 Hi, my name is John Tate and I've just finished a four-year degree in African Studies here at SOAS. When I came here, I came through clearing and there are a lot of misconceptions out there about what clearing is. People often think it's for people who didn't get the right grades, but sometimes people who got better grades and they expected come through clearing. And finally, there are still a wide array of courses available here at SOAS to choose from. Let's hear from Salma, who also went through clearing. Hello, my name is Samhara Hailem. I've just finished my first year at SOAS in Economics and Development Studies. I've applied to SOAS through clearing. I used the SOAS website to find out about clearing and I made the phone call to the members of staff. I gave my details and my grades and after a few days I found out how they placed in the course that I wanted. So how does clearing work? Well, first of all, you can check which places are available on the SOAS and UCAS websites and from there, you can call to speak with one of our advisors to apply, just like Salma did. I definitely encourage students to come into SOAS. It's a vibrant place to learn. Since I've been here, I've been able to study three East African languages. I've been able to work with some of the top academics in the world and I've been part of an amazing, vibrant and diverse student community. So remember, don't panic if you don't get the grades. You can use the UCAS website, SOAS website or phone someone like I did. Good luck.