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How to prepare for Clearing

The following guide will help you prepare for Clearing. Follow these steps and you'll be ready to make your application 

Before 14 August

It is important to do some research before making an application through clearing, even if you have already received your results. This will calm any nerves as you'll be fully prepared.  

Step 1 - Do your research

  • Find your course - explore the range of courses that have spaces available and learn about the degree you may want to study
  • Check the entry requirements - Each course has entry requirement, but we always aim to take a flexible approach to admissions.  If you are not sure whether you meet the requirements, get in touch as we're always happy to talk you through your options.
  • Explore life at Middlesex - Learn about what student life is like at Middlesex, discover what facilities and support is available at our London campus, and take a virtual tour or visit us at our summer open day.

Step 2 - Gather the information you need

  • If you have a UCAS ID number you will need this
  • Your grades, such as A-level, BTEC and GCSEs, or international qualifications
  • An idea of the courses you'd like to study

Step 3 - Get ready to make your application

You are almost ready to make an application through Clearing. Take a look below to see which scenario you fit into, and this will help you know what steps to take next.

Like thousands of your peers, you are waiting for your results to check whether you have the grades to join your chosen course. If you don't get the grades you need on results day you can make an application through clearing.

Ease your worries by preparing beforehand. If you have already done your research and have the right information available, you'll be ready to contact us first thing in the morning.

You may already have your results if you are an international student, completed your studies recently, or are a mature student. Once you have done your research and have your information available, you can apply. Start your application on UCAS or contact us and we will support you through the process.

It is a big decision to choose a degree course and it is important you make the right decision for you. If you're holding an offer for a course you no longer want to start, you have to decline your offer before applying through clearing. To do so: 

  • Sign into UCAS and click the 'Decline my place' button on your homepage
  • You will then need to confirm your decision and asked if you want to go into Clearing
  • Check your emails (including spam) to confirm that you are in Clearing. 

If you have not yet applied through UCAS, but you want to study a degree course, you can make a direct application to get onto Clearing. Here are the steps: 

  • Make a UCAS Hub account and you will then receive a UCAS ID number
  • Write a personal statement and provide an academic reference
  • Wait to receive your grades
  • Contact us to discuss your application.

Prepare for results day

What to do before results day video thumbnail

Hi there I'm Praveen. I'm one of the clearing advisors here at Middlesex University. I know clearing can be really scary, but it's really nothing to worry about and there's a place out there for you. So this is what to expect if you’re thinking about applying to Middlesex university through Clearing this year. Clearing is a process where you get to apply to right when you get your exam results. So the purpose of this guide is to make you ready for when these come out. It’s a great opportunity if you did not receive the grades you were hoping for, or you change your mind in a course or a university or you haven't applied to uni at all. As a clearing advisor, here are some tips that I could give you to make your journey easier. First of all, do your research and find out which course you would like to apply for, and then make a list of all the universities offering this course, hopefully including Middlesex, and write down their contact details. And after that, make sure you have all your qualifications ready because you will need them to apply for the university. So result day is here, this is a big day cause you’re going to call all the universities. But first things first, make sure you go on UCAS and check the situation on the applications that you might have applied for. These are the four things that you need to have ready by the time you call us. First of all, your exam results. Ucas ID, the course that you want to apply for, and maybe any questions that you would like to ask for clearing advisors about it. our call will be connected to one of us. We will get your personal identification, Ucas ID, get details about the course you’d like to apply for, and then check our availability. Check if you meet the entry requirements with your grades, and if yes, then we will be able to make you an offer. So what happens after? If you accept your offer via call then you’ll receive a confirmation email with all your details regarding your offer. After that, you just need to log into your UCAS account and put the university as your clearing choice. And then the university will confirm your place. It’s that simple!

What to do before results day

UCAS Clearing timeline for 2025

  • 5 July

    Clearing opens

  • 6 July

    International Baccalaureate (IB) exam results day

  • 14 August

    A Level (and BTEC) results day

  • 21 August

    GCSE results day

  • 24 September

    Final day for 2025 UCAS undergraduate applications

  • 12pm on 3 October

    Final day for 2025 direct Clearing applications

Clearing at Middlesex

What is Clearing?

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How to apply for Clearing

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Clearing FAQs

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Contact us about Clearing