35 frequently asked Clearing questions

Clearing lets potential students apply to university courses later in the year than usual.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve already applied through UCAS earlier this year, or whether you’re considering higher education for the first time. You can apply this summer and start studying in September. 

You can apply to Manchester Met through Clearing from July until September.

Clearing is most popular when A-level results are published in August. 

Places on courses in Clearing are limited. If we fill all our vacancies, we’ll close the course for this year.

That’s why we encourage you to call us as soon as you can. But there’s no need to panic. It’s still important to find the right course. Our admissions tutors can advise whether the course you want in Clearing is right for you.

You can contact as many universities as you like. But you can only accept one Clearing offer from one university.

You can only apply to one course at a time through Clearing.  

But you can talk to several universities about their courses before making the formal application on UCAS Hub. 

If you’re holding an offer, you need to reject it in UCAS Hub to apply somewhere else.  

If you don’t meet the conditions of your offer and are unsuccessful, the university you applied to will release you into Clearing.  

You can only use Clearing if you are not holding an offer with a university.

If you’re holding an offer that you don’t want to accept, you can release yourself from your offer.

You can do this on UCAS Hub.  

Do some research and read about the course you are interested in on our website.

You’ll speak to a member of our teaching staff from your chosen course as part of our Clearing process. This is your opportunity to ask questions about your new course and find out if it is right for you.

We also host Clearing Visit Days for new offer holders.  

If you’re unsuccessful for your firm choice but meet the conditions of your insurance choice, you’ll be transferred to your insurance choice.

However, if you don’t want to take up your insurance choice, you can release yourself into Clearing, and apply for a new course.

For more details, please log into UCAS Hub.

View our courses

If you’ve been offered a place through Clearing, you’ll be invited to a visit day in August. It’s like an open day, just for people in Clearing. This is your opportunity to get a feel for your new course and Manchester Met.

Going on holiday during Clearing could be a problem unless you’re available to contact us while you’re away.

We can only discuss your application with you — not with your parents, carers, advisers or friends.

Clearing Plus is available from 5 July if you don’t already have a place at university.

It’s a way for you to view potential course matches and contact universities you would like to hear from.

Read more on the UCAS website about Clearing Plus.  

You’ll still need to call our Clearing helpline to get an offer from Manchester Met.  

If your grades meet the entry requirements of the course you’re interested in, please call us on +44 (0)161 247 3000.  

We’re very busy during the A-level results period. We’ve extended our opening times to speak with everybody that needs our support. 

Normal opening hours (Wednesday 5 July–Friday 8 September) 

• Monday–Friday, 09:00–16:15 

Extended A-level results opening hours 

• Thursday 17 August, 08:00–20:00 

• Friday 18 August, 08:00–18:00 

• Saturday 19 August, 10:00–16:00 

At Manchester Met, we don’t ask for a personal statement. The admissions tutors at other universities may expect one. 

You might need a follow-up interview if we make you an offer. One of our teaching staff will talk you through the course, and ask why you want to study it. They might also ask about relevant life or work experience. And how you became interested in the subject. Having this information written down in front of you can be helpful.

You’ll know if you’re eligible to apply to university courses through Clearing when you log in to UCAS Hub and see the Clearing option displayed.

Once you have your results, visit UCAS Hub to check if you have been offered a place at the university. 

When you call the Clearing helpline, our friendly advisers will talk you through the process.  

Before you call us, please have the following information ready: 

• Which courses interest you 
• Your UCAS Personal ID (PID) 
• Your academic qualification details (levels 2 and 3, such as GCSEs, A-levels and BTECs) 

If your qualifications meet the course entry requirements, our advisers will make you an offer of a place.  

You may need to do an interview or submit a portfolio of work before we make you an offer. 

We are here to help and guide you during the call, so don’t worry if you feel nervous. 

The Clearing helpline is always really busy on results day. 

We try our best to answer every call as soon as possible.  

