The 10 highest-ranking UK universities with courses up for grabs through clearing in 2026

Some people assume that if you apply to unis through clearing, you’re rummaging through students’ leftovers, and will end up with something mediocre. That’s so not the case. Many of the UK’s best universities are offering loads of places on courses through clearing in 2026. If you get different grades to what your teachers guessed, or you’ve rethought your life choices over the summer, then you could still nab a spot on some prestigious programmes.

Please keep in mind that some courses may fill up quickly, and others could open up if loads of teenagers screwed up their exams. Keep checking the UCAS website and individual uni’s sites.

Here are the ten highest-ranking UK universities with courses available through clearing in 2026, based on the Complete University Guide’s latest league tables.

1. Durham University

Durham ranked sixth in the Complete University Guide this year. In previous years, the uni has offered some spots through clearing. You can’t look on UCAS for clearing courses for Durham Uni right now – you’ll have to wait for A-Level Results Day on 13th August, and be speedy. Consult this webpage for more info.

2. University of Warwick

It’s apparently the seventh-best uni in the UK, and there are 149 courses in clearing for 2026. Yay! Warwick is known for its rigorous STEM courses, but you can also sign up for Law and English still.

3. Loughborough University

It’s not as famous as other unis on this list, but it ranks eight in the Complete University Guide. 269 courses are in clearing for UK students, and 270 for international students.

4. University of Bath

You too could flounce around Bath and pretend to be in Bridgerton!

Bath isn’t a Russell Group uni, but it ranked ninth in the UK this year. Bath Uni consistently scores really highly for graduate prospects. A select 47 courses have clearing places for UK students, and 144 programmes will take international students still.

5. Lancaster University

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Lancs is a top ten UK uni (just). Many of the 369 courses in clearing feature placements in industry. There are still a huge amount of coveted law places.

6. University of Exeter

Exetaaaaah came eleventh in the Complete Uni Guide this year. The uni appears to be gasping for more international students – UK applicants can apply for 161 courses through clearing, but everybody else can pick between 429.

7. University of Birmingham

See, the campus is actually quite pretty

Brum has moved up two spots in the Complete Uni Guide, and is now ranked 12th. UK students can apply for 73 programmes through clearing, and international students have 80 to choose from. This might sound limited, but there are places for many popular subjects such as English, Mathematics, Nursing and Sociology.

=8. University of Sheffield

Sheffield shot up three places in the Complete University Guide for 2027, and is now tied with UCL for being the 13th best uni in the UK. 142 programmes are available through clearing, including some competitive ones such as Law and Nursing.

=8. University College London (UCL)

UCL’s own website lists the courses available through clearing, with handy info about how to apply. The programmes are across 25 different subject areas. Most are humanities topics, but there are some Biological Sciences places in the mix too.

10. University of Southampton

Soto is a Russell Group uni, plus the Complete Uni Guide considers it the 15th best uni in the UK. The 324 courses in clearing are quite a STEM-y selection. There are loads of different options for engineering and business studies.

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