifi cs that each university o� ers.
While an Open Day is a great opportunity to get to know the campus and the
area, it’s also a chance to ask questions about the course. By doing as much
research as possible, online and in prospectuses, you can make sure you’re not
wasting the opportunity to by asking about something you can easily fi nd out
beforehand.
4: Prepare some questionsDuring an Open Day you will often have an opportunity to mix with both sta�
and existing students. This is a perfect chance to fi nd out what it might really be
like to live and study at a particular institution. By having a think about everything
you might want to know before you get to your Open Day there is less chance of
you forgetting something crucial when you’re there. The people running Open
Days will have heard every question under the sun before; so don’t be shy and ask
them anything that you think might be crucial to your decision.
5: Find out as much as you can about the Open Day before you goWhat are your main concerns about starting uni? The course? Accommodation?
Costs? An Open Day can be the perfect opportunity to put your mind at rest
about all of these issues, but only if you make the most of it. If there is something
that you particularly want to know about but you’re not sure whether it will be
covered at the Open Day, why not phone up and ask? Often, if it is not part of the
o� cial programme, they will be able to put you in touch with someone who will
be happy to speak to you about your concerns on the day.
August 2012Saturday 18thBirmingham City University;
Buckinghamshire New University; Edge
Hill University; Glyndwr University
Wrexham; Regents College London;
University Campus Su� olk; University
of Bolton; University of East London;
University of Wolverhampton;
York St John University
Sunday 19thKeele University
Wednesday 22ndUniversity Campus Su� olk; University
of Plymouth
Tuesday 28thAberdeen University
Wednesday 29thLancaster University; University of
Dundee; University of West London.
September 2012Saturday 1stCranfi eld University; Teeside University.
Monday 3rdBrunel University; University of
Edinburgh; University of Strathclyde.
Tuesday 4thUniversity of Cambridge (Downing
College); University of She� eld;
University of Southampton; University
of Strathclyde; University of Ulster.
Wednesday 5thBrunel University; Edge Hill University;
Glasgow Caledonian University;
University of Glasgow; University of
Southampton; University of Ulster.
Thursday 6thBirkbeck University of London; Boston
College; Queen Margaret University;
Queens University Belfast; University
of Ulster.
Friday 7thBrunel University; University of
Cambridge (DowningCollege).
Saturday 8thCoventry University; Thames Valley
University; University College Plymouth
St Mark and St John; University of
Bedfordshire; University of Birmingham;
University of Exeter; University of
Surrey; York St John University.
Monday 10thUniversity of Ulster
Tuesday 11thUniversity of London
Wednesday 12thLiverpool Hope University; University
College Northampton; University
of Glamorgan; University of Kent;
University of London.
Thursday 13thUniversity of Cambridge (Sidney Sussex
College); University of Teeside.
Friday 14thOxford University; University of
Cambridge (Downing College);
University of Durham; University of
Glamorgan; University of Nottingham.
Saturday 15thCambridge University (Newnham
College, Corpus Christi College);
Coventry University; Leeds Trinity
University College; Nottingham
Trent University; Royal Agricultural
College; St Marys University College,
Twickenham; University of Bath;
University of Essex; University of
Huddersfi eld.
Monday 17thBath Spa University
Tuesday 18thAston University Birmingham
Wednesday 19thBath Spa University; St Georges
(University of London).
Thursday 20thBirbeck (University of London);
Loughborough University.
Friday 21stLoughborough University; University of
Cambridge (Churchill College).
Saturday 22ndLancaster University; Queen Mary
(University of London); University
of Edinburgh; University College
Birmingham; University of Bristol;
University of Chichester; University of
Durham; University of Essex; University
of Leicester; University of Stirling;
University of Warwick; University of
Worcester.
Sunday 23rdUniversity of Worcester
Monday 24thRoyal Agricultural College
Wednesday 26thCambridge University (Emmanuel
College); Imperial College London.
Friday 28thCentral School of Speech and Drama;
Heriot-Watt University.
Saturday 29thDe Montfort University; Heriot-Watt
University; Newcastle University;
University Campus Su� olk; University
of Brighton; University of Dundee;
University of Exeter; University of
Lincoln; University of Liverpool;
University of Sussex; University of West
London.
October 2012Tuesday 2ndRegents College London
Wednesday 3rdEdge Hill University; Robert Gordon
University.
Thursday 4thUniversity of the West of Scotland
Friday 5thBirmingham City University; Central
School of Speech and Drama.
Saturday 6thAnglia Ruskin University; Birmingham
City University; City University
London; Leeds Metropolitan
University; Liverpool Hope University;
Liverpool John Moores University;
Northumbria University; Oxford
Brookes University; Queen Margaret
University; Sta� ordshire University;
Swansea University; University of
Tuesday 6thRegent College London
Wednesday 7thEdge Hill University; Goldsmiths
(University of London); Lancaster
University; Reading College & School
of Arts & Design; Royal Agricultural
College; University of Brighton;
University of Teeside.
Thursday 8thCity of Bath College
Saturday 10thBournemouth University; Coventry
University; Oxford Brookes University;
Sta� ordshire University; Swansea
University; University of Brighton;
University of Gloucestershire; University
of Lincoln; UWE University of the West
England, Bristol.
Tuesday 13thCentral Sussex College
Wednesday 14thCentral Sussex College; Cranfi eld
University; University of Brighton;
University of London.
Thursday 15thCentral School of Speech and Drama;
Guildford College.
Saturday 17thAnglia Ruskin University; Edge
Hill Universty; Guildford College;
Regents College London; University
of Bedfordshire; University of
Roehampton.
