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Glam Ledger

How long does a clearing decision take?

Author

Noah Mitchell

Published Apr 17, 2026

Most of the Clearing process happens over the phone - it's only the last step that requires a Clearing number and the 'Add a Clearing Choice' button on UCAS Track. If you had to be released by either your firm or insurance, you will need to wait for confirmation that this has been done, which may take up to 2 weeks.

In this regard, do clearing accept lower grades?

Most universities that have course vacancies during Clearing will be prepared to accept you if your grades are below their entry requirements as long as you sound passionate and are right for the degree subject. They may also accept you based on the UCAS points you've accumulated rather than you final grades.

Beside above, how long does track take to update? * Please note that Track can take up to 24 hours to update.

Likewise, can you go through clearing if you have an offer?

It's available July to September each year. If you had conditional offers but your exam results didn't go to plan, you can use Clearing from results day, when Clearing vacancies will be listed in our search tool.

What time does clearing open on results day?

3pm

Related Question Answers

How do you get released into clearing?

How to use UCAS Clearing Self-Release
  1. Sign into your Track account and click the 'Decline my place' button on your profile page.
  2. You will be taken to a page explaining what this entails and asked to complete a set of questions and confirm your decision.
  3. You will then receive an email confirming you are in Clearing.

What happens if you don't get the grades for a conditional offer?

If you hold a conditional offer but don't get the grades to meet it, the university can still accept youbut it's at their discretion. They could also offer you a place on a different course. If no decisions are showing on Track, call the institutions.

Do you need grades for clearing?

Most universities that have course vacancies during Clearing will be prepared to accept you if your grades are below their entry requirements as long as you sound passionate and are right for the degree subject. They may also accept you based on the UCAS points you've accumulated rather than you final grades.

What happens when you go through clearing?

Clearing matches applicants to university places that are yet to be filled. It's available to anyone who has made a UCAS Undergraduate application and doesn't hold any offers. you are not holding any offers from universities or colleges you've applied to. your place is not confirmed after exam results are published.

What unis do clearing?

UK universities with clearing courses
UK ranking 2019 World University Ranking 2019 University
7 38 King's College London
8 57 University of Manchester
9 78 University of Bristol
10 =79 University of Warwick

How long does it take to hear back from clearing?

two to three weeks

Can you get into UCL through clearing?

UCL is my Firm choice, but I want to be released into clearing? What should I do? You are able to release yourself into Clearing by signing into UCAS Track and clicking the self-release button on the homepage. Please note that this process is irreversible.

What happens if I don't get my A level grades?

Speak to the university or college you planned to go to – they may still take you, especially if you only just missed out on your grades. If you're not able to get onto your chosen course, you can use UCAS' Clearing service to find a similar course which is right for you, with entry requirements that match your grades.

Do universities know your results before you?

Ucas Track informs students of universities' decisions at around 8.00am, before many teenagers have arrived at their schools to collect their results envelopes. Universities, which find out applicants' A-level results a few days in advance, inform Ucas of their decision ahead of results day.

When can I apply for clearing 2020?

Key dates for Clearing 2020 For those taking the International Baccalaureate, Clearing opens on Monday 6 July 2020. If you're doing a BTEC or other vocational qualfication, then Clearing opens when you get your results in either July or August. Clearing in 2020 will remain open until 20th October.

Can you get into Oxbridge through clearing?

Oxford University does not participate in UCAS Clearing, Extra or Adjustment. There are no further places available at Oxford University for any courses starting this year. Please also remember that competition for places at Oxford is intense and even excellent results will unfortunately not guarantee you a place.

Do I need a personal statement for clearing?

A. You'll need to complete the UCAS application as normal, including a personal statement. You can't add course choices but, once registered, you'll receive an email with a link to the track service and your Clearing number. Read our expert advice on writing the perfect personal statement.

How many clearing choices can you add?

' You can apply for one choice at a time through Clearing. Once a choice has been selected, you cannot add another, unless you've been unsuccessful with the first one.

Can you reject your firm choice on results day?

