Clearing 2026

Clearing will open on 2 July.

Explore student life at University of Greenwich and get prepared for your Clearing journey.

Get ready for Clearing 2026

Clearing is a chance for prospective students to find a course for the new academic year. You will be able to search for university courses that have spaces once Clearing opens on 2 July. You can apply for a degree at the University of Greenwich through Clearing if you haven’t secured a place by the 30 June UCAS deadline or are looking to change course.

Register interest now and beat the rush on results day

Results Day is Thursday 13 August, and it will be very busy. To beat the rush, sign up to our Priority Clearing service. This gives you access to our Priority Clearing hotline, which allows you to jump the queue on Results Day.

Signing up will also give you priority access to our clearing team when clearing opens on Thursday 2 July.

What is Clearing?

Clearing, also known as UCAS Clearing, is the final part of the UCAS application cycle before the new academic year begins. It is how universities fill courses that have spaces by matching applicants without a university place with universities that have vacancies.

Clearing, is a great opportunity for applicants across the country to find a course that is right for them, after the normal UCAS cycle has finished. Every year, Clearing helps thousands find a University place and a home for the next 3 years (or beyond!)

You may have missed out on your offers due to surprising exam results. You might have changed your mind about what or where you want to study. Or you may have just decided that going to University is the right path for you. Whatever the reason, rest assured that you can apply through Clearing.

Study at the University of Greenwich without holding an offer from us through clearing.

Learn more about how clearing works.

Clearing offered me the opportunity to consider alternative options at a challenging time. I always remember the experience with gratitude to the university for enabling me to thrive in my career.

- Achenyo Ochuma, BSc Pharmaceutical Science

I applied to the university through Clearing. The Clearing process was easy, and it really helped to put my mind at ease at a time of immense stress.

- Taylor Cameron, BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Find your course in Clearing

Popular Clearing courses

Clearing timeline

02 July: Clearing opens
If you have your results, you can start Clearing.

6 July: International Baccalaureate results
International Baccalaureate (IB) results are expected.

13 August: A-level, T-level and BTEC results
Once you have all your results, you can contact our Clearing team. You can refer yourself on UCAS to a university from 2pm on this day.

20 August: GCSE results
GCSE results will be released on this day, if they are needed to support your application.

September
Clearing continues until our courses are full or the academic year begins.

Why choose Greenwich?


Greenwich is a place where you can be yourself, and feel supported. With career-focused teaching and dedicated support services, we help you on every step of your journey.

Clearing FAQs

How does Clearing work?

During clearing, you can contact different Universities or Higher Education Provider's to see what undergraduate courses they have available for the upcoming academic year. You can contact as many Universities as you want and get as many offers as you want. Just be mindful that you can only choose one course and one University to add as your clearing choice, and every institution will have deadlines for you to respond by.

You can start applying as soon as you have all your grades. You will receive these on or around A-Level results Day. Other qualifications, such as BTEC, SQA and QCF & RCF qualifications, will also be released on this day. Some results are released earlier, this includes International Baccalaureate (IB) results, which are expected in July.

For some courses you will be issued with an offer straight away (pending proof of qualifications). With others, you may be asked to complete an interview, portfolio, or an alternative check, such as a DBS, before any offers are confirmed.

We completely understand that results day can be a stressful time, especially if you have had a surprising morning. If you have ended without the grades you would have hoped for and are no longer eligible for your previous offers, your UCAS Hub status will automatically update and list you as 'In Clearing'.

If this, is you, or you want to make an application to join Greenwich, get in touch with us! Check our list of courses to find something suitable and give us a call (using your priority number, if you have one). Even if you check the list and your first choice is not available, we may be able to offer you a place on a similar course. Therefore, it's always worth reaching out to our clearing team, who will be more than happy to help.

How Clearing works

Plan for Clearing

Who can use Clearing?

Clearing is available to you if you aren’t holding any offers. If you’re already in the UCAS system, Clearing is available to you if your UCAS Hub says ‘You are in Clearing’ or ‘Clearing has started’.

Once Clearing opens on Tuesday 2 July, you can see which universities have vacancies on their courses on the UCAS website. It’s also a good idea to reach out to universities directly to find out which courses have spaces. You can apply to as many universities as you want and get as many offers as you want during Clearing. However, you can only accept one offer. For more details about the Clearing process and how to use it, see our step-by-step guide below.

What can I study through Clearing?

Most courses are available through Clearing, as long as there are places available.

Give us an idea of what you want to study, and our Clearing advisers will help to match you to a course.

When does Clearing open and close?

Clearing opens in July. You can get in touch as soon as you have all your results.

Most Clearing activity takes place around A-level results day. Other qualifications, such as BTEC, SQA and QCF & RCF qualifications, will also be released on this day.

We'll be available from 8am on results day to support you with your applications and enquiries.

