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Digital inventory Clearing 2018
Digital inventory
Clearing 2018
Introducing UCAS Media’s Clearing 2018 inventory
If you’re anticipating last minute spaces on your courses, ensuring you get the right students means getting ahead during this crucial period.
UCAS Media is your strategic partner of choice for Clearing conversions. No-one else gives you earlier access to this audience, and because of our verified data you also get smarter insight to drive recruitment. With us, the benefits speak for themselves.
• Earlier engagement – reaching applicants without a place before your competition, and at the exact moment that matters, gives you the edge for conversion.
• Increased impact – targeting your messages to the applicants most likely to convert means an improved return on your investment.
• Applicants-focused solutions – multiple options, centered around applicants’ needs, deliver better results for both you and the applicant.
UCAS is right at the heart of Clearing, meaning you’ll benefit from a highly engaged audience at this key time in the application cycle.
With our verified student audience and effective digital channels, it’s easy to get great results.
From campaign planning, to creative optimisation and delivery, we’ll work with you to deliver high impact messages to maximise your recruitment.
An integrated solutionOur digital proposition centres around three core channels – all at the heart of an applicant’s journey through Clearing. That means unparalleled reach for your brand at the exact moment everyone considering higher education is focused on UCAS.
ucas.com – boost engagement with your brand – your advert integrated with UCAS’ trusted Clearing advice.
Search tool – an unprecedented opportunity to segment right down to an individual subject – connecting applicants’ preferences with your offer.
Track – a unique chance to directly connect with students. Your display advert in our application tracking system – they see your brand when it’s most relevant to them.
Extend the story with emailApply unique demographic data insights to your creative campaign with a targeted email. For the first time we’re launching results day emails – ensure your brand message is one of the earliest an applicant receives after they’ve received their results.
Clearing is second only to the main scheme, as the route to getting a higher education place. With 3.1% more applicants placed in Clearing for 2017, competition for quality applicants this cycle is likely to be intense.
Understanding Clearing
The number of applicants available to be placed in Clearing were significantly smaller in 2017 – a smaller, more in-demand pool of talent for you to recruit from.
Clearing acceptances in 2017 were more active on day one than ever before – it’s crucial you get your message in early for Clearing 2018.
If your student population is largely recruited locally, 70% of direct to Clearing applicants are aged 20 and over – that’s 15,000. And, over 60% of those then accepted were to providers less than 45 minutes away. An audience you can reach earlier than anyone else with your message.
Behaviours during Clearing over the past five years have changed – our insight into trends puts us in the best position to support you during this key stage in your recruitment cycle. Understanding these behaviours can help fine tune your strategy, the targeting you select, and the timing of your activity.
Num
ber free to be placed in Clearing on A level results dayPr
opor
tion
plac
ed th
roug
h
Clea
ring
on d
ay 2
8
170,00016%
160,000
15%150,000
14%140,000
130,000
120,00013%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Net
incr
ease
sinc
e
prev
ious
wee
kday
Perc
enta
ge d
irect
to
Clea
ring
appl
icat
ions
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
0 1 4 5 6 7 8 12 13 14 15
20%
30%
40%
10%
0%
Not UKDomicile
UK
Free to be placed in ClearingPlaced
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
18
19
20 to 24
25 and over
Why UCAS Media?
Choosing UCAS Media puts you at the centre of the Clearing process, alongside UCAS, for over 170k applicants. Aligning your brand to UCAS’, as it supports applicants through the transition to university or college, ensures you are best placed to optimise your recruitment campaign.
We know the subjects they are interested in studying, which means with us, you can reach exactly the right students for your courses. Speak to our experts to align your course recruitment to our audience.
Our knowledge and insight speak for themselves. 173,165 applicants were in Clearing in 2017.
