Clearing
What is Clearing?
Clearing is a service you can use to find courses with vacancies if you've applied late or your results are not as expected. If you're eligible to be in Clearing, a clearing choice button will automatically be added to your UCAS Hub screen.
There will be a Clearing course vacancy search facility on the UCAS website from 5 July and information will be available on individual university websites. Once you've found a course with vacancies that you’re interested in, you’ll need to contact the university to get a verbal offer. Once you've received an offer and you want to accept the place, enter the details of the institution and course into UCAS Hub. Find out more about accepting your Clearing offer.
Am I eligible for Clearing?
You will be eligible for Clearing if:
- You've changed your mind about your chosen course or university
- You've not yet applied but are now ready to apply for a September start or applied after 30 June
- You did apply via UCAS but didn't receive any offers or declined all your offers
- You don't achieve the grades you need for your chosen university offer
How can I find out which courses are still available?
Course vacancies are listed on university websites, on the UCAS website and in the national press. Details of vacancies at Royal Holloway will be published on our website and the UCAS website prior to 17 August, 2023.
What is Clearing plus?
This is a service run by UCAS providing applicants without offers a list of universities with vacancies where required grades are similar to those they’ve achieved. Students can then indicate to these universities that they’re interested in joining them via Clearing. If you’ve expressed an interest in Royal Holloway and we’re able to make you an offer, we’ll be in contact.
When should I call you about Clearing?
You can call us to ask us about Clearing once you have your results. For most people this will be 17 August, A-level results day, but you can call us any time from 5 July if you have results from other other qualifications (e.g. Scottish Higher, International Baccalaureate) or have completed your A-levels in previous years.
You'll need to call us on +44 (0)1784 772455.
Can I nominate someone to call on my behalf?
No, Clearing offers can only be made directly to applicants so you'll need to call yourself.
Results and confirmation
When will I be told if my application is successful?
When we have your results we can make one of four decisions. If we're your first choice university and you have met all the conditions of your offer, your place here will automatically be confirmed.
- Unconditional Firm (UF): Congratulations! This means that your application has been successful and your place at Royal Holloway is confirmed
- Unconditional Insurance (UI): This means that your application has been successful. Your place at Royal Holloway will be confirmed if your application to your first choice university is unsuccessful. If you are confirmed at your firm choice university, this offer will become invalid
- Change of Course Offer: If we are not able to confirm your offer on the original course you have applied for, we might make you an offer on a different course instead. You should accept or decline this offer via UCAS Hub once you have received decisions from both your Firm and Insurance choice. If you decline the offer you will not be made an offer on your original choice of course
- Unsuccessful: This means we have been unable to confirm your place at Royal Holloway and are no longer able to offer you a place on the course you applied for.
Confirmation of our decision will be sent out by email and in some cases by text message as early as 8.30am Thursday 17 August.
I’ve met the conditions of my offer, what do I need to do next?
If you’ve met the conditions of your offer, then you'll receive a confirmed unconditional offer from us. Further information, including details about enrolment, will be sent to you in late August.
I have an insurance place with you, when will I get a decision?
We aim to make all decisions by Thursday 17 August if we've received all of your results.
Can I be released from my unconditional firm place?
We encourage you to consider carefully whether you really don’t want to go to the university you’ve secured a place with. However, if you're certain you wish to reject your unconditional firm offer, you'll need to go to your UCAS Hub to release yourself.
What is the deadline to meet my conditional offer?
You need to have met the conditions of your offer by 6 September 2023. If you will not be able to meet the conditions by this date, you should inform the Admissions Office as soon as possible, please call us on +44 (0)1784 772455
What if my offer is dependent on my GCSE grades?
We will need to wait for your GCSE results before we’re able to confirm your place. As soon as you receive them you'll need to upload them to the applicant portal https://admissions.royalholloway.ac.uk/#/login
What happens if I had extenuating circumstances which affected my results?
If you had extenuating circumstances you should contact Royal Holloway Admissions by 31 July 2023. We'll need you to provide documentary evidence (e.g. a letter from your school and/or doctor etc.) Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. We also recommend you approach the relevant examining boards and provide evidence to them of your extenuating circumstances.
What if I haven’t met the English language requirements of my offer?
If you have narrowly missed our English language requirements please send them in and we will re-consider your application. A scanned copy of your results should be emailed to applicants@royalholloway.ac.uk.
How can I get my deposit back if I didn’t meet the conditions of my offer?
If you have not met the academic conditions of your offer then we can refund your deposit. If your results have not been already sent to Royal Holloway please email a scanned copy of your final results to applicants@royalholloway.ac.uk and request a refund.
I have been unsuccessful but believe I have met the entry requirements. What should I do?
Please call the Admissions Office on +44 (0)1784 772455. You'll then be able to speak with an adviser about your personal circumstances.
Can I defer my year of entry or change my course/university after I’ve been given a place?
It may be possible for you to defer your place until September 2024. If you'd like to defer your place, you should inform us in writing, by emailing applicants@royalholloway.ac.uk. It is important to note that you would still need to meet all of the conditions of your offer by 6 September 2023.
General
Can I visit Royal Holloway before term starts?
Yes, find out more about our campus tours for students joining us through Clearing.
How can I apply for accommodation in Halls?
Once you’ve referred yourself to Royal Holloway on UCAS, your status will change to Unconditional Firm and you’ll then be able to register and apply using our Online Accommodation System.
Find out about accommodation for students joining us through Clearing.
I am having problems accessing the accommodation portal. What should I do?
It can take up to 10 hours after your place has been confirmed before you can apply for accommodation. If you have waited 10 hours and have not been able to register onto the portal, you can contact the Student Accommodation team at StudentAccommodation@rhul.ac.uk
Alternatively, you can call +44 (0)1784 911695.
The Student Accommodation phone line is open:
- Thursday 18 August: 8am-7pm
- Friday 19 August: 8am-6pm
- Saturday 20 August: 9am-2pm
- Sunday 21 August: Closed
- Monday 22 August: 10am-4pm
What is my Royal Holloway ID/student number?
This is a nine-digit number starting with 100 or 101 that you will receive once you’ve applied for a course at Royal Holloway. Your number will be printed on any emails or letters you’ve received from the Admissions team at Royal Holloway.
Where can I find information on private accommodation?
You can find out more about living in private accommodation on our accommodation pages.
When does the new term start?
Term starts on Monday 18 September 2023.
How do I update my contact details?
If you need to update your contact details, please contact UCAS who will update your application and then provide us with the updated details.
Can I apply for student finance through Clearing?
If you’ve already applied for student finance but have changed your course, or your university or college, you must let Student Finance England know as soon as possible as this could affect the amount of student finance you can get.
If you haven’t applied for student finance yet, you need to apply now. The sooner you apply, the sooner your application will be processed. You might not get all your money in time for the start of your course but Student Finance England will make an initial assessment so you have some money as close to the start of your course as possible.
For more information visit the Clearing student finance guide.