What is Clearing?
Clearing is a chance to find a place at university if you don't currently have an offer, didn't meet the conditions of an offer, or simply had a change of heart. It's a flexible, supportive route to help you search and apply for undergraduate courses at universities that still have places available.
You can also use Clearing if you:
- have changed your mind about the course or university you originally applied for;
- decide to apply after the 30 June UCAS application deadline.
Who’s eligible?
Whether Clearing is an option for you depends on your application status and whether you have your results. You may be eligible if:
- you have your exam results;
- you didn’t receive any offers, or any that you wanted to accept;
- you have declined your place;
- you didn’t meet the conditions of your offers;
- you're applying after 30 June.
If you’re eligible, UCAS may place you into Clearing automatically. In some cases, you can also release yourself into Clearing through UCAS. To find out more about how this works, .
How Clearing works
Clearing opens on Thursday, 2 July 2026. If you already have your results, you may be able to apply from that date. If you’re still waiting, you can sign up for updates and start getting ready for your results day.
When our Clearing course listings go live, they’ll be updated as availability changes. During this time, you’ll be able to:
- check whether you’re eligible for Clearing;
- look at available courses when listings go live;
- follow the next steps for the course you’re interested in;
- track your application through UCAS.
Clearing 2026 timeline
Some courses may accept applications through the main UCAS process until 30 June 2026. After that, new applications are entered into Clearing.
If you already know what you want to study, it’s worth checking whether your chosen course is still open for applications.
For courses at »¨½·Ö±²¥, see our applying pages for more information.
Clearing opens and course vacancies begin to appear. If you already have your grades, this is the point when you may be able to apply through Clearing.
Course availability can change throughout the Clearing cycle. Some courses may close in early July but reopen when the JCQ results (such as A-levels) are released. We recommend checking our vacancies regularly during this period.
Results are published across July and August. The following dates are currently confirmed or expected:
- Monday, 6 July – International Baccalaureate
- Mid to late July – Access to HE Diploma
- Tuesday, 4 August – Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
- Tuesday, 11 August* – Cambridge International A-levels
- Thursday, 13 August – JCQ results, including A-levels, BTECs, Welsh Baccalaureate, CTECs, City & Guilds and T Levels
- Late August (TBC) – Irish Leaving Certificate
If you’ve applied through UCAS and think you may want to go into Clearing, you can use it once you have your results. Your UCAS Hub will show whether you’re eligible.
*Cambridge International A-levels are subject to the UCAS embargo. The University cannot discuss an applicant's results until the embargo has lifted at 8am on Thursday, 13 August.
GCSE results are published. This may matter if your university place depends on GCSE grades as well as other qualifications.
UCAS undergraduate applications must be submitted by 6pm (GMT) to meet the 2026 entry deadline.
The final date for Clearing application referrals. However, universities may close Clearing earlier depending on course availability.
What you can do now
If you’re thinking about Clearing, there are a few things you can do before it opens:
- sign up for Clearing updates from us;
- check whether your chosen course is still open through UCAS;
- keep an eye on the key dates that matter for your qualifications;
- read the UCAS guidance so you know how the process works.