Please be patient and continue to call until you get through. 

If our Clearing helpline team has told you we’ll call you back, please wait to hear from us.  

We’re super busy on results day, but we’ll always return your call. 

Call the universities that you’re holding an offer with. There could be several reasons why a decision hasn’t been made. 

If you’re holding an offer with Manchester Met, call our Confirmation helpline on +44 (0)161 247 2931.

If you haven’t met the conditions of your offer, there’s still a chance that your insurance university may accept you.  

Check the status of your application on UCAS Hub or contact the university you’ve applied to directly. 

If you’re holding a conditional firm offer (CF) with Manchester Met, please call our Confirmation helpline on +44 (0)161 247 2931.

If you haven’t met the conditions of your offer, there’s a chance that your chosen university may still accept you. Check the status of your application on UCAS Hub or contact the university you’ve applied to directly. 

If you’ve applied to Manchester Met, please call the Confirmation helpline on +44 (0)161 247 2931.

If you’ve met the conditions of your offer, your university or college will contact you to confirm your place. The confirmation will appear on UCAS Hub.  

If your offer is with Manchester Met and you have any concerns, please call our Confirmation helpline on +44 (0)161 247 2931.

Our friendly staff will be happy to help. 

Visit UCAS Hub to see if your place at university is confirmed (unconditional firm).  

If you’ve applied to Manchester Met, you’ll get an email from us about what happens next. 

UCAS Clearing begins on Wednesday 5 July 2023 and remains open until Wednesday 18 October 2022.  

At Manchester Met, Clearing opens on Wednesday 5 July 2022. It lasts until mid-September, or until our courses are full.

In Clearing, universities can only make unconditional offers. So, you must have all your results before you can get a Clearing offer.   

If your results meet our course requirements, we’re excited to hear from you.  

Chat with our friendly team on +44 (0)161 247 3000.

You can apply to study at Manchester Met in 2023 as long as we still have courses available in Clearing.  

Please apply as early as possible, as many courses fill up quickly and close.  

Check UCAS Clearing for a list of the Manchester Met courses available.

At Manchester Met we can’t accept deferred applications in Clearing. If you apply to us through Clearing this year, you’ll begin studying in September 2023.

Clearing courses are the same as our university degree courses. The only difference is that there are still vacancies for students. This means you can apply in the summer to study a degree course starting a few weeks later. The course content, the fees, the facilities, and the teaching staff are just the same as for people who applied earlier. 

There are several reasons why places are still available during Clearing. There could be a shortage of applicants nationally. Some applicants with places on courses may have withdrawn. A new course may have become available.

Entry requirements for courses aren’t necessarily lowered on results day or during Clearing. Entry requirements can also remain the same as they are during the main application cycle. 

You can apply to study any course with vacancies that interests you. However, please think carefully before you accept an offer. 

For useful information about student finance and bursaries visit funding your studies.

If you’re a late applicant and you haven’t applied for financial support, please follow these steps:  

• If you need financial support, apply for student finance as soon as possible. The later you apply, the longer you’ll have to wait for support 
• If you’re entitled to a bursary from us, we’ll calculate this using the information on your student finance application form 
• Use the calculator on the student finance website to estimate how much financial support you’re likely to receive
• Visit funding your studies for helpful advice

Applying through Clearing may affect the timing of when you get your loan.  

Please apply as early as possible to make sure your student finance is in place for when you need it. You don’t need to have a confirmed place to start your application. If you have already applied, but are now going to study a different course, you need to inform your student finance provider and update your finance application online.  

Find out more about funding your studies

Congratulations! When your university place is confirmed, you may need to apply for student finance, plan for the year ahead and start looking for accommodation. 

If you’re offered a place with Manchester Met in Clearing, congratulations!  

Our admissions team will contact you with instructions on how to add your Clearing course and qualifications on UCAS Hub. There may be a deadline to do this. Once you’ve completed what’s required, we’ll confirm your place.