Question 1

What is UCAS Clearing?

Accepted Answer

Clearing is the UCAS process that matches applicants without a confirmed place to courses that still have vacancies. It runs from early July to mid-October and is busiest around A-level results day.

Question 2

When does Clearing 2026 open?

Accepted Answer

Clearing 2026 opens on 2 July 2026. Scottish results are released on 4 August and A-level results on 13 August 2026, which is the busiest day for Clearing.

Question 3

How many students are placed through Clearing?

Accepted Answer

Around 70,000 applicants were placed through Clearing in 2025 (51,490 through Clearing and 18,460 direct to Clearing), out of roughly 512,000 placed across the whole cycle.

Question 4

Is Clearing growing?

Accepted Answer

Total placements in 2025 were near their ten-year high, and Clearing routes have grown, including a rising number of applicants who decline their original offer and use Clearing by choice.

Question 5

Where does this Clearing data come from?

Accepted Answer

It is compiled from the UCAS Daily Clearing Analysis sector releases and benchmarked against ten cycles by Clearing Signal, operated by Blairgowrie HE Advisory.