Holding a couple of informal Clearing offers is a good position to be in. Here’s how to choose the one that’s actually right for you.
You can only add one Clearing choice, so compare your informal offers on what matters to you - course content, teaching, location, accommodation, cost and career prospects - not just league-table position. Ask each university how long its offer stands, then add your preferred one as your Clearing choice.
tutor2u isn’t a university or a UCAS service, and we can’t place you on a course. This is a plain-English guide to the official process - always use UCAS and speak to the universities and your school or college for anything specific to you.
The ‘best’ Clearing offer is the one that fits you, not necessarily the highest-ranked university. Course, support and where you’ll live matter more over three years than a place in a league table.
You add one at a time. If it isn’t accepted you can try another, but you can’t formally hold several at once. Source: UCAS ↗
Course content and teaching, location and living costs, accommodation, support and career prospects - not only rankings. Source: UCAS ↗
An informal Clearing offer can have a deadline, so ask each university how long it will hold the place. Source: UCAS ↗
Once you add a Clearing choice and it’s accepted, that’s your place. If you’re unsure, decide before you add it, and contact the university if something changes. Source: UCAS ↗
Get the call right, then sort your finance and accommodation once you’ve chosen.
How to phone a university →Student finance after switching →Last checked August 2026. This is a plain-English summary of the UCAS admissions and Clearing process; always check your UCAS application and contact the relevant university or college for the details that apply to you, which can change.
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