What is Clearing Plus?

There's always a lot of talk about Clearing in the build-up to results day, but have you heard about Clearing Plus?

Here's what you need to know about it, and how to get involved.

What is Clearing Plus?

Clearing Plus is a tool you can use within Clearing to get a personalised list of courses that are likely to accept you.

So if you want to use Clearing to find a university and course, Clearing Plus can make the process easier by matching unplaced applicants to relevant courses with vacancies.

• Read more: a guide to Ucas Clearing

The traditional way to use Clearing is to research available courses and phone the universities to ask for a place. You would then enter the details on Ucas Hub after you've received a verbal offer that you want to accept.

It's still worth following those steps, but with Clearing Plus you have the additional option of letting Ucas do the matching for you.

What is the difference between Clearing and Clearing Plus?

Clearing and Clearing Plus are both Ucas tools that help students find university courses with available places, but they're not the same.

Clearing will let you browse all of the available courses at universities, while Clearing Plus suggests courses that are likely to accept you based on your Ucas application.

How does Clearing Plus work?

If you're eligible for Clearing Plus, a button called 'see matches' will appear in your Ucas Hub application, which you can press to see a list of your top 50 matches.

The matches will be based on your qualifications, original university choices, and what universities are they're looking for - as well as what other Clearing students similar to you have gone on to study.

Do I have to use Clearing Plus?

No, you can still use Clearing the traditional way. Ucas says that "courses in Clearing fill up quickly, and you may not always receive a call [from a Clearing Plus match], so we recommend you also keep your options open and look for courses using Clearing".

You can use the Ucas Clearing search tool on the Ucas website here.

Who can use Clearing Plus?

Clearing Plus will be available to anyone who has been unsuccessful with their application or is applying for the first time for a place in Clearing.

When can I use Clearing Plus?

You can use Clearing Plus from the start of Clearing, which opens on 5 July 2025.

Find out more about Clearing and results day 2025 in our dedicated hub here or visit The Student Room's applications, Clearing and Ucas forum to see what questions other students are asking.