However, you can beat the rush by signing up for a priority phone number.

Clearing is usually open until the end of August and often continues into September. We cannot say exactly when it will close.

Get a priority number

I've already accepted an offer. Can I still apply to Greenwich?

Yes! Clearing allows you to change your mind about where or what you study. What's more, you can call us and discuss your options before you make any final decisions about an offer you have already accepted.

If you decide you want to come and join us at Greenwich, our teams will guide you through the process of selecting our offer.

How do I release myself during Clearing?

If you have a confirmed place at a university but you decide to study somewhere else, you must release yourself before you can apply to another institution.

To release yourself, log in to UCAS Hub and follow the instructions. Once you do this, you lose your secured place and enter the Clearing process.

You can only release yourself if you have a confirmed place (i.e. once you have received all your results) - not while you hold a conditional offer.

How do I accept an offer from Greenwich?

To accept an offer in Clearing from the University of Greenwich, visit your UCAS Hub and add us as a Clearing choice. Enter the UCAS course code that you've been accepted on, along with our institution code, G70. Spaces on our courses are limited so be sure to respond as soon as you can to secure your place.

Once you've done this, we will work on setting up your student profile and send you the information you need to register as a student. We'll introduce you to our Welcome Team, who can help you through these steps.

Go to UCAS

I have qualifications outside the UK, can I still apply through Clearing?

Yes. We would recommend that you use our online application form to do this. You will need to create an account by creating a login and PIN. Once you've done this, just fill in the application and upload your documents onto the form so our admission tutors can review in detail.

Can I still get a student loan using Clearing?

Yes. Student loans are available for any eligible students accepted through Clearing. You should apply as soon as possible to avoid delays to your first payment.

If you've already applied for a loan but changed universities during Clearing, you will need to notify your loan provider (Student Finance England or similar).

More about student loans

We also offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that may be of benefit to you. Some of these you could receive automatically when you join.

More about scholarships

Step-by-step guide on how to use Clearing

This guide explains the key parts of the Clearing process and what you need to do at each stage. It also includes details on what happens on Results Day.

1. How to apply through Clearing

If you already have your exam results, you can apply as soon as Clearing opens on Tuesday 2 July. If you haven’t received your exam results yet, you’ll have to wait until you have them before you apply through Clearing. For most students, Results Day is Thursday 13 August.

Here’s what you need to do:

  • If you have already applied to universities through UCAS
    Go to your UCAS Hub to see if Clearing is available to you. Once Clearing starts on Tuesday 2 July, your UCAS Hub will say ‘You are in Clearing’ or ‘Clearing has started’. This means that you can use UCAS Hub to look for courses that have spaces, receive informal Clearing offers from universities, and accept the offer you want.
  • If you haven’t applied to universities yet
    You need to fill in a Clearing application. To begin your application, sign up to UCAS Hub and follow the instructions. You can start using UCAS Hub as soon as UCAS has processed your application and you’ve received an email with instructions on how to access your UCAS account. You need to pay £28.95 for your UCAS application.

2. How to look for a university place through Clearing

From 2 July 2026 onwards, universities list their Clearing vacancies on UCAS. You will be able to search for courses that have spaces using the UCAS search tool. Once you have found the course/courses you’re interested in, get in touch with the university/universities to see if you meet their entry requirements and whether there are still spaces available.

3. How to accept an offer through Clearing

Once you have all your Clearing offers from universities (typically given over the phone) and have decided which one you want to go for, you need to formally accept the offer. This means that you are definitely accepting the offer from the university, so take your time before making your decision and make sure you’re absolutely sure before going ahead. When you’re ready, accept the offer by visiting your UCAS Hub and adding the course as a Clearing choice. Only add a Clearing choice if the university has given you permission to do so.

4. How to add a Clearing choice

Sign into the UCAS Hub and go to the ‘Your choices’ section of your application. Click ‘Add Clearing choice’ and fill in the course details by the date the university gave you on the phone. For example, to accept an offer from the University of Greenwich, enter the UCAS course code and our institution code, G70. Once you’ve added your Clearing choice, the university will then confirm your place within 24 to 72 hours.

5. What ‘self-release’ means and how to use it

If you have a confirmed place at a university and have changed your mind, you need to self-release into Clearing before you can apply to another institution. When you self-release, you’re declining your confirmed place. You will not be able to reverse the decision, so be absolutely sure it’s what you want to do before you go ahead. Also ensure that the university you have spoken to is definitely offering you a place through Clearing.

To self-release into Clearing, log into UCAS Hub. Then click on ‘Decline my place’. This will take you to a page explaining the process and you will be asked to confirm that you want to self-release into Clearing. Once you have done this, your status on UCAS will show that you are in Clearing and you will be able to add a course as a Clearing choice and formally accept an offer from a university.

