Clearing advice for parents and supporters

Individuals can apply through Clearing if: 

• they did not get any offers from any of the 5 institutions they listed on their UCAS form
• they were not awarded the grades they needed for their first and second (Firm and Insurance) choice of university
• they have changed their minds about what or where they want to study
• they achieved higher results than they were predicted and want to explore other options, andr/or
• they did not apply through UCAS at all for this year’s entry.

From Friday 5 July to Friday 19 July 2024, an applicant can submit a Clearing application online at any time, including weekends. We call this period Early Clearing. Applicants can only submit during Early Clearing if they already have their relevant results (i.e. A-Level or equivalent results).

Between Saturday 20 July and Wednesday 14 August 2024, applications will be closed.

Applications will reopen on Thursday 15 August 2023 when many students receive their A Level results. A Clearing application can be submitted at any time after 15 August, including weekends, as long as places are available – but many of our courses fill up quickly.

You will be able to find a list of course vacancies on the UCAS website or on our website once Early Clearing has opened on Friday 5 July 2024.

The list of available courses will then be updated as necessary when Clearing opens fully on Thursday 15 August 2024.

All applications for Clearing at St George’s, University of London can be made online via our application form which will be available when Early Clearing opens on Friday 5 to  Friday 19 July 2024. This form will reopen on the morning of A Level Results Day, Thursday 15 August.

Applications can also be made over the phone from 8.30am on Thursday 15 August. However, please be aware that phonelines will be extremely busy and you may prefer to submit an application online. 

If an applicant had received better than expected results and would like to consider another option, they can choose to enter Clearing.

However, applicants who have firm unconditional offers on UCAS will need to decline (also known as self-releasing) their offer to enter Clearing at St George's. Once this original offer has been declined, it may not be possible to get it back.

Once the held offer has been declined, an applicant can then explore what courses are available at all institutions that have places available via Clearing. 

Please note that we are unable to make a Clearing offer to applicants who hold offers on other programmes or at other universities. 

This period can be stressful for applicants. However, it is worth remembering that with a little preparation, Clearing can be a quick and successful process.

Here are some ways you can support an applicant ahead of, and during Clearing:

Research and discuss options together

You might like to consider together the pros and cons of different universities and courses. Things to talk about could be career prospects, travel/commute time, funding options, the local area and/or accommodation.

Find out more about life at St George’s by visiting our Explore St George's pages.

When it comes to looking at subjects to study, it is important to look at course entry criteria for each university. However, in Clearing the published entry criteria may change, so an applicant should not be deterred from applying if they just miss the entry criteria.

Consider different subjects

It is worth thinking about alternative options and back up options. Are there any similar courses they might also enjoy? Are there any other routes they could take if they have a specific career in mind? Some of our healthcare courses have lower entry criteria than others, and we are happy to discuss these with you if we are unable to offer you a place on your first choice. 

Be ready to make an application

Before clearing begins, applicants should be ready to apply swiftly once they have their results. You could help gather the information they will need to complete their online application, including: 

• Their 10-digit UCAS personal ID number
• Their level 2 (GCSEs or equivalent) and level 3 (A Level or equivalent) results, or degree result
• UCAT score (for Medicine applicants only)
• Their email address (ideally not their school email address as access is often removed over the summer)
• A contact telephone number
• Which course(s) they want to apply for
• Any other qualifications that may be relevant to their application.