Rejecting choices on Results day. It is possible at Results time to withdraw from the UCAS system. Strictly speaking, you will be asking those CF and CI universities to release you from the agreement you made with them. In practice, there will be no issue as they don't want unhappy students.

Can you change your mind after accepting a university offer?

Changing your mind If you change your mind after you accept an offer, you may have to withdraw your application and will not be able to use Clearing to look for another course. Contact UCAS for advice.

Do Unis give offers on weekends?

Do universities give out decisions at evenings/weekends/school holidays? Technically no. However, UCAS can sometimes take a while to update, and the time for the track email to be sent even longer, so while the university will have given you a reply within working office hours, track could update at 10pm on a Saturday.

How long does it take for a uni to make an offer?

Here's what a few different unis told us: 'All applicants should hear back within two to three weeks of applying. ' 'All applicants should receive an offer or an invitation to interview within ten working days.

What happens after I accept my uni offer?

By accepting an unconditional offer, you are committing to attend. Ucas will set you a deadline to reply to your offers. You reply to all your offers at once, including declining any offers that you don't pick as your firm or insurance. You'll usually have a few weeks to make your choices so use the time wisely.

Do Northumbria give unconditional offers?

Once the conditions have been met we will be able to provide you with an Unconditional offer. *If you have been unable to achieve the grades required, please still submit them as we may be able to offer you an alternative.

What do you do on results day?

Here's what you can do:
  1. Call your top choice university. Even if your results are lower than your conditional offer, there is a chance your first-choice university will offer you a place anyway.
  2. Go through university clearing.
  3. Consider A-level retakes.
  4. Study abroad.
  5. Consider other options.

How do universities decide on offers?

Universities will reply with their decision or sometimes with an invitation for an interview. Often this will be within a couple of weeks of receiving your application, but sometimes it can take longer. It all depends on how many applications the admissions tutors are working through.

Does UCAS Track update at the weekend?

Do universities give out decisions at evenings/weekends/school holidays? Technically no. However, UCAS can sometimes take a while to update, and the time for the track email to be sent even longer, so while the university will have given you a reply within working office hours, track could update at 10pm on a Saturday.

How long does Imperial take to give offers?

After the interview, it took 1-2 weeks for them to reach out with a conditional offer.

What time does track update on results day?

The service actually updates from 8am on A-level results day (August 15, 2019). If you check Track and it says your place is “unconditional” then well done you've been accepted.

How long does it take to get an acceptance letter from a university?

six to eight weeks

How quickly do universities make offers?

Here's what a few different unis told us: 'All applicants should hear back within two to three weeks of applying. ' 'All applicants should receive an offer or an invitation to interview within ten working days.

What do I do if no university accepts me?

If you don't get accepted to any school you've applied to, you still have some options: You can go to a community college and then transfer—sometimes after a semester, but usually after a year. You can apply to a college that offers rolling admission—sometimes as late as the summer after your senior year.

Can you apply for clearing before results day?

Clearing actually kicks off before results day Note that the majority of Clearing places won't become available until after A-level results are published in mid-August – but if you do find a course that's listed in Clearing before then, make sure you apply early to avoid the post-exam result rush.

Do universities email you on results day?

As universities are shown your A-level results they will start updating your Track to show whether or not you have been accepted onto the course you applied for. It's unlikely that universities will email you directly with an offer.

How do you know if you have been accepted into university?

Most colleges have status checks through their undergraduate admissions offices website. The confirmation that tells you they have received your application usually will have a website login and password so only you can see at what stage of the process your application is.

Does Warwick Do clearing?

70% of Warwick courses in Clearing this year. At the University of Warwick, 146 of the 209 undergraduate courses, corresponding to 69.9% of all courses offered, have spaces advertised through Clearing in the 2018/19 admissions cycle.

How do you know if you've been accepted into university?

Unless the university sends you a letter or email where they say you are accepted, there are no other things. Universities can send such a letter before the official day when they announce the decisions on their admissions portal.

What if my predicted grades are lower than entry requirements?

Your predicted grades are a big part of your university application. They show the universities you to how academically capable you are, and whether you are likely to receive your entry requirements. If your predicted grades are lower than you need for the university course you are interested in, don't give up.