With A-level results day fast approaching in the UK (results are out on 17 August), students will be eager to find out whether they have achieved their first (or second) choice of university.
Students who miss out on their choices can go through a process called clearing to select a different course or university. University clearing is already open on the Ucas website, and you can search for courses that are still available at UK universities. In advance of results day, students can browse the clearing courses still available just to prepare themselves for any outcome.
The university application process is set to be competitive this year. For many students who were unable to complete exams or who wish to change subjects, Ucas clearing can help them understand which courses universities are offering and which universities still have courses available. If you have any specific concerns about how courses will be taught, it’s best to contact your prospective university to find out.
How to survive A-level results day
Ucas clearing advice from students who have been through it
A-level results day: what to do when you receive your A-level results
Navigating clearing: what to do if you don’t receive your grades
Clearing: what you should say on the phone to universities
Some of the top institutions in the UK are notably missing from the clearing catalogue, including the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London.
Others, such as the University of Bristol, have now closed their early clearing applications; however, students are able to register their interest before results day and then will be able to browse courses closer to results day.
Nevertheless, many of the best universities in the UK have plenty of clearing places available for a range of courses including cybersecurity, data science, psychology and history. Students must contact universities directly to secure a place through clearing.
Below are the top universities in the UK (according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings) with clearing places available at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. This table was correct at the time of publication but as things could change it’s a good idea to check the Ucas clearing selection tool regularly.
This is also based on a general search, so it’s always worth refining the search based on your location and requirements.
| UK Rank 2023 | World University Rank 2023 | University | Clearing courses available 2023 |
| 5 | 29 | University of Edinburgh | 19 courses available including nursing studies |
| 6 | 35 | King’s College London | 15 courses available including artificial intelligence |
| 10 | =82 | University of Glasgow | 20 courses available including environmental science and sustainability |
| 11 | =104 | University of Warwick | 52 courses available including chemistry, French studies and sociology |
| =12 | =108 | University of Birmingham | 244 courses available including ancient history, civil engineering and music |
| =12 | =108 | University of Southampton | 172 courses available including geology, philosophy and textile design |
| 14 | =114 | University of Sheffield | 200 courses available including architecture, criminology and geography |
| 15 | 122 | Lancaster University | 402 courses available including computer science, economics and film studies |
| 16 | =124 | Queen Mary University of London | 292 courses available including acturial science, drama and finance |
| 17 | .=128 | University of Leeds | 13 courses available including audiology |
| 18 | 130 | University of Nottingham | 183 courses available including classics, food science and microbiology |
| 19 | =137 | University of Exeter | 2 courses available including philosophy and politics |
| =20 | =139 | Newcastle University | 151 courses available including agriculture, English literature and linguistics |
| =20 | =139 | University of York | 204 courses available including business and management, ecology and genetics |
| 22 | =163 | University of Leicester | 152 courses available including accounting, English and international relations |
| 23 | =176 | University of Liverpool | 582 courses available including climate science, engineering and pharmacology |
| 24 | =187 | Cardiff University | 246 courses available including archaeology, French and maths |
| 25 | =192 | University of Aberdeen | 414 courses available including biology, German studies and law |
| =26 | =198 | Queen's University Belfast | 211 courses available including drama, history and marine biology |
| =26 | =198 | University of Reading | 300 courses available including business economics, medical science and nutrition |
| =29 | 201-250 | University of Dundee | 193 courses available including animation, mental health nursing and physics |
| =29 | 201-250 | University of East Anglia | 275 courses available including geophysics, liberal arts and modern languages |
| =29 | 201-250 | St George's, University of London | 4 courses available including biomedical science |
| =29 | 201-250 | University of Surrey | 328 courses available including aerospace engineering, media and communication and theatre production |
| =29 | 201-250 | University of Sussex | 202 courses available including art history, computer science and genetics |
| =35 | 251-300 | University of Bath | 44 courses available including civil engineering, pharmacology and physics |
| =35 | 251-300 | Bournemouth University | 174 courses available including adult nursing, computing and events management |
| =35 | 251-300 | Swansea University | 461 courses available including education, finance and marketing |
| =39 | 301-350 | Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) | 322 courses available including architecture, digital media production and forensic science |
| =39 | 301-350 | University of Essex | 855 courses available including computer games, economics and global studies |
| =41 | 351-400 | Birkbeck, University of London | 151 courses available including biomedicine, creative writing and philosophy |
| =41 | 351-400 | City, University of London | 120 courses available including linguistics, data science and history |
| =41 | 351-400 | University of Kent | 249 courses available including film and media, human geography and international business |
| =41 | 351-400 | Loughborough University | 218 courses available including bioengineering, design and politics |
| =41 | 351-400 | Royal Holloway, University of London | 249 courses available including astrophysics, Greek and social science |
| =41 | 351-400 | University of Stirling | 167 courses available including digital media, environmental science and Scottish history |
| =48 | 401-500 | Aston University | 70 courses available including chemical engineering, neuroscience and psychology |
| =48 | 401-500 | Bangor University | 270 courses available including marketing, music and pharmacology |
