We use cookies on this website to improve the experience we provide. By continuing to use our site you agree to this, or visit our cookie policy to manage your settings.
Saved courses
Search website

Clearing FAQs

Here, you can find answers to all of our frequently asked questions. 

What is Clearing?

1, What is Clearing?
2. When does Clearing open?
3. When does Clearing end?
4. How does Clearing work?
5. Why apply in Clearing?
6. When do A Level results come out?
7. How do I apply through Clearing?

Your application

After an offer

Enrolment

Accommodation

Student finance

The start of term

1. What is Clearing?

Clearing offers you a chance to find a full-time undergraduate course to start this September. Thousands of students find their university place through Clearing every year, so you wouldn’t be alone in exploring your options.

2. When does Clearing open?

Clearing opens at the beginning of July each year. From 5 July 2024, you can apply for a course using Clearing if you’re not already holding an offer from a university or college, and the course still has places, or you’ve declined your firm place using the ‘decline my place’ button in your application. If you don't have your results yet, you can apply to see if you can be given a provisional offer. We aim to make you a provisional offer of a place while you’re waiting for your exam results. Providing you meet the terms of your provisional offer; your place will be confirmed after results day when you share your results with us. 

If you want to wait until you have your results, you can apply from 15 August. We advise you to research your course options early though so that you are prepared when A Level/BTEC Results Day arrives.

3. When does Clearing end?

Clearing usually closes around the end of September or when the courses in Clearing are full.

4. How does Clearing work?

A university will publish a list of the courses which have places available to start in the coming September. You can apply for the course either online or by calling the university's Clearing hotline which opens on A Level/BTEC Results Day (Thursday 15 August).

If you have the required results for the course, you can be made an offer in Clearing. Once you have been made an offer, you will receive an email from the university which explains what you need to do next to accept your offer and make arrangements for student finance or accommodation if you need it.

5. Why apply in Clearing?

There are many reasons why you might want to apply for university in Clearing: 

  • You change your mind about the course you’ve already applied for
  • You change your mind about the university you've already applied for
  • Your results are not what you expected (this could be worse, or better than you thought!)
  • You decide to apply at the last minute

6. When do A Level results come out?

Results day is Thursday 15 August 2024. You can usually log on to your UCAS Hub account on the morning of results day to find out whether your status has changed and if you have met your offer, however, this won’t give you any details about how many UCAS tariff points you have. If you call a university Clearing hotline, you will need to have your grades in order to get an offer for a place however you can call us before and we’ll be happy to advise you on your potential options.

7. How do I apply through Clearing?

1) Check which courses are available

Not all university courses have places in Clearing as they may already be full for this September. Once you've found a course that you’re interested in, you'll need to check that you have the UCAS tariff points stated and any other specific entry requirements for the course. Sometimes the UCAS tariff points for Clearing are different to the main UCAS entry requirements. 

2) Apply

From 5 July 2024, you can apply for a course using Clearing if you’re not already holding an offer from a university or college, and the course still has places, or you’ve declined your firm place using the ‘decline my place’ button in your application. If you don't have your results yet, you can still apply to see if you can be given a provisional offer. We aim to make you a provisional offer of a place while you’re waiting for your exam results. Providing you meet the terms of your provisional offer; your place will be confirmed after results day when you share your results with us. 

If you want to wait until you have your results, you can apply either online or by calling the university's Clearing hotline which opens on A Level/BTEC Results Day (Thursday 15 August).. We advise you to research your course options early though so that you are prepared when A Level/BTEC Results Day arrives.

 

8. What time will my UCAS Hub update on results day?

Applicants will be able to see changes in their UCAS Hub from 8am on 15 August. This will allow applicants to see if they have been placed at their firm or insurance choice or are in Clearing.

 

9. I have my results but want to change my course to a different one at Birmingham City University. What should I do?

If you hold an offer with Birmingham City University and want to see if you can change to another course with us, you must put this request in writing to our Admissions team via our online form. 

Please do not decline your place on your existing course at BCU or use Clearing to try and change your course if you hold a firm or insurance offer with us. This can affect any accommodation arrangements you may have and your eligibility for an undergraduate scholarship (for 2024/25 entry this is the Accelerate or High Achiever Scholarship) if you met the criteria for it. Applicants who receive an offer through Clearing will not be eligible for the scholarship. 

 

10. My offer is still showing as conditional but I have my results and meet the conditions of my offer for my course choice. Can I confirm my place using Clearing? 

No. As you already hold an offer for that course, you should not use Clearing to confirm your place on it if your offer is still showing as conditional. You should provide us with proof of your results as it is likely that we may not have received them from UCAS, or you have taken a qualification which UCAS don’t provide results for, and we need you to provide them to us instead.  

