How Clearing works

Find information about the Clearing process, whether you're a UK or international applicant. 

What is university Clearing?

Clearing has now closed for 2024. 

Clearing is another opportunity to find the course that's right for you.

If we have places available on the course you're interested in and you meet our requirements, you'll be able to apply through Clearing.

Who can apply

Clearing has now closed for 2024.

If we have courses available in Clearing you can apply for a place with us if: 

  • you have your results and, if applicable, your English language test results
  • you've not yet applied to any universities in this cycle
  • you've achieved higher grades than expected
  • your results are not as good as predicted for your original firm and insurance choice universities, and you have been rejected by both choices

We can't make any conditional offers in Clearing so if you don’t have all your results, you’ll need to wait until they are available.

When Clearing opens

Clearing has now closed for 2024.

How to apply

If we're in Clearing, you'll be able to apply for courses by:

  • exploring our course vacancies
  • selecting the course you're interested in
  • completing a short application form

Our course vacancies page will show if we have places available on your chosen course. We do not operate waiting lists for any of our courses.

Entry requirements

Our course vacancies page includes A level entry requirements for our courses in Clearing. You can discuss other UK qualifications with our admissions team: admissions@southampton.ac.uk

Course availability and entry requirements are subject to change.

Contextual admissions

We sometimes use additional information to consider applications to study with us. This information provides us with context for individuals' university applications and achievements. It also supports our admissions team in identifying an applicants' potential to succeed at university, regardless of their background.

You may be eligible for an alternative offer and additional support if you:

  • have been in care or looked after for 3 months or more
  • live within a postcode in a low participation neighbourhood, also known as POLAR4 quintile 1
  • are the first generation in your family to attend higher education and you attended a lower-performing school or college
  • have participated in one of our recognised outreach or widening participation programmes
  • live within a postcode assigned to Quintile 1, equivalent to decile 1 and 2, according to the English Index of Deprivation
  • were eligible for free school meals after the age of 14

Please see our contextual admissions page for more information.

How to contact us

If you have any questions for our admissions team, you can still contact them by:

Phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, UK time.

Your next steps