Making the final choice

Applying directly into UCAS Clearing

Don’t worry if you’re a UK student that hasn’t applied by the June deadline. Applying directly to UCAS Clearing gives you another chance to apply.

CLEARING CLEARING FOR PARENTS CLEARING FOR STUDENTS UNDERGRADUATE

Tamsin Mosse 28 Jul 2026

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What’s a direct Clearing application?
Who can apply directly?
How do I apply this way?
Why should I apply directly?
UCAS Clearing 2026

What’s a direct Clearing application?

A direct Clearing application is when you apply for a university course through Clearing without having submitted a UCAS application before the 30 June deadline.

If you decide to apply to university after this deadline, you’ll need to apply through Clearing rather than the main UCAS application cycle.

Clearing 2026 opens on 2 July and closes on 19 October.

Who can apply directly?

If you haven’t submitted a UCAS application by 30 June, you must make a direct Clearing application for courses starting this autumn.

This route is often used by:

Students waiting to see their results before applying.
Students unsure about going to university earlier in the year.
Students who decide to apply after the deadline.
Mature students returning to education.

How do I apply this way?

There are two main ways to apply through Clearing as a direct applicant:

1. Make a last-minute UCAS Clearing application

Create a UCAS Hub account to get your UCAS ID.
Submit a personal statement and academic reference.
Once you receive your results, contact universities to discuss available courses.
If offered a place, you can add your choice in UCAS.

This is the most common route for late applicants.

2. You can also apply directly into Clearing without UCAS

Some universities allow direct applications outside UCAS.
Not all universities offer this route, so call them first to check.
You’ll usually receive an offer by email, with a link to apply.
You'll need to complete an online application or Record of Prior Acceptance form.

This option is more common for international students, or for applicants whose route doesn’t fit standard UCAS timelines.

Once you’ve received your grades, you can start calling universities to see whether you get any verbal offers. Each university will have a dedicated Clearing hotline for you to call, which can be found when searching for Clearing courses.

Why should I apply directly?

Applying directly gives you more time to consider what you’d like to study and where. You may not know what degree you’d like to do by the 30 June application deadline, so applying directly into Clearing gives you extra time.

You may prefer to wait until you have your results, so you know what courses are realistic to pursue. By waiting you could have a greater chance of acceptance onto a course, as many universities lower their entry requirements in Clearing.

However, choosing to apply directly means you could miss out on certain courses and universities. Medicine and Veterinary Medicine courses usually fill their places before Clearing opens, so you are unlikely to find Clearing courses in these subjects.

UCAS Clearing 2026

Below we show the key dates for the UCAS Clearing period, including results day for A Levels and Scottish qualifications. Clearing hotlines will be busier after results day.

UCAS Clearing 2026 key dates and timeline