Going through Clearing is a standard way of securing a place on your chosen course, but it can be easy to get caught up in the motions of the Clearing process without thinking about how it will impact your wallet.  

Going to university is a big financial commitment, so it is worth taking a moment to make sure you have a plan in place. How much should you budget for Clearing? Are there any extra costs that you should plan for? How do you budget for university? Read on to find out…  

How much does Clearing cost?   

Here’s the good news: applying through Clearing will not cost you any more than the original UCAS application. So if you have already submitted a UCAS application this year, you do not need to pay any more. However, if you haven’t already submitted a UCAS application and this is your first application this year, you will need to pay the standard £27.50 UCAS fee.  

Securing funding as a Clearing student  

Once you have secured a place on your chosen course through Clearing, you will need to arrange your funding. Who you go to for funding will depend on where you currently live. You can learn more about your funding options on our undergraduate funding page.  

If you have already applied for funding, you may need to update your application to include the new course you have applied to through Clearing. If you haven’t applied for funding yet, you should do it as soon as possible to minimise any potential delays to your funding.  

Are there any other extra costs?  

Here is some more good news: if you come to university through Clearing, you shouldn’t have any extra costs over a non-Clearing student. However, all students need to plan their finances carefully for a fun and fulfilling student life, so pay attention to these budgeting tips:  

Budgeting as a Clearing student 

Once you have secured your place at university, you should gather all your expected costs and estimate how much you will spend on a monthly basis. Don’t forget essential costs such as accommodation, groceries, mobile phone data, transport and study materials. If you are not sure how much you will spend, we have pulled together a handy living costs guide on our website with some rough estimates.  

If you need a little extra cash to cover your outgoings, you may want to consider getting a part-time job. Once you arrive at university, our Careers Service can offer help and guidance on finding a job. They also have a portal that advertises temporary, part-time and vacation work vacancies. 

Clearing can be an exciting time. But with all your energy going towards securing a place on your dream course, it can sometimes be easy to forget to plan for what happens next. If you take a moment to make sure you have a budget in place, that’s one less thing to worry about when you join us in September. Good luck!