Tuesday 20thUniversity of Birmingham
Wednesday 21stBuckinghamshire New University;
University of Brighton; University of
Worcester.
Saturday 24thUWE, University of the West of England,
Bristol.
Wednesday 28thRoyal Agricultural College; St Georges
(University of London); University of
Brighton.
Winchester; University of East Anglia;
University of Brighton; University of
Chester; University of Kent; University
of Leicester; University of Manchester;
University Of Portsmouth; University of
Reading; UWE University of the West
England, Bristol.
Tuesday 9thUniversity of the West of Scotland
Wednesday 10thManchester Metropolitan University;
Royal Agricultural College; SAC -
Scottish Agricultural College; University
of East Anglia; University of Abertay,
Dundee.
Friday 12thHeriot-Watt University
Saturday 13thBangor University; Bath Spa University;
Buckinghamshire New University;
Edge Hill University; Edinburgh Napier
University; Goldsmiths (University of
London); Heriot-Watt University; Keele
University; Liverpool John Moores
University; Manchester Metropolitan
University; Nottingham Trent University;
The University of Winchester; University
College Birmingham; University
College Northampton; University
College Plymouth St Mark and St
John; University of Bedfordshire;
University of Brighton; University
of Chester; University of Chester;
University of Gloucestershire; University
of Hertfordshire; University of Hull;
University of Kent; University of Leeds;
University of Liverpool; University of
Roehampton; University of Surrey;
University of Teeside.
Sunday 14thKeele University
Wednesday 17thAberystwyth University;
Buckinghamshire New University;
Central School of Speech and Drama;
Guildford College; St Georges
(University of London).
Saturday 20thAberystwyth University; Bath Spa
University College; Bournemouth
University; Buckinghamshire New
University; De Montfort University;
Leeds Trinity University College;
Manchester Metropolitan University;
Plymouth University; University of
Winchester; University of Brighton;
University of Chichester; University
of Glamorgan; University of Lincoln;
University Of Portsmouth; University of
West London.
Wednesday 24thRoyal Agricultural College; Royal Welsh
College of Music and Drama; University
of Teeside.
Thursday 25thUniversity of the West of Scotland
Friday 26thRoyal Welsh College of Music and
Drama
Saturday 27thBangor University; Bournemouth
University; Coventry University;
University of Essex; Leeds Metropolitan
University; Liverpool Hope University
College; University of Essex; University
of Reading; York St John University.
Sunday 28thLeeds Metropolitan University
Tuesday 30thUniversity of Dundee
Wednesday 31stLancaster University; Liverpool John
Moores University; University of
Dundee; University of Huddersfi eld;
York St John University.
November 2012Thursday 1stCentral School of Speech and Drama;
University of Chichester; University of
Huddersfi eld; University of Worcester.
Friday 2ndUniversity of the West of Scotland;
University of Worcester.
Saturday 3rdAnglia Ruskin University; City University
London; Robert Gordon University;
University Campus Su� olk; University
College Northampton; University Of
Portsmouth; University of Stirling.
OK, you’ve got your A level results, and you dropped a few grades. You’ve tried clearing and either there is nothing available that you want to do, or all your choices have run out.
Don’t worry, it’s not the end of the
world and it’s certainly not the end
of your chance to study for a higher
qualifi cation. You need to take stock
and look at some other options, maybe
temporary ones, and try again.
Get to workJobs may be di� cult to get at the
moment but it is not impossible. If
the whole uni application/rejection
experience has left you not really sure
of what you want to do, the best thing
to do is get some experience in the real
world to help you decide. You don’t
have to just get one job, two or three
part-time ones will also keep you busy
and earn you money and will all be
great experience.
You can get help and careers advice
from Learndirect, direct.gov and the
National Careers Service.
Got an idea for a business?If you want to work on your own
business, you can do it at 18, 19 or 20,
you don’t have to be 30 something.
In fact, being under 30 will enable
you to get help from the Prince’s
Trust, the organisation founded by
Prince Charles. You can also get good
information from Business Link. If you
live in an area of the UK that is classed
as being socially deprived, there may
also be local grants and assistance
schemes – contact your local authority
for details.
How about an apprenticeship?Not all tertiary education is about
studying at university. Training courses
and apprenticeships that take you on to
a recognised trade are also available. If
you have not considered this, fi nd out
more information from the National
Apprenticeship Service (NAS). They list
vacancies and places still available, and
they come up all year round, not just at
the start of the academic year.
Start again, but next yearIf you really want to give a university
application another chance, you will
need to wait and reapply next year.
You have your A level results and it is
possible to go back to your college
for another part year to do re-sits to
try to up your grades. You need to get
in touch with your college as soon as
possible and make sure you are there
on enrollement day with a clear plan
of action.
Next year, you will have your results
before applying, so your place o� ers
should be unconditional, meaning you
won’t have to go through the stress
of waiting for results day to see if you
have a place again.
What to do in the meantimePart of the next year may involve some
extra study, or you may be applying
for a di� erent course and uni, where
you know your current grades will be
OK. You can then think about getting
a job, doing some travelling, or doing
voluntary work at di� erent places. You
can combine any of these and spend a
year getting some great life experience.
Your fi nal choices will probably come
down to money though, and whether
your long-su� ering parents can
support you for another year while you
fi nd your feet.
Start by fi nding out more from the following organisations:Volunteering England
Volunteer Scotland
Volunteering Wales
Volunteer Development Agency -
Northern Ireland
Year Out Group
Foreign & Commonwealth O� ce Travel
& Living Abroad
Voluntary Services Overseas
I’ve not got in – what now?