If you hold a conditional offer with Birmingham City University, and have received confirmation of all of the exam results for the qualifications needed for the conditions of your offer, please upload proof of your results to our mySRS Portal and our Admissions team will check these as soon as they possibly can.  

Please do not use Clearing to try and confirm your place if you hold a firm or insurance offer with us as this can affect your eligibility for an undergraduate scholarships if you met the criteria for it. Applicants who receive an offer through Clearing will not be eligible for the scholarship. 

If we have not been able to confirm your place on results day, we will send you an email on the morning of results day in August telling you and informing you of the reason why and if there is anything we need you to do. Please make sure that you have read this email carefully so you know why your offer is still conditional. 

 

11. What should I do if I haven't received my GCSE results?

If you haven't received your results yet please get back in touch when you have your results. GCSEs are not published until 22 August. As soon as you have received your GCSE results, check our website for course availability information in Clearing and call our Clearing Hotline if places are available and you would like to apply.

 

12. What should I do if I want to join year two or three of a course?

The deadline to apply for year two or three was 30 June and we are unable to consider applications after this date for the coming September. If you wish to apply for next September, please apply via UCAS. Please see Advanced Entry for further details.

 

13. I was told someone would call me back but I haven't heard anything yet.

We’re really busy at the moment, as I’m sure you can understand. We’re processing everything as fast as we can so please be patient, someone will get back to you as soon as possible.

 

14. What should I do if I'm an EU or International applicant?

Please email international.admissions@bcu.ac.uk and a member of our International Team will be able to help you.

 

15. What should I do if my grades are better than I expected?

If you’ve done better than you thought and want to change universities, you can decline your place in your application to go through Clearing instead.  If you

If you want to change your course to a different one at Birmingham City University, you must put this request in writing to our Admissions team via our online form. Please do not decline your place on your existing course at BCU or use Clearing to try and change your course if you hold a firm or insurance offer with us. This can affect any accommodation arrangements you may have and your eligibility for an undergraduate scholarship (for 2024/25 entry this is the Accelerate or High Achiever Scholarship) if you met the criteria for it. Applicants who receive an offer through Clearing will not be eligible for the scholarship. 

 

16. I have a disability, will it affect my application?

No, it won’t affect your application. But please record it on your application form and someone from the Enablement Team will be in touch to discuss this in further detail and will be able to provide the information you need.

Click here to find out more about our Enablement and Wellbeing services and what support we offer.

 

17. Can I start one course and transfer to another one?

Whilst it is sometimes possible to transfer between courses within the University, this can only be done within a small time frame if you were to want to change shortly after starting a course and it also depends on whether or not places are available on the other course and whether or not you would meet the entry requirements for that course. Therefore, we would stress that we cannot guarantee that switching courses will be possible and you should ensure that you choose the course you want to apply for carefully and be aware that you may not be able to change from it if you change your mind.

 

18. How do I apply for the January intake for nursing?

If you already have your qualification results and the January intake has vacancies advertised in Clearing, you can apply now. If you are waiting for qualification results, please check with us once you have received confirmation of these so we can advise about the most appropriate method to apply at that time.

 

19. Do you accept foundation years as entry requirements?

If you have a foundation year but don't have enough UCAS points from A Levels, please call the Clearing hotline on 0121 331 6777 so we can pass you through to the faculty to make a decision.

After an offer

 

20. Where's my offer email?

Your offer email should be with you within an hour of you receiving the offer. If it has been longer please contact our admissions team, who will check your details.  

 

21. What do I do next?

You need to accept your offer on UCAS; make sure you’ve released yourself from your firm/insurance choices and then add your offer into UCAS. You then need to consider accommodation and student finance.

 

22. How long does my offer last?

Your offer lasts 24 hours, which gives you time to put your offer into UCAS. Your offer email should tell you how to do this, but if you're unsure we have a guide on how to do this. 

 

23. I'm waiting for another university to release me into Clearing - will my place disappear?

Try not to panic, your place is yours, we won’t give it away in a hurry. However, try to put your offer into UCAS as quickly as possible. You can decline your place and enter into Clearing through UCAS Track so you don't need to wait for another university to release you. If you're having problems, please email our admissions team and let them know.  

 

24. How do I prove my qualifications?

You will have to upload details into the enrolment portal or bring them on your first day.

 

25. How do I get released from an offer?

You can decline your place on your UCAS Hub to enter into Clearing. See our guide on how to do this.

 

26. Why haven't you released me yet?

We’re really busy at the moment, as we're sure you can understand. We’re processing everything as fast as we can so please be patient.

 

27. Why do I have an interview?

Some courses ask for an interview before they give you a place. You should have all the information about where you’re going and what you’re doing, but if you don’t please get in touch with the department. Find out how a Clearing interview works.

 

28. I can't make my interview, what do I do?

Contact the department directly, they’ll be able to help you.

