With A-level results day fast approaching in the UK (results are out on 15 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 2024 | World University Rank 2024 | University | Clearing courses available 2024 |
| 5 | =30 | University of Edinburgh | 1 course available including nursing studies |
| 6 | =38 | King’s College London | 63 courses available including chemistry, English and European politics |
| 8 | 51 | University of Manchester | 341 courses available including biology, civil engineering and computer science |
| 10 | =87 | University of Glasgow | 658 courses available including accountancy, Classics and economics |
| 11 | =97 | University of Southampton | 329 courses available including archaeology, business analytics and education |
| 12 | 101 | University of Birmingham | 267 courses available including ancient history, chemical engineering and computer science |
| 13 | 105 | University of Sheffield | 229 courses available including architecture, biochemistry and international relations and politics |
| 14 | =106 | University of Warwick | 1 course available including health and medical sciences |
| 15 | 129 | University of Leeds | 191 courses available including computer science, food science and history |
| 16 | 130 | University of Nottingham | 240 courses available including agriculture, electrical engineering and liberal arts |
| 17 | 135 | Queen Mary University of London | 296 courses available including drama, English language and finance |
| 18 | 147 | University of York | 190 courses available including ecology, engineering and politics |
| 19 | =155 | Lancaster University | 406 courses available including cybersecurity, design and geography |
| =20 | =168 | University of Liverpool | 226 courses available including climate science, German and marketing |
| =20 | =168 | Newcastle University | 152 courses available including animal science, English literature and marine biology |
| 22 | 174 | Durham University | 42 courses available including criminology, primary education and sociology |
| 23 | =177 | University of Exeter | 214 courses available including environmental science, geology and global politics |
| 24 | 190 | Cardiff University | 245 courses available including astrophysics, French and human geography |
| =26 | 201-250 | University of Aberdeen | 410 courses available including anthropology, computing and genetics |
| =26 | 201-250 | University of Leicester | 158 courses available including engineering, geography and journalism |
| =26 | 201-250 | Queen’s University Belfast | 207 courses available including aerospace engineering, law and physics |
| =26 | 201-250 | University of Reading | 291 courses available including art, building surveying and medical science |
| =26 | 201-250 | University of Sussex | 208 courses available including art history, data science and international relations |
| =31 | 251-300 | University of Bath | 86 courses available including pharmacy, physics and social sciences |
| =31 | 251-300 | University of East Anglia | 325 courses available including business management, energy engineering and history of art |
| =31 | 251-300 | Loughborough University | 257 courses available including chemical engineering, English literature and graphic design |
| =31 | 251-300 | University of Surrey | 306 courses available including biomedical science, microbiology and theatre production |
| =31 | 251-300 | Swansea University | 552 courses available including business law, digital technology and health and social care |
| =31 | 251-300 | Birkbeck, University of London | 170 courses available including business, computing and creative writing |
| =37 | 301-350 | University of Dundee | 200 courses available including adult nursing, economics and geopolitics |
| =37 | 301-350 | University of Essex | 596 courses available including business management, childhood studies and events management |
| =37 | 301-350 | Royal Holloway, University of London | 266 courses available including economics, health studies and maths |
| =37 | 301-350 | St George’s, University of London | 13 courses available including healthcare science, medicine and physiotherapy |
| =37 | 301-350 | University of Strathclyde | 303 courses available including English, finance and international business |
| =42 | 351-400 | Brunel University London | 243 courses available including computer science, digital design and life sciences |
| =42 | 351-400 | City, University of London | 134 courses available including actuarial science, journalism and media production |
| =42 | 351-400 | Heriot-Watt University | 119 courses available including marketing, maths and software engineering |
| =45 | 401-500 | Aston University | 71 courses available including chemical engineering, history and law |
| =45 | 401-500 | Bangor University | 272 courses available including children’s nursing, linguistics and medical sciences |
| =45 | 401-500 | Bournemouth University | 157 courses available including computing, events management and midwifery |
| =45 | 401-500 | Goldsmiths, University of London | 72 courses available including anthropology, curating and international relations |
| =45 | 401-500 | University of Hull | 212 courses available including environmental science, game design and media studies |
| =45 | 401-500 | University of Kent | 185 courses available including ancient history, forensic science and psychology |
| =45 | 401-500 | University of Plymouth | 185 courses available including conservation biology, graphic design and music |
| =45 | 401-500 | University of Portsmouth | 178 courses available including animation, business and electronic engineering |
| =45 | 401-500 | Royal Veterinary College | 18 courses available including biological sciences |
| =45 | 401-500 | SOAS University of London | 163 courses available including Chinese, social anthropology and world philosophies |
| =45 | 401-500 | University of Stirling | 164 courses available including business law, data science and philosophy |
| =56 | 501-600 | Aberystwyth University | 309 courses available including agriculture, creative writing and ecology |
| =56 | 501-600 | Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) | 327 courses available including film, interior design and music performance |
