Get Clearing confident

If you think you might want to participate in Clearing, then it’s time to think ahead. Use the time before Clearing opens wisely and get to know your options. Research the topics you’re most interested in and the universities that provide them.

If you're thinking of joining us, we’d suggest checking out our course pages, so you know which course you’d like to study with us. You’ll also be able to see the course modules and the locations you can study the course at. We would also recommend finding out a bit about the campus city you wish to study in, our Student Union and the support available to you.

Create a contact list

After you’ve done your research, put together a list of universities you’re interested in attending and their Clearing contact details. This way you’ll be ready when the phone lines open. Our Clearing hotline number is 0808 301 9846.

Stay social

You can keep up-to-date with The University of Law Clearing through our social channels, where we’ll post all the latest information about our courses, funding and bursaries as well as answer your Clearing questions.

We also run many online events to provide you with details on our courses and what it’s like to study with us. These are mostly interactive, so you can get the answers to any questions you may have. You can book a place at these events on our events webpage.

Most institutions also provide online open days or virtual campus tours to help you get a feel for what life is like there. Remember, if you have any questions get in touch with the university, they’ll be happy to help.

If you’re applying for the first time after 30 June, you’ll need to register and make a full application, including your personal statement. When you submit your application, you’ll receive a welcome email to access UCAS’s Track service, where you’ll also receive your Clearing number. That’s when you can access Clearing’s services, including course and place searches and the ‘ask advice’ feature.

Remember, Clearing isn’t just for people who didn’t achieve the grades they hoped for. Clearing is also perfect for those:

• Applying for the first time after 30 June
• Didn’t receive any offers
• Didn’t want to accept any of the offers you received
• Didn’t meet the conditions of your offers.

As part of the Clearing process, you’ll need to call the university you're interested in studying at. It is common to feel nervous about making phone calls and a good way to ease these nerves is to do some practice calls with a friend or relative before calling us. This is a great opportunity to figure out what your answers are likely to be.

Ahead of making your call you should have to hand:

• Pen and paper
• The name of the course you're interested in
• Your results
• Your email address
• UCAS application number
• Your personal statement: you’re going to have to sell yourself to potential universities so bullet point the important parts of your personal statement so you can list your personal and academic qualities.

• Find a quiet space that offers good signal before calling to minimise any noise or disruption.
• If possible, position yourself close to a computer or laptop.
• Make sure your phone has enough battery.
• If it helps with your confidence, you might also want a friend or family member with you for support but remember they cannot speak on your behalf.

We understand that speaking to someone you don't know can feel a bit daunting. It is a vital part of the Clearing process though, as it allows our Admissions team to confirm that you are eligible for the course you're interested in and makes sure there is availability for you.

Once you call us on 0800 009 3375, you will be connected to someone in our friendly Clearing team who is here to help you. The call tends to be quite quick, but it can be helpful to know what kinds of questions you’ll likely be asked:

• You’ll be asked to provide some basic personal details such as your name, email address and phone number so we can share any outcomes with you and keep in touch.
• What course are you interested in study with us?
• What grades did you achieve at GCSE?
• What grades did you achieve at A-Level? Or if you didn’t take A-Levels, your equivalent to these?

If the course no longer has spaces or you don’t meet the requirements for your chosen course, they may suggest an alternative course that you would be suitable for, for example a foundation year which allows you to still study your preferred subject.

You might also want to use this opportunity to ask us any questions you might have, such as about any course modules you might be unsure on.

You’ll usually find out on the call if you have been accepted or not. The person you are speaking to as part of our Clearing Team will then advise you on what you need to do and what you can expect next.

Where an offer has been made this is usually followed up in an email so be sure to check your emails.

It is also important to be aware that there may be some cases where we need to check some of your information or we ask you to provide further information before we can confirm but we will be in touch as soon as we can to let you know.

Remember even if you’re feeling stressed about your situation the Clearing Team are there to help guide you through the process.

If you've already applied to Student Finance, you'll need to let them know that your institution and course has changed. This is very important as it could affect what you're entitled to. Full-time students can make changes to their course or university details online through Student Finance England.

To make a change, log in to your online account and navigate to: My Account > Make changes to my application > Change your course

If you haven’t yet applied for Student Finance, you'll need to apply right away. You can apply online through the Student Finance website.

If you’re not using Student Finance, you can learn more about paying your fees on our course fees and funding webpage.

If you're moving away from home to study with us, you'll need to find somewhere to live. Go to your chosen campus page to find out how our accommodation team can help you find something suitable nearby.

Alternatively, if you already know what kind of accommodation you’re looking for, you can visit the StudentPad website to start your search.

If you have a disability or learning difficulty and would like to speak to someone about what measures can be put in place to assist you, contact our Disability Support & Inclusion Service team as soon as you can. We can work with you to help meet any tuition, technical, library or exam challenges before starting your course.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 01483 216657

You can find out more about the support we can offer you and hear first-hand from students who have used our service on our Support Services webpage.

Once you’ve accepted a place with us through clearing, you’ll gain access to our employability and career support. We have a programme of activities and career support to help you at every step of the way towards a successful career.   

Our Employability services offers a range of support and many opportunities from one‑to‑one careers appointments to workshops, mentoring and employer talks and events to help get you achieve your career and work experience goals.