 

29. When do I hear about my interview results?

The interviewer should have told you when you can expect to hear back from us. We try to make a decision quickly. If you haven’t heard after a couple of days, get in touch with the department directly. 

Enrolment 

 

30. How do I enrol?

Once your offer is confirmed, you'll get an email soon explaining how to enrol with step-by-step instructions, so keep an eye out!

 

31. Where's my enrolment email?

It should be with you soon, once your offer has been confirmed. But, if you email admissions with your UCAS ID, full name and correct email address they can check we’ve got the right email address for you.

 

32. I'm stuck on enrolment, I need help.

If you’re stuck on enrolment please email studentengagement@bcu.ac.uk and they’ll be able to help you!

 

33. When do I get my student ID card?

Your student ID card will be sent in the post to you once you've completed your online enrolment. If it is not possible to send your student ID card in the post, you will be sent some information about when and where to collect your student ID card. 

 

34. When I applied for the course I used the wrong email. Can I change this?

You can ask your Faculty/School to change this for you and re-send the invitation email. You can find contact details for your subject area at the top of this page.

35. I have enrolled online, but I need to complete my enrolment on campus. How do I complete this? 

You will have been given an induction/enrolment date on the enrolment portal, but you can also search for the date for your course. The page will tell you when and where to attend and what to bring with you to complete your enrolment.

 

36. If I'm waiting to complete my enrolment on campus, does that mean I can't set up my email?

As long as you’ve completed the online process of your enrolment, you will have access to our systems including your BCU email, our internal web portal iCity and our online learning platform Moodle.

You will find your network login details within your personal details on the enrolment portal.

 

37. The link to my induction date isn't working. Where can I find the information?

You can search for the date for your course here.

 

38. I have a query about my induction and can't find the information on the website. Who do I contact?

You will need to contact your Faculty/School admin team about this. You can find contact details for your subject area on our website.

Induction information will also be available on your timetable, which you can access on iCity from the end of August.

 

39. I've just completed my foundation/first/second year and need to re-enrol. How did I do this?

You will receive an email to your BCU inbox over the next couple of weeks inviting you to enrol. You can do this online on MySRS and it only takes 10 minutes.

 

40. Someone on my course has been asked to re-enrol but I haven't had my email.

You will need to contact your School Office about this.

 

41. I've been asked to re-enrol for the wrong course.

You will need to contact your Faculty/School admin team about this.

Accommodation 

 

42. How do I apply for accommodation?

You can apply for accommodation here.

 

43. Where is this accommodation?

We can't be specific about where you will be placed for accommodation as it depends on what rooms are still available. You can find out more about the different options we offer on our Accommodation page.

 

44. I don't like this accommodation - can I move?

If you don’t like the accommodation you’ve been allocated please email our accommodation team to discuss your options.

 

45. Where should I live?

You can apply for student accommodation by visiting our accommodation site. But if you’d like to live in private accommodation we’d recommend looking at BCUSU’s website which can help you find somewhere to live.

Student Finance

 

46. How do I apply for student finance?

You can read more about how to apply for student finance here - it’s very easy to do!

 

47. Can I have a scholarship or bursary?

You can read more about scholarships and bursaries here and the financial support available to undergraduates here. 

 

48. How do I transfer my student finance?

Contact Student Finance in order to notify them of any changes to the course and/ or institution you are applying for. Further information about making changes to your student finance application can be found online.

The start of term

 

49. Where's my timetable?

You will be sent your timetable closer to the start of term with details of when you have classes on campus. You'll be able to access your timetable on iCity or on the iBCU app, so long as you've completed your online enrolment. 

 

50. When does term begin?

The majority of courses will start on Monday 23 September, but you will also need to attend your course induction beforehand, which you can search for here.

 

51. Do I have to go to Welcome Week?

You should attend the course activities and lectures that are planned, as you may miss important information if you skip them. However, you don’t have to attend the social activities but we highly recommend going to a few, especially the societies and clubs fair so you can get involved in other activities! Read more about Welcome Week here.

 

52. When is reading week? Can I go on holiday?

Not all courses have a reading week, so we would recommend getting in touch with your department to find out if you do have one, and bear in mind that reading week isn’t exactly a holiday, it’s a chance to get essays, coursework and reading done! 

 

53. Who's my personal tutor?

You’ll be assigned a personal tutor during your first week at uni, if not before so keep an eye on your emails! 

 

54. Where do I go on my first day?

You’ll be told where to go in your enrolment confirmation email, but if you don’t have this, you can search for the details for your course here. 

Get in touch with us

The Enrolment Support Team can be contacted by email or telephone. The team are available Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.

Email: studentengagement@bcu.ac.uk

Telephone: +77 121 331 5684 

When you contact the Enrolment Support Team via email, please include your Student ID number. When calling please have your Student ID number to hand, as this will enable us to assist you with any queries you may have.