| =56 | 501-600 | University of Bradford | 113 courses available including clinical sciences, occupational therapy and social work |
| =56 | 501-600 | Edinburgh Napier University | 87 courses available including games development, mechanical engineering, photography |
| =56 | 501-600 | University of Greenwich | 177 courses available including horticulture, paramedic science, public health |
| =56 | 501-600 | University of Huddersfield | 182 courses available including biochemistry, health and social care and musical theatre |
| =56 | 501-600 | Keele University | 244 courses available including history, neuroscience and pharmacology |
| =56 | 501-600 | University of Lincoln | 190 courses available including creative writing, fine art and illustration |
| =56 | 501-600 | Liverpool John Moores University | 166 courses available including animal behaviour, construction management and sport coaching |
| =56 | 501-600 | Manchester Metropolitan University | 230 courses available including education, philosophy and zoology |
| =56 | 501-600 | Middlesex University | 151 courses available including criminology, fashion marketing and information technology |
| =56 | 501-600 | Northumbria University | 138 courses available including artificial intelligence, product design and theatre and performance |
| =56 | 501-600 | Nottingham Trent University | 383 courses available including civil engineering, data science and physics |
| =56 | 501-600 | University of the West of England | 169 courses available including digital media, fashion textiles and optometry |
| =70 | 601-800 | Birmingham City University | 198 courses available including construction management, mental health nursing and visual effects |
| =70 | 601-800 | Coventry University | 326 courses available including dietetics, global marketing and learning disabilities nursing |
| =70 | 601-800 | De Montfort University | 115 courses available including aerospace engineering, medical science and music technology |
| =70 | 601-800 | University of Derby | 252 courses available including Earth sciences, human biology and sport and education |
| =70 | 601-800 | Glasgow Caledonian University | 66 courses available including audio technology, podiatry and software development |
| =70 | 601-800 | University of Hertfordshire | 165 courses available including economics, pharmacology and sports therapy |
| =70 | 601-800 | London South Bank University | 116 courses available including media production, fashion communication and construction |
| =70 | 601-800 | Oxford Brookes University | 170 courses available including building surveying, early childhood studies and physiotherapy |
| =70 | 601-800 | SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College) | 32 courses available including agriculture, equine studies and forestry |
| =70 | 601-800 | Ulster University | 149 courses available including history, outdoor adventure and pharmacy |
| =70 | 601-800 | University of the West of Scotland | 73 courses available including biomedical science, childhood studies and physics |
| =70 | 601-800 | University of Wolverhampton | 241 courses available including computer science, health and well-being and paramedic science |
| =83 | 801-1000 | University of Brighton | 148 courses available including film, linguistics and sport management |
| =83 | 801-1000 | University of Gloucestershire | 162 courses available including cybersecurity, geography and music business |
| =83 | 801-1000 | Kingston University | 231 courses available including environmental science, international business and nutrition |
| =83 | 801-1000 | Leeds Beckett University | 128 courses available including human geography, politics and sociology |
| =83 | 801-1000 | Robert Gordon University | 70 courses available including architecture, fine art and social work |
| =83 | 801-1000 | University of Roehampton | 200 courses available including accounting, film production and sports therapy |
| =83 | 801-1000 | University of Salford | 207 courses available including interior design, mechanical engineering and quantity surveying |
| =83 | 801-1000 | Sheffield Hallam University | 216 courses available including digital marketing, geography and photography |
| =83 | 801-1000 | University of Westminster | 154 courses available including history, psychology and real estate |
| =92 | 1001-1200 | University of Bedfordshire | 226 courses available including computer science, graphic design and public health |
| =92 | 1001-1200 | Canterbury Christ Church University | 199 courses available including human biology, paramedic science and theology |
| =92 | 1001-1200 | University of Central Lancashire | 317 courses available including electronic engineering, maths and sociology |
| =92 | 1001-1200 | University of East London | 252 courses available including advertising, counselling and tourism management |
| =92 | 1001-1200 | Edge Hill University | 136 courses available including biology, genetics and plant science |
| =92 | 1001-1200 | University of South Wales | 212 courses available including childhood studies, illustration and legal studies |
| =92 | 1001-1200 | Staffordshire University | 196 courses available including graphic design, social work and sustainable business |
| =92 | 1001-1200 | Teesside University | 215 courses available including optometry, physiotherapy and visual effects |
| =92 | 1001-1200 | University of West London | 240 courses available including cybersecurity, data science and music technology |
| =92 | 1001-1200 | University of Winchester | 91 courses available including history, philosophy and Classical studies |
| =102 | 1201-1500 | Cardiff Metropolitan University | 191 courses available including architecture, product design and speech and language therapy |
| =102 | 1201-1500 | University of Chester | 243 courses available including chemical engineering, English language and zoology |
| =102 | 1201-1500 | University of Sunderland | 133 courses available including health and social care, pharmacy and graphic design |
Numbers of courses were correct at the time of publication
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