Universities in Wales and across the UK are gearing up for what is predicted to be the biggest clearing day on record as students receive their A level results this Thursday.
The number of people applying direct to clearing within the 24 hours of A level results being released has more than doubled across the UK in the past five years from 1,940 in 2014 to 4,210 in 2018.
In 2018 more than 60,000 students found university places through clearing, according to admissions service UCAS
Swansea University is among universities reporting record numbers of people pre-registering through clearing and Bangor University expects it to be the “busiest ever” clearing period.
This is how to apply to university through clearing 2019
Clearing is designed for students who haven’t secured a place at university. If you haven’t received the results you needed, or if you declined all your offers, or applied after the June 28 deadline, you are eligible to apply through UCAS clearing.
You'lll know whether you're in clearing or not because your UCAS Track page will say so.
Go to www.ucas.com and check UCAS Track. Track opens at 8am on results day. If you don’t have a confirmed place at your firm or insurance choices, you’ll be entered into clearing.
You can see available courses on the Ucas website.
This year, UCAS has allowed applicants with firmed university places to release themselves into clearing in order to apply to different institutions. This became available on track from July 1st.
In previous years, students had to contact their chosen university and ask to be released before they could contact other institutions
UCAS will update the list of courses that still have places available. You don’t have to stick with your original choice of subject.
University clearing helplines open around 7am on results day so you can contact them to discuss your options when you know your grades, or even before.
Universities set up dedicated clearing hotlines. Before ringing them you’ll need your results, your 10-digit UCAS number, details of the course you would like to study and your email address.
Clearing is open until mid-September, which is the deadline for clearing choices and institutions to accept applicants via clearing.
This is the advice and places on offer from universities in Wales
Swansea University
Swansea University says it has had a record number of people pre-registering for clearing and is expecting the day to be “very busy”.
Martyn Edwards, interim director of marketing recruitment and international said: “Even if you haven’t done as well as you hoped, there are still
opportunities to find the right degree course.
“At Swansea, we have some places available in most subject areas and it may be worth thinking about different courses to those you’d originally applied to do to give yourself more options.”
Swansea’s dedicated clearing helpine is open from 7am to 8pm on 0800 094 9071 on results day.
Bangor University
Professor Graham Upton, Interim Vice Chancellor, said: “All the predictions are that this is going to be the busiest ever clearing period, with more students than ever before expected to have waited until getting their results to find a university place. At Bangor we’ve got a wide range of courses available, including new options such as politics, forensic psychology and biomedical sciences with a foundation year.”
Bangor’s Clearing helpline is open on 0800 085 1818 and will be open from 6am on results day,
More information is available from the university's Clearing page here
Cardiff University
Cardiff University said it gave hundreds of places through clearing last year and expects this year to be busy too.
A spokesman said: “It is difficult to identify the exact number of vacancies prior to Clearing. However, Cardiff University does have clearing spaces available for high-calibre, well-qualified students.
“Our message to high quality students is to contact us immediately once they have their results - the picture changes minute by minute. Our dedicated clearing lines are open until 5pm on Tuesday 20th August."
Cardiff University clearing helpline can be contacted on: 0333 241 2800 and more information is available on the University’s website here
University of Wales Trinity St David
A spokesman advised students to fill in the pre-registration form on the university’s website before clearing starts on August 15.
Drop in days are being held at its campuses at Carmarthen, Lampeter and Swansea on Saturday, August 17 between 11am and 3pm.
UWTSD’s Clearing information line is open from 8am to 8pm, on A-Level results day, August 15, and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 16 to 18 on 0333 016 4049.
Wrexham Glyndwr University
Wrexham says it has places available through clearing on a wide range of courses, from accounting and finance to youth and community work.
Its clearing helping is on 01978 293439 and the university is holding open days on August 17 and September 7.
University of South Wales
The University of South Wales is guaranteeing accommodation for applicants who join through clearing this year.
USW’s clearing helpline is on 03455 760606.
Aberystwyth University
A university spokeswoman said it is expected that the clearing period will go on longer than usual this year.
"The clearing period isn’t just about those who haven’t reached their target grades. Adjustment is an opportunity for those who’ve done better than expected in their exams to effectively trade up to a better university," she said.
Aberystwyth's clearing helpine is on: 0800 121 40 80
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Clearing helpline: 0333 258 4889
