Direct answer
UCAS Clearing is the official system through which UK universities and colleges fill remaining places on their courses. For the 2026 cycle, Clearing is open from 2 July until 19 October 2026. You can use Clearing if you are not holding an offer from a university or college and the course still has places. This includes if you applied after 30 June, received no offers, did not meet the conditions of your offers, or declined your firm place using the ‘decline my place’ button in your application. To secure a place, you search for vacancies, contact the institution directly with your Clearing number and Personal ID, receive informal permission, then add one Clearing choice in your UCAS application.
Who can use Clearing
You are eligible to use Clearing if any of the following apply:
- You are applying after 30 June.
- You did not receive any offers, or none you wanted to accept.
- You did not meet the conditions of your offers.
- You have declined your firm place using the ‘decline my place’ button in your application.
Your application status will display ‘You are in Clearing’ or ‘Clearing has started’ once you become eligible. If you are holding a firm unconditional place but have changed your mind, you can decline your place in your application to enter Clearing.
Key dates for Clearing 2026
Clearing opens on 2 July 2026 and closes on 19 October 2026. If you already hold your exam results but have no offers, you can use Clearing from July. If you held conditional offers but your exam results did not meet the conditions, you can use Clearing from results day, when Clearing vacancies are listed in the UCAS search tool. If you are eligible, you can add a Clearing choice on results day.
How to find a course and contact universities
The official vacancy list is available through the UCAS search tool from 2 July. This is the only official vacancy list and is updated regularly by universities until mid-September. If you cannot find the course you originally wanted, UCAS advises you to consider different subjects, including joint honours courses, and to keep checking because universities update their course information regularly and some may get vacancies later.
Before you add a Clearing choice, you must contact the university or college directly. You need to give them your Clearing number, which appears under ‘Application status’ in your application, and your Personal ID. The institution may reconsider you even if you applied to them earlier in the year. You can gather informal offers from multiple universities and then decide which one to accept. UCAS also suggests asking about accommodation options and, if possible, visiting the campus or taking a virtual tour.
Your Clearing matches
If you are unplaced or have started a new application, a button called ‘My matches’ will appear in your application. This takes you to your top 50 course matches, based on information from your application and what universities and colleges are looking for. You can tell institutions you are interested in their courses. If they still have vacancies and you meet their entry requirements, they may call you. You can still search for different courses using the search tool if you prefer.
Adding your Clearing choice
Only add a Clearing choice once you have permission from the university or college. In the ‘Your choices’ section of your application, click ‘Add Clearing choice’ and enter the course details by the date the institution gave you. This action counts as you definitely accepting the offer. If the institution confirms, it will show as an acceptance on your ‘Choices’ page. You can only add one choice at a time. If the institution does not confirm your place, you can add another.
Applying directly through Clearing
If you have not already applied, you must first register and submit an application. Unlike applying before Clearing, you will only be able to add a choice after you have submitted your application. UCAS will send you a welcome email with details of how to access your application and your Clearing number. If you are applying direct to Clearing for the 2026 cycle after 30 June, you have the option to upload supporting information to your application via the UCAS document upload service.
What Clearing does not cover
UCAS Conservatoires do not use Clearing to fill vacancies. If you are looking for a place at a conservatoire, you must search for available courses in the UCAS search tool and check with the conservatoire whether they are still accepting applications before you apply. You cannot swap your firm and insurance choices after you have your results. If you now want to go to your insurance choice, you need to go through Clearing and check with that institution that they can accept you in Clearing.
FAQ
How will I know I am in Clearing?
Your application status will say ‘You are in Clearing’ or ‘Clearing has started’. If you follow the on-screen prompts to decline your firm place, your application status will then display one of these messages.
Where can I find my Clearing number?
If you are eligible for Clearing, your Clearing number will show under ‘Application status’ in your application.
Why do I not have a Clearing number yet?
If your application does not say ‘You are in Clearing’ or ‘Clearing has started’, it might be waiting for your results to update. UCAS advises you to get in touch with the universities or colleges if it is taking a while, as they might still be considering you even if your results are slightly lower than required.
How do I add a Clearing choice?
Go to the ‘Your choices’ section of your application and click ‘Add Clearing choice’. Then enter the details of the course. Only add a Clearing choice if you have been given permission by a university.
How do I reply to a Clearing offer?
You do not need to reply to a Clearing offer. Once you add the choice, it is up to the university or college to confirm your place in your application.
Can I use Clearing if I do not want my firm choice?
Yes. If you change your mind and no longer want to go to your firm choice, you can use the ‘decline my place’ button in your application.