UCAS Clearing is the official system used by UK universities to fill remaining vacancies on their degree courses. Running from 2 July to 19 October 2026, it is a lifeline for students who did not meet their offer conditions, changed their minds about their course, or are applying late. The process requires four critical steps: checking your eligibility on the UCAS Hub to find your 'Clearing Number', researching available courses via the UCAS search tool or 'Clearing Plus', contacting universities directly via their hotlines to secure a verbal offer, and finally, adding the choice to your UCAS Hub. Speed, preparation, and remaining calm are your greatest assets during this period.
A-Level Results Day is notoriously one of the most stressful days in a young adult's life. The anticipation, the opening of the envelope, and the sudden realization that things may not have gone exactly according to plan can be overwhelming.
However, missing your target grades is not the end of your university dream. Every single year, tens of thousands of students secure places at prestigious UK universities through UCAS Clearing.
At Merit Tutors, we guide hundreds of A-Level students through their examinations and subsequent university applications. We know that panic is the enemy of good decision-making. That is why we have created this definitive, highly professional, step-by-step guide to mastering the UCAS Clearing process in 2026.
Whether you are preparing a backup plan before Results Day or actively navigating the system right now, this guide will provide the clarity you need.
In simple terms, Clearing is a matching service. Universities use it to fill empty seats on their courses, and students use it to find courses that still have capacity.
You applied after the 30 June 2026 deadline.
You did not receive any offers from your original five choices (or you rejected all the offers you did receive).
You did not meet the specific grade conditions of your firm or insurance choices on Results Day.
You have paid the full multiple-choice application fee (£27.50).
If you are holding a firm offer but have changed your mind and want to go elsewhere, you can actively "self-release" into Clearing using a button on your UCAS Hub. Warning: Only do this if you are absolutely certain, as you will immediately lose your current guaranteed place.
The golden rule of Clearing is to prepare before you actually need it. If you suspect your A-Level exams did not go well, do not wait until August to start researching.
Create a Contingency List: Identify 3 to 5 alternative universities or similar courses that typically ask for slightly lower grades than your firm choice.
Gather Your Documents: Ensure you have your UCAS ID, your personal statement (universities may ask you questions about it), your GCSE results, and a charged mobile phone.
Check Your References: Ensure your school or college has submitted your reference correctly.
On the morning of A-Level Results Day (mid-August 2026), the UCAS system will update.
Log in to your UCAS Hub. Do not refresh the page aggressively, as the system experiences massive traffic and may crash.
If you have not met your conditions, your status will officially update to "You are in Clearing". Crucially, a unique Clearing Number will appear on your welcome page.
This number is vital. Universities will refuse to discuss offering you a place unless you can provide this specific number, as they use it to access your digital application file.
Once you have your number, it is time to find a vacancy. You have two main tools at your disposal:
The Official UCAS Search Tool
This is the live database of all available courses. Unlike the main application cycle, this list updates in real-time. If a university fills a course at 10:00 AM, it will be removed from the search tool by 10:05 AM. You must act decisively.
Clearing Plus
Introduced recently to streamline the process, Clearing Plus uses an algorithm to match you with available courses based on your original choices, your achieved grades, and what universities are looking for. If you see a course you like in your "matches," you can click a button to express interest, and the university may contact you directly.
This is the most critical step of the entire process. You cannot add a Clearing choice to your UCAS Hub without speaking to the university first.
You must call their dedicated Clearing Hotlines.
Do it yourself: Universities legally cannot discuss your application with your parents or teachers unless you have explicitly granted them nominated access. You must make the call.
Have your details ready: Begin by providing your UCAS Personal ID and your Clearing Number.
State your grades clearly: Tell them exactly what you achieved in your A-Levels and GCSEs.
Treat it like an interview: Some admissions tutors will offer you a place instantly based on grades alone. Others may ask a few questions: "Why do you want to study at our university?" or "Why are you interested in this specific course?" Refer back to your personal statement for inspiration.
If they want you, they will make a verbal offer over the phone. They will usually give you a timeframe (e.g., 24 hours) to officially accept it on the UCAS system.
Important Tip: You can collect multiple verbal offers from different universities over the phone. However, you can only officially accept one on the UCAS system.
Once you have received a verbal offer and have decided that this is the university you wish to attend, you must officially lock it in.
Log back into your UCAS Hub.
Click the button that says "Add Clearing Choice."
Enter the details of the course (institution code and course code) exactly as the university provided them to you on the phone.
Click submit.
The university will then verify the choice on their end. Once they do, your status will change to "Accepted," and your university journey is officially secured!
If you are a private candidate (e.g., a home-educated student or someone retaking exams independently), the UCAS process requires an extra layer of administrative care, particularly regarding your academic reference. Mainstream schools handle this automatically, but private candidates must secure a registered centre to process their application and verify their predicted grades.
If you are based in London and require professional assistance with your application, we highly recommend looking into a registered centre. For example, you can utilize the Exam Centre London UCAS Registered Centre services. They provide the institutional backing and verified academic references that universities look for, ensuring your application is treated with the same weight as a mainstream school applicant.
Q: When does UCAS Clearing 2026 open?
A: UCAS Clearing officially opens on 2 July 2026 and closes on 19 October 2026. However, the vast majority of activity occurs in mid-August following A-Level Results Day.
Q: Do Russell Group universities participate in Clearing?
A: Yes. In recent years, many prestigious Russell Group universities have utilized Clearing to fill remaining vacancies in highly competitive courses. However, these places disappear within hours of Results Day opening.
Q: Can I use Clearing if I got better grades than expected?
A: Historically, this was called "Adjustment." However, UCAS has now merged this process. If you exceed your predicted grades and wish to apply for a more competitive course, you can use the "Decline my place" button on the Hub to self-release into Clearing. This carries a risk, so secure a verbal offer from the new university before declining your current place.
UCAS Clearing is not a sign of failure; it is simply a different route to the same destination. By understanding the process, preparing your documents in advance, and remaining calm under pressure, you can secure a place at a phenomenal university.
If you need academic support or wish to retake your A-Levels to aim higher next year, the expert tutors at Merit Tutors are always here to guide you toward academic excellence.
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Updated 24-July-2026
