Clearing 2020: UK universities with courses available

By seeta.bhardwa@…, 30 July, 2020

For Ucas Clearing courses for 2023 please click here 


With A-level results day fast approaching in the UK (results are out on 13 August), students will be eager to find out whether they have achieved their first (or second) choice of university. Results day in Scotland is slightly earlier, on 4 August. 

Clearing – the process that allows students who didn’t get in (or perhaps those who did better than they anticipated and wish to change their choice) to select a different course – is already open on the Ucas website, where you can search for courses that are still available at UK universities. If you are thinking of making a switch, now is a good time to check it out. 

The university application process might look slightly different this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. For many students who were unable to complete exams or who are wishing to change subjects, Clearing can help students 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, the best option is to contact your prospective university to find out.

Students who have their exam results (including those who did their A levels last year) and do not have any Ucas offers can apply for university places through clearing from July 2020, while students who miss their grades for conditional offers can use clearing after A-level results are released. 


How to survive A-level Results Day
How to deal with stress over exam results
Clearing gave me the second chance I needed
A-level results day: a vice-chancellor's guide to clearing
A-level results day: going through adjustment
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 universities in the UK are notably missing from the clearing catalogue, including the University of Oxford, the University of CambridgeImperial College London, LSE and Political Science and the University of St Andrews.

However, many of the top universities in the UK have plenty of clearing places available for a range of courses including cyber security, Korean studies, world literatures and ancient history. Students must contact universities directly in order 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 graduate level. This table was correct at the time of publication, but things may change so it is always worth checking the Ucas clearing selection tool on a regular basis.  

The table is based on courses for students living in England. Availability may vary for students from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, or if students are international. 

UK universities with clearing courses

UK Rank 2020 World University Rank 2020 University Clearing availability 2020
6 30 University of Edinburgh 16 courses available including law and nursing
7 =36 King’s College London 56 courses available including physics, geography and global health
8 =55 University of Manchester 322 courses available including aerospace engineering, classics and English literature
9 77 University of Warwick 193 courses available including biochemistry, data science and modern languages
10 87 University of Bristol  202 courses available including anthropology, education studies and French
11 =99 University of Glasgow 614 courses available including Celtic studies, civil engineering and genetics
12 =110 Queen Mary University of London 317 courses available including astrophysics, comparative literature and computer science
14 =117 University of Sheffield 344 courses available including Chinese studies, criminology and philosophy
15 122 University of Southampton 378 courses available including fashion design, fine art and ecology and conservation
16 =128 University of York 227 courses available including actuarial science, curating and art history and interactive media
18 =139 Lancaster University 332 courses available including advertising and marketing, international relations and philosophy
=19 =146 University of Exeter 305 courses available including ancient history, biochemistry and liberal arts
=19 =146 University of Sussex 199 courses available including history, life sciences and media and journalism
21 =152  University of Nottingham 151 courses available including agriculture, German and music 
22 =155  University of Leeds  276 courses available including childhood studies, food science and microbiology 
23  165  University of Liverpool  354 courses available including Egyptology, human physiology and zoology 
24 =166  University of Leicester  163 courses available including computer science, European studies and geology 
25  =168  University of Aberdeen  380 courses available including accountancy, divinity and film and visual culture 
26  192  University of East Anglia  243 courses available including American history, business management and energy engineering 
=27  =198  Cardiff University  345 courses available including dental hygiene, marine geography and neuroscience 
=29  201-250  University of Dundee  176 courses available including accountancy, civil engineering and textile design 
=29  201-250  Newcastle University  212 courses available including agriculture, countryside management and English language 
=29  201-250  Queen’s University Belfast  71 courses available including architecture, medicinal chemistry and physics 
=29  201-250  University of Reading  288 courses available including animal science, art and film and entrepreneurship 
=29  201-250  St Georges, University of London  9 courses available including medicine, physiotherapy and biomedical science 
=34 251-300  University of Essex  746 courses available including banking and finance, computer games and creative writing 
=34 251-300  Heriot-Watt University  136 courses available including brewing and distilling, civil engineering and urban planning and property development 
=34 251-300  Royal Holloway, University of London  257 courses available including applied psychology, Latin and music 
=34 251-300  University of Surrey  300 courses available including business economics, English literature and mathematics 
=34  251-300  Swansea University  368 courses available including ancient history, education and health and social care
41 301-350  Anglia Ruskin University ARU  230 courses available including artificial intelligence, cyber security and drama 
=42  351-400  Birkbeck, University of London  159 courses available including creative writing, intercultural communication and social sciences 
=42 351-400  Brunel University London  217 courses available including automotive engineering, digital design and international business 
=42  351-400  Goldsmiths, University of London  68 courses available including arts management, history of art and journalism 
=42  351-400 University of Kent  312 courses available including cultural studies and film, forensic science and global philosophies
=42  351-400  Loughborough University  251 courses available including fine art, manufacturing engineering and media and communication 
=42  351-400  Northumbria University  145 courses available including 3D design, fashion communication and quantity surveying 
=42  351-400  University of Stirling  163 courses available including aquaculture, ecology and French 
=49  401-500  Aberystwyth University 351 courses available including agriculture, marine and freshwater biology and space science and robotics 
=49  401-500  Bangor University  529 courses available including adult nursing, Chinese and creative studies and forestry 
=49 401-500  Bournemouth University  105 courses available including anthropology, history and marketing 
=49 401-500  City, University of London  110 courses available including criminology, international politics and midwifery 
=49  401-500  Liverpool John Moores University  13 courses available including climate change and mental health nursing 
=49  401-500  Middlesex University  228 courses available including animation, dance performance and medical physiology 
=49 401-500  University of Portsmouth 143 courses available including childhood and youth studies, environmental science and sociology 
=49 401-500  Royal Veterinary College  10 courses available including wild animal biology and bioveterinary sciences 
=49  401-500  SOAS University of London  140 courses available including Arabic, social anthropology and world philosophies 
=49  401-500  University of Strathclyde  317 courses available including chemical engineering, human resource management and immunology 
=59  501-600  Aston University  113 courses available including finance, optometry and neuroscience
=59  501-600  University of Hull  205 courses available including American studies, media studies and sport rehabilitation 
=59  501-600  Keele University 255 courses available including international relations, mathematics and music technology 
=59 501-600  University of Plymouth  189 courses available including acting, cruise management and dietetics 
=59  501-600  University of the West of Scotland  71 courses available including aircraft engineering, environmental health and sport coaching 
=65 601-800 University of Brighton 182 courses available including critical history, design engineering and illustration
=65 601-800 Coventry University 224 courses available including computing science, electronic engineering and graphic design
=65 601-800 De Montfort University 172 courses available including architecture, software engineering and speech and language therapy
=65 601-800 Glasgow Caledonian University 74 courses available including audio technology, international marketing and risk management
=65 601-800 University of Greenwich 215 courses available including events management, sociology and psychology and zoo husbandry and management
=65 601-800 University of Hertfordshire 213 courses available including economics, human geography and pharmacy
=65 601-800 University of Huddersfield 230 courses available including health and social care, medical biology and occupational therapy 
=65 601-800 University of Lincoln 186 courses available including advertising and marketing, classical studies and politics
=65 601-800  Manchester Metropolitan University  328 courses available including French and Spanish, interior design and physiotherapy 
=65 601-800  Nottingham Trent University  326 courses available including international business, microbiology and wildlife conservation 
=65  601-800  Oxford Brookes University  197 courses available including English literature, geography and motorsport engineering 
=65  601-800  