• East Midlands – 5,810• East of England – 7,200• Greater London – 30,275• Isle of Man and Channel Islands – 230• North East – 3,700• North West – 13,365• Northern Ireland – 6,270• Scotland – 15,225• South East – 13,365• South West – 7,985• Wales – 4,645• West Midlands – 9,500• Yorkshire and the Humber – 8,665• Other – 46,930
Medicine and dentistry 10,020
Mathematical sciences 2,525
Computer sciences 7,295
Creative arts and design 17,825
Business and admin studies
20,440
Biological sciences 12,460
Subjects allied to medicine 31,995
Social studies 16,790
Linguistics, classics, and related subjects
2,615
Physical sciences 4,030
Engineering 10,105
Law 7,470
Education 6,775
UCAS End of Cycle Report
What’s new for 2018NEW
Our new inventory for Clearing 2018 gives you an even greater brand presence.
• More inventory, embedded in our unique ucas.com student journey, and driven by user-centred design.
• Industry standard ad sizes across ucas.com reflect our commitment to improving both the client and student experience.
• Increased email send availability means you can convert the right applicants quickly.
• Results day email exclusivity allows you to benefit from being one of the first to reach verified, unplaced applicants.
With UCAS Media, reach thousands of verified university applicants who are actively looking for a place. To optimise your Clearing performance this year, ensure your message sits alongside the trusted UCAS brand, on the channels applicants are already engaged with.
The following pages provide a detailed outline of all the inventory available for 2018 – look out for the ‘new for 2018’ tab.
There have been big developments in the Clearing inventory we’re offering for 2018. This reflects the speed at which the market is changing, both in terms of recruitment challenges and students’ needs for the right information and support quickly.
ucas.com Clearing homepageNEW
Linked to directly from the ucas.com homepage, and referenced in all Clearing-related communications, the Clearing homepage is right at the heart of the advice we offer.
The highlights• The hub of all information about
Clearing, and the start of a journey for thousands of applicants still needing a university place.
• High profile advert placement, meaning your opportunity is one of the first surfaced to applicants.
• Intense promotion – the destination promoted across UCAS’ official Clearing collateral, from early July until the end of the cycle in September.
Technical informationYour ads will run from early July through to September (exact dates to be confirmed).
Opportunities
Five slots, with up to ten advertisers in rotation: £7,000 each
Format
MPU on Clearing landing page, available on rotation, multiple animated .gifs/.png permitted.
Size: 300 x 250px
Ensure your Clearing opportunities feature on the official Clearing destination for applicants.
495,393 ad impressions in total0.21% average click through
2017 performance
ucas.com Clearing research pagesNEW
Supporting students as they research their options, whether by subject or destination, these pages provide a unique opportunity to promote individual courses, or your organisation.
Aligning your brand to the subjects where you need promotional focus, or the regions where students are looking to study, gives you more flexibility than ever before.
Subjects: agriculture, architecture, biology, business, computer science, creative arts, dance, drama, engineering, english, history, languages, law, maths, media, medicine, music, nursing, psychology, science, social studies, sport, teaching, veterinary science.
Premium subjects include law, medicine, economics, psychology, and business.
The highlights• Flexible targeting – by single or multiple
subjects, or by region depending on your objectives.
• Increased profile – your content alongside UCAS’ trusted information.
• Aligned to the student journey – as students explore their options, be part of their decision-making.
Technical informationYour ads will run from early July through to September (exact dates to be confirmed).
Opportunity one
One slot, with up to four advertisers in rotation: £5,000 each
Format
MPU on landing page of research pages, available on rotation, multiple animated .gifs/.png permitted.
Size: 300 x 250px
Opportunity two
Ten links: £2,000 premium/£1,000 standard
Ten links available on each subject or region page – premium subject slots, and standard subject or region slots available.
Format
40 characters (incl. spaces)
ucas.com homepage
Each year, ucas.com is the starting point for hundreds of thousands of students researching the Clearing process. Ensure your brand is on the homepage throughout this high profile period.
The highlights• Above the fold placement – be the brand
everyone sees when arriving on ucas.com.
• Brand alignment – engage all students with your message, giving you longer term brand benefits.
• Brand association – ensure you feature with the primary brand associated with results day and the Clearing period.
