How to apply for university clearing in Leeds if you miss out on A-Level results today

Students across Leeds will collect their A-Level results today, finding out their final grades after two years of hard work.

For those students who have applied for university, these results will determine whether they will secure their preferred university choice, the insurance choice or if they have unfortunately missed out on them.

If this is the case, there are many options still available so don’t panic. The most important to know about is clearing: the process by which students can still get themselves onto a great university course at short notice.

Here’s everything you need to know...

How does clearing work?

UCAS clearing is a second chance for students to get a place at university, by matching those that want a university place to universities with unfilled places.

Students who haven't met the entry requirements for their chosen courses, or haven't got an offer from a UK university, are automatically entered into Clearing.

You can use clearing if you:

• Didn’t get into your firm or insurance choice universities.
• Didn’t get any offers when you first applied.
• Are applying after 30 June.
• Don’t want the place you've been offered and decline your place to enter Clearing.
• Were unsure about university during the first round of applications and didn’t apply.

If you got better grades than predicted, you may be able to find a place on a different course at a university with higher entry requirements. Clearing can also be useful if you've changed your mind about the course you originally applied for and want to go for a different one.

Key dates: when does clearing 2026 open and close?

Clearing 2026 started on July 2 and closes on October 19. From July 2 you can start to research available courses. If you apply after 6pm on 30 June you are automatically entered into Clearing.

You can't secure a place through clearing until you have your exam results. This means clearing will be very busy on results day:

• August 4 - Qualifications Scotland/SQA results day. Students in Scotland can now apply through clearing if they didn't get the results they were expecting.
• August 13 - A Level results day. Students in the rest of the UK can now apply through clearing if they didn't get the results they were expecting.
• ​October 19 - Is the last day of clearing and your final chance to add a clearing option in UCAS Hub. Places in clearing go quickly though, so it's best to apply as soon as you can.

How do I use clearing?

The best place to start would be to check if there are any vacancies available via the UCAS website. In the search tab, you can enter the course of your choice, study level and entry year.

After you have found the course you want to apply to, you should give the university of your choice a call to see if you meet its entry requirement and if there are still spots available.

If the university gives you an offer and you wish to accept it, you can add the clearing choice to your application. This can be done by clicking ‘Add Clearing Choice’ and filling in the course details by the date the university gave you on the phone.

Applicants can only add one choice at a time, but the UCAS website has said “If the university/college doesn’t confirm your place, you’ll be able to add another.”

How should I contact universities?

Make sure you have your UCAS clearing number at hand for any phone calls, as it will be the first thing you might be asked for when contacting universities.

For all universities, you should check if you meet the entry requirements. This can be found on each institutions website. It is also advised that you prepare what you can in advise - including having a shortlist and alternatives when browsing clearing sites.

Always phone the university yourself and try to stay calm so that you can listen carefully to what you are being told. If you are feeling upset about your grades, it may be better to wait until you are ready to talk.

If you can't get through on the phone, try, try again. Clearing phone lines at universities are incredibly busy on results day so you can expect a wait.

Can I visit my clearing university before I decide?

Many universities run open days for clearing applicants (and their parents) to visit the campus, view the facilities and talk to staff and students.

Even if there isn't an official opportunity to visit, you can still contact the university and try and see the place before making a firm commitment.

As long as there’s not too long a gap between getting an offer and making the visit, a university will generally hold open the offer of a place.

Make sure to ask your chosen university what options they offer in this regard.

Clearing isn't only for students who missed their grades

It's a common misconception that clearing is a last resort for students who've 'failed'. In reality, many students use Clearing because their plans change.

They might rethink their course, choose to study closer to (or further from) home, or simply find a better option. Clearing is increasingly used strategically, not just in emergencies, and that includes students who exceeded their predicted grades.

If you missed your grades by a small margin, don't assume the door is closed. Universities can - and often do - still accept students who narrowly miss their offer.

This will depend on the course, the number of places available, and your application. It's always worth calling the university to ask before exploring other options.