Ulster University 

117 courses available including civil engineering, law and technology with design 
=65 601-800  University of the West of England  201 courses available including education, media production and psychology 
=65 601-800  University of Westminster  156 courses available including international relations, real estate and software engineering
=79 801-1000  University of Bedfordshire  386 courses available including art and design, children's nursing and film production
=79 801-1000  Birmingham City University  269 courses available including computer forensics, manufacturing engineering and public relations and media 
=79 801-1000  University of Bradford  109 courses available including archaeology, economics and healthcare science 
=79  801-1000  Cardiff Metropolitan University  103 courses available including banking and finance, photography and podiatry 
=79 801-1000  University of Central Lancashire  446 courses available including digital marketing, mathematics and pharmacology 
=79  801-1000  University of Derby  305 courses available including finance, geography and sport and education 
=79  801-1000  University of East London  216 courses available including advertising, counselling and mechanical engineering 
=79  801-1000 Edinburgh Napier University 101 courses available including mass communications, sound design and veterinary nursing
=79 801-1000 Kingston University 243 courses available including human rights and social justice, learning disabilities nursing and social work
=79 801-1000 Leeds Beckett University 156 courses available including biomedical sciences, media and English and performing arts
=79 801-1000 University of Roehampton 119 courses available including accounting, international business and nutrition and health
=79 801-1000 University of Salford 270 courses available including computer science, costume design and tourism management
=79 801-1000 Sheffield Hallam University 283 courses available including biology, creative writing and physics
=79 801-1000 Staffordshire University 168 courses available including fashion, general engineering and music production
=79 801-1000 Teesside University 281 courses available including chemical engineering, food science and technology and fine art
=79 801-1000 University of Wolverhampton 483 courses available including deaf studies and social policy, furniture design and mental health nursing
=95 +1001 Canterbury Christ Church University 474 courses available including biomedical engineering, childhood studies and English language
=95 +1001 University of Chester 267 courses available including business sustainability, genetics and evolution and microbiology
=95 +1001  Edge Hill University  96 courses available including biotechnology, religion and web design and development 
=95 +1001 London South Bank University  124 courses available including business law, construction and sociology 
=95 +1001  Robert Gordon University  64 courses available including design, pharmacy and public relations 
=95 +1001  University of South Wales  282 courses available including care studies, criminal justice and history 

Read more: Why students should not defer their place at university this year

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