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Clearing at Birkbeck

Birkbeck welcomes applications through Clearing and our Clearing service usually runs throughout July, August and September.

Our students come to us with a wide assortment of qualifications and experience and we believe this variety is essential to the unique experience of learning in a Birkbeck classroom.

CLEARING FAQS

Find out everything you need to know about Clearing.

WHAT IS CLEARING?

  • UCAS Clearing is a service that allows you to search for and apply to undergraduate courses that still have places available, helping you to secure your university place for the current year.
  • Clearing is for students who:
    • haven’t received any offers through UCAS (or any that they wanted to accept)
    • haven’t received the results they expected and therefore haven't met the conditions of their offer
    • have declined their firm place and would like to make a new application
    • are applying through UCAS after 30 June
    • haven’t already applied through UCAS before the deadline and would like to make a new application.

WHEN IS CLEARING?

  • Clearing runs between July and October and most universities will open for Clearing before A-Level results day.
  • Clearing for 2024 will open on Friday 5 July 2024 and closes in mid-October.

HOW DO I APPLY THROUGH CLEARING?

  • If you have already registered with UCAS and are eligible, UCAS will automatically enter you into Clearing. Your UCAS Hub status will be updated and your Clearing number will be displayed. 
  • You can apply through Clearing even if you haven’t already made a UCAS application. You must register with UCAS before you can apply. However, you can contact us to see whether we're able to offer you a place before you register. The normal UCAS application fee will apply. We can guide you through this process so please fill out our Clearing Application Form.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I GET AN OFFER?

  • Once you receive an offer from us, you will need to complete your application through UCAS Clearing. Everything you need to do will be explained to you either on the phone or in your offer email.

WHAT COURSES DOES BIRKBECK HAVE AVAILABLE THROUGH CLEARING?

  • Courses available through Clearing will be announced in July each year. 
  • If you are applying for an undergraduate part-time course, postgraduate course, or short course you can apply to Birkbeck directly, without going through UCAS.

CAN I find out more about BIRKBECK TO HELP WITH MY DECISION?

  • Yes. Whether you have an offer to study with us, are thinking of applying to us through Clearing, or would simply like to find out about studying at Birkbeck, you can find out more by coming to our Student Experience event on 25 July or our Clearing Open Day on Saturday 17 August.

WHAT ACCOMMODATION IS AVAILABLE FOR CLEARING STUDENTS?

WHO CAN USE CLEARING?

  • If you are waiting for exam results, you can only use Clearing after you have received them. Once your results are received and they aren’t the results you were hoping for, UCAS will enter you into Clearing Plus, an area only available for applicants unsuccessful with their original applications. 
  • You are eligible to apply through Clearing if:
    • you are applying after 30 June
    • you didn't receive any offers (or any you wanted to accept)
    • you declined your firm place
    • you didn't meet the conditions of your offers (Clearing Plus).
  • You can also use Clearing if you are not waiting for any exam results or if you are making a UCAS application for the first time this year.

HOW DO I APPLY THROUGH CLEARING IF I AM ALREADY HOLDING AN OFFER?

  • If you have a confirmed place but no longer want to go to that university, you can apply for a new course through Clearing.
  • You will need to speak to the university you are considering to check if they can offer you a place. You can decline your firm place through UCAS HUB to release yourself into Clearing.
  • Make sure you definitely would like to do this and that the university you want to attend has offered you a place through Clearing before declining your firm place, as you won’t be able to retrieve your original offer.

HOW DO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS APPLY?