UCAS Clearing after A-level results: Steps to take now

By AtheneNet Education Desk

Applicants entering the first weekend after A-level results should check their UCAS account before contacting universities. Results were released on Thursday 13 August 2026, and Clearing vacancies may change as universities process applications and decisions. A listed course is not a guaranteed place.

Check whether Clearing is available in your UCAS account

UCAS Clearing helps universities and colleges fill course places that remain available. It may be relevant if you have no confirmed place, declined an existing place through the appropriate UCAS process, applied after the main deadline or want to reconsider your options.

Start with the current status shown in your account. Do not assume you are eligible based only on your results or circumstances. Follow the options and instructions displayed by UCAS, then check current vacancy information before approaching a provider.

Research the full course before making contact

Course titles can conceal important differences in modules, assessment methods, professional accreditation, placement opportunities and entry requirements. Read the complete course page and confirm that the listed start year, campus and qualification match what you want.

Compare practical factors as carefully as the academic content:

• tuition fees and likely living costs;
• travel distance and transport options;
• accommodation availability, price and contract length;
• student finance implications;
• whether foundation years, placements or study abroad affect the duration.

Check details directly with the university because availability and accommodation information can move quickly during Clearing.

Contact the university and record every condition

Have your UCAS details, results and questions ready when you call or use an official enquiry form. Ask whether the course is currently accepting Clearing applicants and whether your qualifications meet its requirements.

Write down the course code, campus, contact name, response deadline and every condition attached to an offer. Ask when and how the university expects you to act through UCAS.

An encouraging conversation, provisional email or informal indication does not by itself confirm a university place. The provider must assess the application, and the official status must be completed through the required UCAS process.

Add a choice only through the official process

Do not add a Clearing choice until the university has told you to do so and you understand its conditions. Use only the option available in your UCAS account, checking the provider and course details before submitting.

Once submitted, monitor the account for the university’s decision. Until acceptance is shown through the official process, continue treating the place as unconfirmed. Before committing, revisit the provider’s current accommodation, fees and student finance information so that a fast decision remains an informed one.

Source: Joint Council for Qualifications