An ideal way for you to find a course, Clearing is a way to enrol on to a course that still has space for enrolment. In other words, university applicants are able to be matched with universities that still have unfilled spaces. A total of 52,610 students managed to secure university offers through UCAS using Clearing in 2020. Any course you apply to after 30 June using UCAS will automatically be entered into Clearing. This carries on from July to October and you will be able to search for courses that still have places using the portal. You will only be able to apply if:

• you applied after 30 June 
• you have not received any offers or are not willing to accept any of those that are received 
• you received conditional offers but did not get the grades 

It is also worth noting that Clearing applications can only be made for one choice at a time. Once you have found a course, give the university a call to see if they can give you an offer. If you have been unsuccessful, you will be able to add another course and university.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK-based organisation responsible for managing university and college applications in the UK. They are the official online admissions service for students in the UK and main services include application portals to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, access to admissions services as well as information and advice for students. The vast majority of UK universities, institutions and higher education colleges use the UCAS service for undergraduate programmes. To apply to university, up to five courses can be chosen where then an application fee is paid. Personal details, previous education, employment details (if applicable), reference details and personal statements make up the contents of the application to be submitted. Universities then give students an unconditional or conditional offer of admission if the student meets the entry requirements and grades. Depending on the subject and university, there are four different application deadlines. All applications must be received by 18:00 UK time.

2021 Application Deadlines 

15 October 2020 for 2021 entry: Application deadline for all courses at Oxford University and Cambridge University, as well as most courses in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and veterinary science.

15 January 2021: Deadline for most undergraduate courses except those listed above for 15 October 2021.

24 March 2021: Deadline for some art and design courses.

30 June 2021: Generally it is possible for students to apply through UCAS up until 30 June for courses that still have a place to offer. If applying after this date, your application will automatically be entered into a process known as Clearing where applicants are matched to universities with spaces on courses.

2022 Applications

18 May 2021: Applications for Undergraduate 2022 entry open

7 September 2021: Students can start submitting applications and application fees for 2022 entry. Universities and colleges can make admissions decisions

Practising is key to doing well for your IELTS, remember to cover all components of the test including Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking –  The British Council covers advice and information from past test takers and free and accessible practice tests are also available on their website.

Listening:

The Listening component is made up of 40 questions which are based on 4 recordings. It’s important to time yourself here and listen actively by not losing focus or leaving any blank answers. Attempt all questions because there are no penalties for incorrect answers. Try listening to English every day (i.e. through Television, YouTube, podcasts, radio, etc.) and get familiar with different accents. 

Speaking:

Listen to the questions and try to speak clearly and slowly when doing the speaking part of the exam. Practising speaking English every day will help you do well and not simply memorise your answers – otherwise, it will look too scripted. Give full answers but do not use big and unfamiliar words – instead, try being more descriptive and stay away from overly used words like ‘okay, ‘good’-’bad’, etc.

Reading:

The reading component has around 14 different types of questions. Increase your reading skills by making the effort to read more in English or take up your favourite book in English. Make sure to read the instructions and time your reading so you are able to highlight keywords and points of the passage, which will allow you to match and understand the questions more thoroughly. 

Writing:

Practise being comfortable with common topics – observing the way quality answers are commonly written and the way grammar use is structured in sentences. Develop your approach to explanations by incorporating a varied vocabulary, using strong verbs to give more meaning and not overusing common adjectives.