Clearing 2026: four things you might not know about Clearing and results day
Get ready for results day by wrapping your head around these often-missed Clearing facts
By Nik Taylor (editor, The Uni Guide) | 24 December 2025 | 4 minutes read
If you've applied to university this year, exam results day can go broadly one of three ways. Either you get the grades you need for your firm offer (hooray!); you miss your firm, but meet the grades for your insurance (alright!); or you miss the grades you need for both your firm and insurance (hmmm...).
That last scenario might give you the shudders, but if it's where you find yourself on results day the uni application game is not yet done. In this case, you may well look at using Clearing. This process, which is part of the Ucas application system, means you're able to apply for other university courses that still have spaces.
That's Clearing in a nutshell, but there's a bit more to it than that. In this article, we take a closer look at how the whole thing works by tidying up a few misconceptions.
1. Clearing actually kicks off before results day
Clearing is best-known – and most likely to be used – by students who missed out on a place at their chosen universities come results day. But the system actually opens in early July and can be used by students who, for whatever reason have yet to secure any course offers.
As soon as Clearing opens, you're able to search through available course spaces. If you already have your exam results 'in hand' (perhaps you're on a gap year having taken your exams last summer) then you can contact unis to apply straight away.
But if you're still awaiting your exam grades, you will need to wait until results day before making your Clearing application. Bear in mind that course listings will change throughout Clearing - particularly on A-level results day (which is on Thursday 13 August 2026).
Universities have their Clearing courses listed well in advance, so I would advise that you go though the options you have at universities you want to apply to – this way you're organised and will waste no time. You then have the options you can fall back on if you don't get your firm or insurance, or you might even find a better course out there for you!ANOYNOMUS786, posting on The Student Room
And how long does Clearing last? Clearing runs for more than three months, 2 July 2026 until 19 October 2026.
2. Not all universities take part in Clearing
Most universities feature at least a few courses in Clearing, but some don't take part at all. This includes the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and a handful of other institutions.
Similarly, certain competitive degree subjects – the likes of medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, for instance – generally don't feature.
3. You could still keep your place even with lower grades
Let's say you check your grades on results day and you've missed your firm and insurance offers by one or two grades. Don't immediately assume you're going to be in Clearing - check your Ucas Hub first.
It's very common for universities to still accept students who have only narrowly missed the grades needed for their offer - and you'll be able to see this on Ucas Hub. If you've got a place at either your firm or insurance uni, that university offer will now show up as unconditional.
If the university has not made a decision yet, ring them and discuss your situation with the admissions tutors.
If you are in Clearing - you'll see your Clearing number there instead. You're now able to start phoning up universities that have Clearing places you might like. Take your time with this bit - there's no immediate rush as no-one is able to accept a Clearing offer until later on A-level results day.
4. Your Clearing phone call might include a mini-interview
When you do call up universities in Clearing, you'll be put through to a member of staff. How this conversation pans out will vary from one university to another - but it's smart to be prepared. They might just do a quick run-through of your grades or you could have a more full-on telephone interview.
I got a place by applying though a Clearing form online. They called me within two hours for an interview and then called the next day to offer the place.One university sent me an email saying they would call within the next couple of hours for an interview and they never did.ayshaxim, posting on The Student Room
The Student Room member thegalaxy applied to university through Clearing and found the phone call part of the process to be straightforward. "When they pick up all you need to say is something like 'I'm in Clearing and I'd like to apply for your Maths/Engineering/Spanish/whatever course'. They'll guide you through the process, they'll just go through collecting various information from you (Ucas number, grades etc)"
You can use the time before results day to make sure you're ready for anything that could come up.