Technical informationYour ads will run from early July through to September (exact dates to be confirmed).
Opportunities
Two slots, with up to six advertisers in rotation: £15,000 each
Format
MPU on ucas.com homepage, available on rotation, multiple animated .gifs/.png permitted.
Size: 300 x 250px
3.6 million ad impressions on ucas.com July – September, in total0.10% average click through
2017 performance
ucas.com premium content pages
Align your messaging with information on key UCAS application tools and services pages – five of the highest traffic pages on ucas.com during August and September.
Includes sign in and register pages, choosing course landing page, Apply and Track landing page, and the Tariff calculator page.
The highlights• At the heart of Clearing – appear on the
pages used to access UCAS’ core systems on results day.
• High impact brand awareness at exactly the moment applicants are finding out their status.
• Build your message – repeat surfacing of your campaign encourages conversion.
Technical informationYour ads will run from early July through to September (exact dates to be confirmed).
Opportunities
One slot, with up to ten advertisers in rotation: £10,000 each
Format
MPU on landing page, on rotation, multiple animated .gifs/.png permitted.
Size: 300 x 250px
4,702,516 ad impressions in total0.14% average click through
2017 performance
ucas.com Track log-out ads
The page seen by all applicants as they sign out of Track. For those still looking for inspiration, your opportunities will be the first thing they see.
The highlights• Engagement at the point of conversion –
as applicants find out their results and sign out, ensure your brand is visible.
• Flexible messaging – promote all, or specific, opportunities.
• Repeat impact – with each status change, your message will be resurfaced.
Technical informationYour ads will run from early July through to September (exact dates to be confirmed).
Opportunities
12 advertising slots: £8,500 each
Format
Advert on landing page, multiple animated .gifs/.png permitted.
Size: 120 x 90px
3,652,028 ad impressions in total0.13% average click through
2017 performance
ucas.com sponsored content
ucas.com Clearing resource pages
Sponsored content blocks, appearing on every page, and available on rotation across ucas.com.
Appear on multiple Clearing resource pages, all linked to from the Clearing landing page, and all focused on information about results, what’s next, and where to get support.
The highlights• Ongoing brand presence – your content
message featuring on ucas.com throughout the results period.
• Position your brand – content provides you with the opportunity to do more than just promote a course.
• Flexible delivery – update your content throughout the period to reflect your changing priorities.
Technical informationYour ads will run from early July through to September (exact dates to be confirmed).
Opportunities
Three slots, with up to nine advertisers in rotation: £2,000 each
Format
• 100 x 100 thumbnail, static .gif, .png, .jpg only • 40 words of text
The highlights• Increase your profile – appear on the pages
used by students to understand the Clearing process.
• Align with UCAS’ advice – benefit from students’ trust in UCAS to deliver advice and information during this key period.
• Build your message – repeat surfacing of your campaign encourages conversion.
Technical informationYour ads will run from early July through to September (exact dates to be confirmed).
Opportunities
One slot, with up to two advertisers in rotation: £5,000 each
Format
MPU on landing page, available on rotation, multiple animated .gifs/.png permitted.
Size: 300 x 250px
533,015 ad impressions in total0.33% average click through
2017 performance
31 clicks per day on average
Search tool keywords
At the centre of applicants’ searches for new opportunities, your course adverts, targeted by subject, will appear alongside their search results.
The highlights• Be a part of the search – deliver access
to the prospects you’re looking for as they research.
• Flexible campaigns – promote across multiple subjects, or specific opportunities.
• Exclusive positioning – your brand is the only one an applicant will see when they land on a specific subject.
Technical informationYour ads will run from early July through to September (exact dates to be confirmed).
Opportunities
Advertising slots:
• Tier 1: £5,000• Tier 2: £3,000• Tier 3: £1,500
Subjects: agriculture, architecture, biology, business, computer science, creative arts, dance, drama, engineering, english, history, languages, law, maths, media, medicine, music, nursing, psychology, science, social studies, sport, teaching, veterinary science.
