Cost of living could make local universities more attractive to students during Clearing

Clearing is the perfect moment for students to revaluate their options as many are expected to study at local universities with the cost of living pressures.

That’s the view of David Gilani, who heads the student engagement team at Middlesex University in North London.

He said: “Clearing should not be viewed as last chance but the perfect opportunity to take stock, revaluate your options and find the best course for you. With the increasing cost of living pressures, we believe its likely many students will be looking at universities closer to home and that courses with excellent career prospects will be in high demand. Students should take comfort in the fact there are thousands of spaces across the country and it’s simply a case of finding the right one which suits their needs and ambitions.”

Research by Middlesex University has found that students are increasingly concerned about cost of living when applying for university. Many students in Greater London are expected to decide to study in the capital which has been rated as the best city in the world for the sixth year running by the QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2025 based on the quality of universities, affordability, employer activity, and student opinions.

Beyond a change of mind or personal circumstances, Middlesex University research found that students have said the desire to live at home because of living costs was one of the biggest factors for deciding to do a different course or subject. Clearing is the perfect opportunity to make this change.

According to UCAS, a record number of UK 18-year-olds secured a place using Clearing in 2023 – 38,140, up from 33,280 (+14.6%) in 2022 when exams were re-introduced and 33,000 (+15.6%) in 2019, the last time grading arrangements were the same.

In total, 67,990 students found a place using Clearing last year – 32% did so after declining their original firm choice.

New data from Universities UK reveals graduates earn at least 20% more than those chose not to go university by their mid-20s and by age 30 they typically earn 37% more than non-graduates. On average, graduate earnings are above £40,000 across all regions of the UK 10 years after graduation, and higher than £50,000 in London.

David Gilani, Head of Student Engagement and Advocacy at Middlesex University, offered the following 10 tips for students going through Clearing:

Don’t panic if you don’t get your expected grades because many courses are still open. You can also use UCAS Clearing Plus tool which provides you with courses matching your profile.
Use your time effectively on Results Day – browse websites, view virtual tours and learn from other students’ experiences through things like the National Student Survey.
Consider your options and do not discount alternative course and study level. You can find loads of info on the course pages and university profiles to help you decide.
Speak to admissions advisers through their dedicated Clearing phone lines about courses/ alternatives.
Have all your important information in one place (such as your UCAS number, clearing number, grades all your exams including GSCEs) you will need it when making calls and talking to university teams
Be ready to answer questions on your reasons for choosing a specific course. You may be asked to speak to a programme leader, or be invited for an interview.
Be patient – with hundreds of applications to process, it can take up to a day for your chosen university to make a decision and respond. If you haven’t heard back by the following day, give them a follow-up call.
Confirm your place on UCAS once you have been made an offer which you want to accept.
Ask for support – universities have so much on offer to make sure that your transition to university is a successful one. At Middlesex, our Ready for Anything programme helps to make sure that you are supported in the move to higher education – so whichever university you’re applying to ask what’s on offer to help with the next steps.
Get excited – going to university is a transformative experience. Many describe it as the best time of their lives. Once you’ve got your place through Clearing you should feel incredibly proud of yourself!