Clearing advice for teachers and careers advisers

Clearing opens in July and runs until October. It allows students to explore different course options once they've received their exam results. During Clearing, students can search for available courses and contact universities directly to secure a place.

You can share this Clearing guide with students to provide them with the key information they need to navigate the process.

Results day can bring a lot of change in a short space of time, so early preparation is essential. We recommend talking to students about Clearing as part of the wider university application process well before results day, so they understand their options and feel confident about next steps.

Group discussions can help normalise Clearing and answer common questions, while one‑to‑one conversations help provide more personalised guidance. Support students in making informed decisions while bolstering them to take ownership of their choices.

Encourage students to think through both best-case and worst‑case scenarios, with clear plans and contingency options in place.

If Clearing may be an option for your students, encourage them to explore their choices ahead of time. This can help them feel more prepared when results are released.

Support students to reflect on what matters most to them and consider questions, such as:

• is the course subject or the university more important?
• are there alternative courses available at their preferred university?
• which other universities offer similar courses?

Reassure students that there's no need to rush into a decision. There are many positive pathways available, including choosing an alternative course or university, resitting exams, or deferring entry for a year. Taking time to find the right option can make all the difference.

Results day can be nerve-wracking, so encourage students to stay calm and focus on the options available, whatever their results.

Once students receive their results, encourage them to log in to UCAS and check the status of their offers. It's important they don't assume they've automatically lost their place if they haven't met all the conditions of their firm or insurance offer.

Where possible, provide private spaces for conversations, either in person or online. Some students may want to contact Clearing hotlines as soon as they've checked their results and having support on hand can make a real difference.

Students should contact universities they're interested in as early as possible. Universities will need to speak directly with the applicant and normally cannot discuss an application with teachers or advisers unless the student is with you or has given permission.

Before making contact, help students prepare by having their exam results and UCAS ID to hand.

Encourage students to re‑read their personal statement, as universities may ask why they want to study a particular course or choose a specific institution.

It's also useful for students to prepare questions to ask universities. These could include:

• course details
• campus or student life
• accommodation
• travel
• support services

Contextual Clearing offers are reduced grade requirements available through Clearing for eligible students. These offers recognise that some students may have experienced barriers in their education.

For courses where contextual offers are available, applicants may be asked to provide their UK home postcode when they enquire. Some courses offer lower entry requirements to students from areas with historically lower progression to higher education, and postcode information is used to check eligibility.

Learn more about contextual offers and check eligibility. 

Students should also let the Clearing call handler know if they:

• have been in care for more than three months, or
• have been granted refugee status by the UK government, including those issued a visa under one of the Ukrainian schemes.

Students in these circumstances may also be eligible for a contextual Clearing offer.

Students appealing their grades while exploring Clearing options should be aware that universities can only consider achieved and verified grades at the point of application. Universities cannot hold places while applicants await the outcome of an appeal.

At Manchester, Clearing offers can only be made to students who have already achieved the required grades and can be formally verified.

If a student receives a positive appeal outcome, they should:

• check our Clearing course listings to see whether their course of interest is open; and
• follow the Clearing application instructions on our website at that time.

Course availability can change quickly during Clearing, so applicants are encouraged to check listings regularly once their appeal outcome is confirmed.

Results day can be challenging for students who narrowly miss their offer conditions. Some may choose to submit an appeal (or review of marking) to their exam board.

Appeals cannot be based on differences of academic opinion. An appeal will only be upheld where there has been an administrative or procedural error, or where the grade awarded is considered an unreasonable exercise of academic judgement.

Applicants should consider appeals carefully, as grades may increase, decrease or remain the same, and the exam board's decision is final.

Offer-holders who submit an appeal must complete our online appeal notification form, which will be available when Clearing opens on Thursday, 2 July. This is the only official way to notify the University. An automated confirmation email will be sent once the form is submitted.

Applicants must also notify the relevant admissions team as soon as their appeal outcome is received.

In line with UCAS guidance, applicants normally have until 2 September (or an earlier date stated in the offer) to meet their offer conditions. If conditions are met by the deadline, applicants will typically be accepted where possible. If not, the University may consider deferred entry or an alternative course.

Applicants can check their individual deadline in the conditions section of their UCAS application.

If deferred entry is offered, applicants may need to complete mandatory checks again, such as medical fitness or DBS checks, where these apply.