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.
Am I eligible to apply now?
You may be able to apply through Clearing now if you:
- have your exam results and did not meet the conditions of your firm or insurance offer;
- do not hold any offers from universities;
- are applying through UCAS for the first time after 30 June and already have your exam results.
If you are already in Clearing, your UCAS application will usually show this.
Next steps
If you find a course you are interested in, get in touch with our relevant admissions team.
Before you contact us, it helps to have the following ready:
- your UCAS ID number;
- your qualifications and results;
- the course you are interested in;
- any questions you want to ask.
Our teams are available during office hours, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, throughout the Clearing period.
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 ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½, see our applying pages for more information.
Clearing is now open and course vacancies are live. If you have your grades, you may now be able to apply through Clearing.
Course availability can change throughout Clearing. 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 now:
- explore our current course listings;
- make a note of the courses you're interested in;
- keep an eye on the key dates that matter for your qualifications;
- read our Clearing advice to help you prepare;
- sign up for Clearing updates from us.