6. How to prepare before Results Day

As Results Day approaches, it can be an anxious time, especially if you’re relying on certain grades to get into your chosen university. Whether your exam results are better than you expected or not what you’d hoped for, we can help you through it. One way to minimise the stress on the day is to do the groundwork. Here are some things you can do in advance to help you handle Clearing on the big day.

  • Have a plan B ready
    Research universities and courses you’d consider if you don’t meet the conditions of your conditional offer before Results Day. There may be Clearing vacancies on similar courses that you aren’t aware of, so it’s worth widening your search. This means you will be well-informed on the day and therefore better able to make the right decision for you.
  • Follow universities on social media
    Most universities have Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X accounts. Follow them to get updates on course vacancies, Clearing Open Days and much more.
  • Get in touch with universities
    Email or call the universities you’re interested in and see if they have any events that you can attend either in person or online. The University of Greenwich runs a number of Clearing events.
  • Make notes
    Keep track of your university research, contact details and Clearing hotlines in a notepad or on your laptop/tablet so you can refer to them on Results Day.
  • Sign up to Priority Clearing
    Priority Clearing will be available. For more information, check out our Clearing page or call us at 020 8331 9000.

7. What happens on Results Day

Students receive their A-level, T-level and BTEC results on Thursday 13 August. Places on courses become available because applicants don’t get the grades they need or they decide to swap to another course. It is normal to feel disappointed if you don’t get the results you wanted, but there will be options for you, so try not to be too disheartened. And remember, you’re not alone – thousands of students go through Clearing.

As Results Day is very busy, it’s a good idea to plan in advance to make the most of the opportunities and help ease any stress.

As soon as your results are released, your UCAS Hub will update. This is what it will show:

  • Unconditional – Your university place has been confirmed. This may be your firm offer, insurance offer or both.
  • Unsuccessful – You have not been accepted by the university where you had a conditional offer. You’re now eligible to enter Clearing.
  • Unconditional Changed Course (UCC) – You don’t have the grades for your offer, but the university has offered a similar course which you do have the grades for.

Results Day timeline

8am Exam boards release A-level, T-level and BTEC results. UCAS receives the results directly and your UCAS Hub will update at around 8am

8am University Clearing lines open

1pm Applicants can add their Clearing choice on their UCAS Hub

8. Top tips on how to make the most of Results Day

A good place to start is to check out ‘How to prepare for Results Day’ to see what you can do beforehand. Here’s what you can do in the final lead-up and on the actual day to benefit the most from Clearing.

Look after yourself

Find things to take your mind off your exam results in the days leading up to the day by doing things you like. This can be spending time with loved ones, exercising or enjoying your favourite hobbies. Try to get a good night’s sleep the night before to make sure you’re fully rested.

Be ready to go at 8am when Clearing lines open

Check your internet connection, make sure you have a fully charged mobile phone (and charger), and have the following information to hand:

  • Your UCAS number and details of your conditional offers
    University Clearing telephone numbers
  • UCAS Clearing telephone number
  • Your A-level, T-level and BTEC results
  • Your GCSE results
  • A notepad and pen
  • Notes from the research you have done beforehand
  • A list of questions to ask course tutors
  • Your personal statement

Limit your social media use

It can be helpful to reach out to friends at this time but try to avoid comparing your results. Remember that everyone’s journey is different and it’s best for your wellbeing to focus on your own plans.

Take your time

Most universities will give you a few days to accept or reject an offer so don’t rush your decision. Ask universities how long you have to accept their offer, ask about the course and see if there are any Clearing Open Days you can attend in the coming days.

Get support and help

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Speak to your loved ones and reach out to the universities and support services.

9. What are the alternative routes to university?

If you haven’t decided about going to university or your plans have changed, here are some options.

Degree apprenticeships

When you study for a degree apprenticeship you split your time between university and work. You gain valuable practical experience with the added bonus that you earn while you learn. The University of Greenwich offers a number of degree apprenticeships.

Foundation degrees

Foundation degrees combine academic and workplace skills and prepare you for the final part of an undergraduate degree. They focus on a particular profession and are shorter than a degree – usually two years full-time or longer for part-time students. The University of Greenwich works with a number of partner colleges that offer a wide range of foundation degrees.

Helplines and support

Most students experience some anxiety as Results Day approaches. For practical Clearing support, try these two helplines. It’s also important for you to feel supported, so turn to a trusted friend or family member or reach out to one of the support services below.

UCAS helpline

Get answers to your queries on the technicalities of Clearing or any issues using UCAS Hub.
0371 468 0468

Exam Results Helpline

Speak to a knowledgeable adviser on the free telephone exam results helpline. Lines are open from 8am on Results Day.
0800 100 900

Support services

Get mental health and wellbeing support through one of the services below.