If you don’t have a confirmed university place after results, Clearing is how you find one. Here’s how it works in 2026, who it’s for, and the steps to secure a place.
Clearing is the process universities and colleges use to fill places still available on their courses. For 2026 it runs from 2 July to 19 October. You can use it if you have no offers (or none you want to accept), you didn’t meet your offer conditions, you’re applying after 30 June, or you’ve released yourself from your firm place. You search for vacancies, contact the universities yourself with your Clearing number, and add a single Clearing choice once one has given you the go-ahead.
tutor2u isn’t a university or a UCAS service, and we can’t place you on a course. This is a plain-English guide to the official process - always use UCAS and speak to the universities and your school or college for anything specific to you.
A-level results day 2026 (Thursday 13 August):
If you’re eligible, UCAS also shows a ‘My matches’ list (Clearing Plus) of courses you might suit, so universities can express interest in you - but you still confirm any place through the steps above.
Once you’ve secured a place: if you’ve changed university or course, update your student finance application straight away and sort accommodation - UCAS warns that not updating Student Finance England can delay your payment. See student finance after switching.
Source: UCAS: what is Clearing · UCAS: 2026 confirmation & Clearing key dates.
A verbal or informal Clearing offer may have a deadline. Always ask how long the university will hold it for you, and make sure you add it as your Clearing choice by the deadline they give you. And Clearing isn’t only for lower grades - plenty of strong applicants use it to change course or university.
Results and your updated UCAS status are available from 08:00 on 13 August. You can research courses and phone universities before 13:00, and adding a Clearing choice becomes available from 13:00. Source: UCAS ↗
Clearing runs from 2 July to 19 October. The final date to submit a new application before it goes into Clearing is 24 September (18:00). Source: UCAS ↗
You can use Clearing if you have no offers (or none you want to accept), you didn’t meet the conditions of your offers, you’re applying after 30 June, or you’ve declined your firm place. You don’t have to have ‘done badly’ to use it. Source: UCAS ↗
You add one at a time. You contact universities, get the go-ahead, then add a single Clearing choice; if it’s not accepted you can try another. An informal offer can expire, so ask about its deadline. Source: UCAS ↗
You contact the universities yourself, with your Clearing number and Personal ID. UCAS provides the search tool and your Clearing number, but the informal offer comes from the university. Source: UCAS ↗
If you’re in Clearing, UCAS can match you to courses you may suit and show them under ‘My matches’, letting you express interest to universities. You still confirm a place the usual way. Source: UCAS ↗
Results day is also grade-boundary day. See this year’s boundaries and results while you weigh up your options, and check the key dates.
Results day & key dates →Grade boundary pages →Last checked August 2026. This is a plain-English summary of the UCAS admissions and Clearing process; always check your UCAS application and contact the relevant university or college for the details that apply to you, which can change.
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