| =48 | 401-500 | Brunel University London | 245 courses available including anthropology, creative writing and games design |
| =48 | 401-500 | Edinburgh Napier University | 80 courses available including data science, graphic design and sports coaching |
| =48 | 401-500 | University of Lincoln | 195 courses available including health and social science, maths and robotics |
| =48 | 401-500 | Liverpool John Moores University | 163 courses available including animal behaviour, public health and zoology |
| =48 | 401-500 | Middlesex University | 173 courses available including midwifery, interior design and photography |
| =48 | 401-500 | University of Plymouth | 187 courses available including drama, fine art and international relations |
| =48 | 401-500 | University of Portsmouth | 163 courses available including dental hygiene, pharmacy and mechanical engineering |
| =48 | 401-500 | SRUC (Scotland's Rural College) | 34 courses available including agriculture and veterinary nursing |
| =48 | 401-500 | University of Strathclyde | 83 courses available including Italian, law and maths |
| =48 | 401-500 | University of the West of England | 164 courses available including accounting, games technology and occupational therapy |
| =60 | 501-600 | Aberystwyth University | 338 courses available including English literature, plant biology and sociology |
| =60 | 501-600 | Birmingham City University | 200 courses available including construction management, journalism and sports therapy |
| =60 | 501-600 | University of Bradford | 126 courses available including nursing, paramedic science and software engineering |
| =60 | 501-600 | Goldsmiths, University of London | 77 courses available including arts management, education and music |
| =60 | 501-600 | University of Greenwich | 205 courses available including business studies, computer engineering and music and sound production |
| =60 | 501-600 | Heriot-Watt University | 124 courses available including business and finance, modern languages and quantity surveying |
| =60 | 501-600 | University of Hull | 215 courses available including chemical engineering, georgraphy and war and politics |
| =60 | 501-600 | Keele University | 283 courses available including geology, philosophy and radiography |
| =60 | 501-600 | Northumbria University | 139 courses available including fashion, history and mass communication |
| =60 | 501-600 | Nottingham Trent University | 360 courses available including content creation, games technology and microbiology |
| =60 | 501-600 | SOAS University of London | 164 courses available including East Asian studies, global development and Japanese |
| =71 | 601-800 | De Montfort University | 114 courses available including cyber security, media production and visual effects |
| =71 | 601-800 | University of Derby | 182 courses available including early childhood studies, graphic design and theatre arts |
| =71 | 601-800 | Glasgow Caledonian University | 74 courses available including AI and data science, food science and optometry |
| =71 | 601-800 | University of Hertfordshire | 164 courses available including business economics, event management and physics |
| =71 | 601-800 | London South Bank University | 130 courses available including psychology, sociology and urban and environmental planning |
| =71 | 601-800 | Manchester Metropolitan University | 218 courses available including fashion, French and product design |
| =71 | 601-800 | Oxford Brookes University | 174 courses available including artificial intelligence, equine science and medical science |
| =71 | 601-800 | Ulster University | 154 courses available including economics, outdoor adventure and real estate |
| =71 | 601-800 | University of the West of Scotland | 77 courses available including aircraft engineering, physics and web and mobile development |
| =71 | 601-800 | University of Wolverhampton | 266 courses available including international relations, pharmacology and primary education |
| =83 | 801-1000 | University of Bedfordshire | 258 courses available including construction design, physiotherapy and social work |
| =83 | 801-1000 | University of Brighton | 153 courses available including civil engineering, podiatry and sport studies |
| =83 | 801-1000 | Coventry University | 326 courses available including global marketing, law and tourism and hospitality management |
| =83 | 801-1000 | Edge Hill University | 138 courses available including dance, international business and television |
| =83 | 801-1000 | Kingston University | 220 courses available including nutrition, sociology and sport science |
| =83 | 801-1000 | Leeds Beckett University | 132 courses available including cyber security, project management and teaching and education |
| =83 | 801-1000 | University of Roehampton | 106 courses available including digital technologies, liberal arts and web design and development |
| =83 | 801-1000 | University of Salford | 212 courses available including biological sciences, film production and social policy |
| =83 | 801-1000 | Sheffield Hallam University | 221 courses available including economics, human biology and politics |
| =83 | 801-1000 | University of Winchester | 110 courses available including classical studies, geography and modern history |
| =93 | 1001 - 1200 | Cardiff Metropolitan University | 129 courses available including architecture, dental technology and textile design |
| =93 | 1001 - 1200 | University of Central Lancashire | 353 courses available including medical sciences, robotics engineering and sports therapy |
| =93 | 1001 - 1200 | University of East London | 275 courses available including advertising, counselling and performing arts |
| =93 | 1001 - 1200 | Robert Gordon University | 65 courses available including computer science, design and pharmacy |
| =93 | 1001 - 1200 | University of South Wales | 258 courses available including building surveying, criminal justice and natural history |
| =93 | 1001 - 1200 | University of Sunderland | 143 courses available including childhood studies, cosmetic science and health and social care |
| =93 | 1001 - 1200 | Teesside University | 219 courses available including animation, energy engineering and public services |
| =93 | 1001 - 1200 | University of Westminster | 153 courses available including European legal studies, politics and Spanish |
| =101 | 1201-1500 | Canterbury Christ Church University | 278 courses available including chemical engineering, finance and plant science |
| =101 | 1201-1500 | University of Chester | 234 courses available including English language, modern languages and physical education |
| =101 | 1201-1500 | Staffordshire University | 205 courses available including forensic science, psychology and sound design |
Number of courses were correct at the time of publication
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