Your Guide to Clearing 2026

What actually is clearing?

If your results day didn't go to plan, clearing gives you a second chance at getting on a course at universities that still have places to fill. You’ll likely go through clearing if:

• You’re applying after the UCAS deadline (June 30th)

• You didn’t get any offers (from your first or other choices)

• You changed your mind and declined your firm place

• You didn’t meet the course requirements.

And if you think that clearing means you’ve failed in some way, you really haven’t. Around 50,000 students get a place at uni through clearing every year, so it’s much more common than you think. You might even be surprised at the range of courses and universities still available.

Clearing happens through UCAS. You’ll see ‘You are in Clearing’ in your UCAS Hub, where they’ll match you with courses you might be interested in based on your previous applications and your personal statement. You can also search for courses if you’re looking for something different.

When does clearing open?

Clearing opens on Thursday 2nd July 2026 and runs until Monday 19th October 2026. Clearing opens early, so it gives you the chance to see what courses are out there and to prepare so that if you need to go through clearing, it’s not a last-minute rush for you. 

A-Level and BTEC results land on Thursday 13th August 2026. That’s when universities find out who’s met their offers, who hasn’t and how many places they now have available. It’s also when clearing gets super busy, so the earlier you’re ready to start, the better.

Clearing is largely first-come, first-served, and unis are filling places as they go. So calling on results day, as soon as you have your grades, genuinely makes a difference.

How do you get into clearing?

In most cases, clearing is automatic. When you log into your UCAS Hub and you don’t have any offers, you’ll see your clearing number instead.

If you already have an offer but have changed your mind, you’ll need to self-release. That basically means declining your offer through UCAS Track. Just be aware that once you’ve done that, there’s no way to go back.

Leaning towards declining your place? We get it. But it’s so worth thinking about why first. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Why don’t you want to go?

• Do you have another option? 

• What are your options if clearing doesn’t work out for you?

If you do self-release and actually want the place (or you self-release by accident), you’ll need to call the university’s admissions service asap. Places that get declined sometimes go to other people and might not be available.

There’s nothing extra to pay if you go through clearing either. It’s all handled through your UCAS account.

How do you apply to universities through clearing? 

There isn’t just one way to apply through clearing; it depends on the university. So your first move is to check how they want to hear from you.

Unis will update their clearing pages when clearing opens, and you’ll always be able to sign up for updates before clearing goes live, too. 

Normally, you’d have to call up the admissions office’s clearing line. But now loads of universities also offer an online route. Either way, you’d need to be fully prepared and would always need:

• Your results

• Your UCAS ID

• Your personal statement

• Anything else that’ll help your application (any extra courses, DBS checks, etc).

IMPORTANT: You can contact as many universities as you like, but you’ll only be able to add one choice for clearing on your UCAS account. You’ll be able to add your clearing choice at 1pm on results day (and 10am on Qualifications Scotland results day).

How to prep and stand out

Prepping for clearing doesn’t mean you’re expecting the worst; it really means you’re giving yourself options no matter what happens. You already know what you need; here’s how to make it work for you.

What to do if it doesn’t go according to plan?

Sometimes clearing might not work out. It’s disappointing, but it doesn’t mean that you won’t have any other options. If you find that you can’t secure a place through clearing, here’s what you can look into instead:

• Take a gap year and reapply. Gap years don’t necessarily mean going abroad (that takes money); you can take a year out to work, get experience and strengthen your application

• Speak to your school or college advisor. Even though you’ve finished college or sixth form, you can still speak to your advisor about all your options if clearing doesn’t work.

Do an apprenticeship

Apprenticeships are a great alternative to university, and there’s something for everyone. A higher or degree apprenticeship is your best bet if you are aiming for university. You'll work towards a recognised qualification while getting real work experience, and you'll be paid a wage the whole time.

In fact, degree apprentices could earn around £26,000 a year, and higher apprentices around £27,000.

The best part is they’re not second options either. They’re a legitimate route to the same destination: a degree.

Jonny did a Corporate Finance apprenticeship at EY. Here’s what he said:

However results day goes, it doesn't decide everything. Whether you end up in clearing, take a different route entirely, or land exactly where you wanted, you've got more paths open to you than you think. You’ve got this.