Clearing

Clearing for Scottish students generally starts a week earlier than for the rest of the UK to reflect the earlier publication of Scottish Higher results.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) site contains detailed lists of course vacancies and further information about how the clearing system works.

More information can also be found on the Higher Education and Research Opportunities in the UK (HERO) site.

Free information from Push Online for four weeks, including profiles of universities, choosing a university, which are most expensive, top ten universities, leagues tables might also be useful.

• UCAS Clearing information - official clearing information including (when active) course vacancy search, clearing instructions, commonly asked questions, institution clearing contact details, other sources of information, updated daily, includes information for international students. Also includes the UCAS tariff calculator to calculate a score for achievement in qualifications and you can check the progress of your application online.
  
  
• PlanIT - clearing information for Scotland. Includes vacancies at all course levels from national certificate to degree level at all Scottish institutions. Information is provided directly by the institutions on a real-time basis. The site also includes access to learning information, career information and guidance organisations for Scotland.
  
  
• ScottishClearing.org - official clearing service covering every Scottish College and University, with information updated hourly. Search by career area, specific sector or college or university, also find contact details for each institution, general advice, including funding, gap year, working and studying in Europe and links to further information.
  
  
• Central Applications Office Ireland - official site, including vacancies, online applications and Further Education information and college open days.
  
  
• The Guardian - Clearing - clearing vacancies and information from The Guardian and Observer, live and constantly updated, including a free daily email and text message service. Also includes the Guardian interactive guide to universities and colleges, university rankings and statistics, including the Guardian league table, subject information and university profiles and A - Z of student media from the Guardian and student publications and NatWest guide to student money.
  
  
• The Independent - Clearing - an official listings site with live updated information from UCAS, A - Z guides, which way (jointly with UCAS), clearing advice, parents' guide, Gap Year guide, guide for international students "Studying in the UK" published with UCAS and resources including careers advice, business schools information, money advice, from The Independent newspaper.

• BBC One Life - advice and information including useful questions and answers on clearing, which subject to study and which course to choose, also 5 day countdown for all results with new information each day, competition online, information on going to university, alternative qualifications, taking a Gap Year and funding.
  
  
• Student UK - Clearing: how to handle the stress - article on strategies for dealing with stress at clearing time.
  
  
• Connexions - advice for young people, 13 to 19 in England.
  
  
• HERO - official gateway site to the UK's universities, colleges and research organisations has information on clearing, provides advice on choosing a course, articles on aspects of studying and research at universities and colleges providing higher education courses and large range of other Higher Education resources.
  
  
• Careers Scotland - advice and information on careers online.
  
  
• DfES - Student Support - telephone advice and information on student loans and fees, childcare and other information about financial support - Free telephone: 0800 731 9133
  
  
• learndirect (England, Wales, N Ireland) - course information, advice on careers and funding, also on finding your nearest educational advice and guidance service (not clearing information though)(or telephone free on Tel: 0800 100 900, or for information on learndirect courses and centres Tel: 0800 101 901) - not always comprehensive for local courses, so also check with local education advisors, careers advisors and colleges for new courses throughout the year.
  
  
• learndirect Scotland - course information, advice on careers and funding, also on finding your nearest educational advice and guidance service (not clearing information though)(or telephone free on Tel: 0808 100 9000) - free advice available 7 days a week, 7.30 - 11.00pm weekdays, 9.00am - 6.00pm.
  
  
• The Times Online  -  Clearing - Times clearing guide, including advice on coping with clearing, information on Gap Years and the first year at university, also charts from the Times Good University Guide and a competition for a gap year trip.