UCAS Clearing is your opportunity to apply to university if you haven’t yet secured a place. But did you know that Clearing isn’t just for students who don’t get their predicted grades on results day?
There are several reasons why you may decide to apply to university through Clearing, whether you’ve changed your mind about your conditional offers, you get better results than you expected, or you haven’t made a UCAS application yet. Ultimately, Clearing allows you to choose the path that’s best for you.
University in the Northwest and in the Top 10 in the UK for Graduates into employment or further study within 15 months
(97% of Graduates – Graduate Outcomes Survey, HESA 2024)Most Affordable UK City for Student Accommodation (Carlisle)
Student Crowd’s Student Accommodation League Table 2025A Silver rated university for Student Outcomes
TEF, 2023University in the UK for producing CEOs and MDs
(Novuna Business Cash Flow, 2025)Once you accept your offer of a place at Cumbria, you will need to contact our Accommodation team if you would like to apply for our Halls of Residence. We’ll guarantee you a place in halls at our Lancaster and Carlisle campuses when you accept a place through Clearing and apply for accommodation by 29 August 2025.
We know you'll have a lot to organise in preparation for your move to university, so we’ve made sure the entire process is quick and easy.
Rooms are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so to give yourself the best chance of getting your preferred option, submit your application as soon as possible.
All updates about your application will be sent via email.
Before you fill out the application form, take a look at our campus accommodation here. We offer a range of room types that cater for all budgets.
Detailed information about our Halls of Residence can be found in our Halls Handbook, which will be sent as an attachment in your offer email, along with our Conditions of Residence.
If you have more questions about our accommodation, read our FAQs.
You can call us on 0808 1787 373 or send an email to:
Ambleside: amblesideaccom@cumbria.ac.uk
Barrow-In-Furness: accommodationadmin@cumbria.ac.uk
Carlisle: carlisleaccom@cumbria.ac.uk
Lancaster: lancasteraccom@cumbria.ac.uk
If you have previously applied to student finance but have changed your course or university in Clearing, all you need to do is update your existing application.
Updating your application with your new details will ensure you get the loans you’re entitled to and prevent any delays with your funding. To amend your information, head to the student finance application portal and go into Your Account > Change Your Application > University/College Course.
If you haven’t applied for student finance yet, it's best to start the process as soon as possible once you know what course you are studying. Applications are easy and should take you less than 30 minutes via the student finance application portal. The review process can take 6-8 weeks, so if you delay submitting your application, you may only receive a minimum payment to start with. For more information, visit our Student Finance guidance page.
At the University of Cumbria, your story matters – your goals, your passions, and your future. Whether you're studying in the Lake District, Lancaster, Carlisle, Barrow, or London, you’ll be surrounded by natural beauty, supportive communities, and real opportunities. With strong links to law firms, police forces, schools, NHS Trusts, and creative industries, we connect your learning directly to your future career.
We're proud to be a Cathedrals Group University, built on values of fairness, inclusion, and personal growth. From achieving your first academic milestone to graduating in the historic Carlisle Cathedral, we’re here to support every step of your journey.
Our research-led teaching blends practical skills with the latest technology – preparing you for life beyond graduation. That’s why we’re No. 1 in the Northwest, and Top 10 in the UK for graduates in work or further study within 15 months (97%, HESA 2024).
BA (Hons) - Fine Art (with integrated foundation year)
BA (Hons) Wildlife Media
BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy
BA (Hons) International Business Management
BA (Hons) Primary and Early Years Education (3-11) with QTS
BSc (Hons) Children's Nursing
BA (Hons) Sport, Coaching and Physical Education
5 July 2025: UCAS Clearing opens! Clearing vacancies are displayed in UCAS’s search tool.
14 August 2025: A Level results day. A Level results are available from 8am – at this point, many students will know if they have been accepted into their firm or insurance places, or whether they want/need to apply to universities through Clearing.
Everyone has their own reasons for going through the Clearing process, but we’ve broken it down to five main ones:
Reason 1: You didn’t receive any offers on your original UCAS application.
Reason 2: On results day, you don’t meet the entry requirements for your conditional offers.
Reason 3: You haven’t yet applied to university but are interested in starting this academic year.
Reason 4: You’ve changed your mind about your original UCAS application and want to attend a different university or study an alternative course.
Reason 5: You get better grades than predicted and would like to find a place on a different course with higher entry requirements.
Depending on the course you are applying for, you may be required to have a phone interview with an academic or submit a portfolio. If this is the case, you may not receive an offer when you first call us, but we’ll be in touch as soon as a decision has been made.
If your child decides to enter Clearing, they will be looking to you for support. While you can’t call our Clearing hotline on their behalf, you can help them with their research and preparation. Results day can be overwhelming, so make sure they take regular breaks and encourage them to carefully consider all the offers they get before making a final decision. Learn More.
Clearing Plus is an option for anyone who is unsuccessful with their original UCAS application or is applying to university for the first time through Clearing. The UCAS Hub will take your personal information and grades and will suggest some courses you might like based on what different universities are looking for. If you express an interest in a course that’s recommended to you, the university can contact you.
If you’re eligible for Clearing Plus, you’ll see a button on your UCAS profile called ‘See matches’.
As well as your results, your UCAS ID number and your contact information, we’d advise having your personal statement to hand, as this can be a great resource to refer to during your call with one of our advisers. Having your personal statement in front of you will make it easier to talk about why you want to go to university and why you're passionate about the subject you’re enquiring about.
If we’re unable to accept you on to your original course, we may offer you an alternative option instead. However, if we can’t provide you with a place, or you decline the offer for an alternative course, you’ll be released so you can enter Clearing or accept your insurance place.
If you’re unsure about what your future career looks like, or you don't have the right qualifications to get you started with an undergraduate degree, you could consider an Integrated Foundation Year. It’s the perfect stepping-stone to help you achieve your dreams, and we have plenty of courses to choose from.
Our clearing hotline is operating on extended evening and weekend opening hours in August. Please see this page for the full list of opening times.