Format
Multiple animated .gifs/.png permitted.
Size: 160 x 600px
5,235,609 ad impressions in total0.22% average click through
2017 performance
Track ads
At the heart of the application process, adverts are served to unplaced applicants, resonating directly with their needs.
Your course vacancy messages in front of applicants as they find out their status. Reassurance for you that you’re only reaching those who are confirmed as unplaced – high profile and high impact.
The highlights• Unique placement – the only way you
can promote your course to an applicant at the exact moment they find out they are unplaced.
• Instant conversion – appearing alongside an applicant’s status, you’ll benefit from instant engagement.
• Targeted reach – connect only with unplaced applicants, making every message deliver impact.
Technical informationYour ads will run from early July through to September (exact dates to be confirmed).
Opportunities
Four slots, with up to eight advertisers in rotation: £10,000 each
Format
On status page, available on rotation, multiple animated .gifs/.png permitted.
Size: 180 x 150px
2,841,790 ad impressions in total0.05% average click through
2017 performance
Email promotionNEW
Direct to the inboxes of those who are verified as being unplaced. High impact and relevant emails – sent from UCAS with your creative – get the attention you need.
New for 2018. In response to client demand, and changing student behaviours, we are now able to offer limited, premium results day sends. Be one of the first to reach thousands of applicants looking for a place.
With 20 slots available on, and immediately after, results day, and 25 thereafter, our data segmentation capabilities, send capacity, and technical expertise give you a winning solution to promoting your course availability.
Whether you need to target by location, subject, or achievement, nobody can reach verified, unplaced applicants quicker than UCAS Media.
Average open rates of 32% over Clearing period2% click through rate
Date of send Availability Minimum spend
Thursday 16 August 20 £20k + VAT
Friday 17 August 20 £8k + VAT
Saturday 18 August 20 £6k + VAT
Sunday 19 August 20 £5k + VAT
Monday 20 August 25 £4k + VAT
Tuesday 21 August 25 £4k + VAT
Wednesday 22 August 25 £4k + VAT
Thursday 23 August 25 £4k + VAT
Friday 24 August 25 £4k + VAT
Tuesday 28 August 25 £2k + VAT
Wednesday 29 August 25 £2k + VAT
Thursday 30 August 25 £2k + VAT
Friday 31 August 25 £2k + VAT
Sign up to UCAS Media’s Clearing inventory for greater brand presence, precision-targeting options, and a bigger return on investment. The booking process is now based on a lottery system. This makes it fairer, and gives you far longer to choose, make, and submit your requests.
Achieve impact with UCAS Media Get on board
Reaching over 2.4 million prospective and current students every year, we hold the largest and only verified student database in the UK.
Our deep understanding of where students are in their decision-making, the touchpoints they are already engaged with, and the destinations they are considering, gives us countless demographic, geographic, and behaviour- based segmentation opportunities.
Creative impactResults from the right targeting can be greatly amplified with the right creative. Our team uses its years of experience to craft creatives to ensure the campaign gets attention, and generates action.
Changes to subject line, visual layout, and campaign message can have a dramatic impact on results, and from our experience delivering over 7,600 campaigns a year, we know what works.
Timing optimisationThe moment at which the campaign is enabled can directly influence the success seen. Our team understands the trends in engagement for this audience, and how to get the most out of our marketing channels.
We’ll provide ongoing monitoring and response to optimise activity, and deliver the desired outcomes.
What happens next?
Select your inventory – this document contains everything you need to know, including the booking form for January purchase, the specifications, and the costs. You now have two weeks before the booking window opens.
Monday 22 January to Friday 26 January – booking opens. You’ll have these five working days to email your booking form to us. Find the form on our website.
Monday 29 January – an independent, lottery-based draw system will determine where inventory is allocated. Your account manager will confirm your booking on 30 January.
Tuesday 10 April – we’ll email you details of the inventory for May purchase, the specifications, and the costs.
Terms and conditions
