Your handy guide to which Russell Group universities have courses in clearing for 2026

If you flunk your exams in 2026, all is not lost! A huge number of super prestigious Russell Group universities are offering places through clearing in 2026, to both UK and international applicants.

You won’t be able to worm your way into the University of Cambridge or the University of Oxford through UCAS clearing. Sorry. At the moment, UCAS isn’t listing clearing courses for Durham University, Imperial College London, or the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). But you still have a shot at getting into pretty much every other uni.

Maybe you got your Advanced Highers results on 4th August. Maybe you won’t discover your destiny until A-Level Results Day next week, but you’re frantically leafing through university brochures pre-emptively. To make things easier, here are all the Russell Group universities with spots available through clearing in 2026. Remember – some spots may get snapped up quickly, and others could open up if lots of students flunk their A-Levels.

University of Birmingham

The Uni of Brum is offering clearing places on 73 courses to UK students, and 80 courses to international students. The range is great – you can still sign up for really popular subjects such as English, Mathematics, Nursing and Sociology. Places on the graduate entry law course are available (but not the regular undergrad course).

University of Bristol

This prestigious uni has availability on ten select courses: Childhood Studies; Criminology; Music; Music and Modern Languages; Philosophy; Philosophy and Modern Languages; Philosophy and Theology; Politics and Modern Languages; Social Policy and then Social Policy with Criminology.

Cardiff University

You too could feel like a main character on your way to the library!

This uni has spots on a mind-boggling 219 courses. That number looks super big as Cardiff has listed plenty of joint honours degrees, programmes with a foundation year, and courses that include a year of study abroad, or a year in industry.

University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh Uni is listing places on 377 courses on UCAS – 57 are available to students from England, three to students from Scotland, and 235 will take international students. Edi has a particularly large selection of languages and humanities courses available through clearing.

University of Exeter

It’s not too late to join the horse girls and rugby boys at Exetaaaaah. UK students can apply for 161 courses through clearing. Exeter is still trying to pull international students for a huge 429 subjects. There are lots of options for placements in industry, study abroad, or employment experience.

University of Glasgow

Glasgow has a whopping amount of spots available through clearing. 29 programmes will still take undergrad and postgrad students from Scotland, including nursing and many education courses. However, there are also 644 subjects on offer to students from the rest of the UK, and to international students.

King’s College London (KCL)

This could be your view as you study! *Jazz hands*

KCL is a big uni, with a big range of options in UCAS clearing. UK students can choose from 55 programmes, including nursing and midwifery. International students have a handful more choices – UCAS lists 61.

University of Leeds

Leeds has a great selection of courses in clearing this year – 211 for UK students, 226 for international students. You can apply for a bog-standard degree such as Chemistry of English, or a quirkier course such as Fashion Design Innovation or Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Thought.

University of Liverpool

If you’re prepped to apply through clearing, then Liverpool has 198 courses for UK students, and 193 for international students. There is a dazzling array of different engineering courses. You can still sign up for some of Liverpool’s more specialised subjects, such as Egyptology and Marine Biology.

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University of Manchester

Manchester is one of the biggest Russell Group unis, so it makes sense that it has one of the biggest selections of courses in clearing. There are 213 for UK students, and 292 for international students. Manchester still has nursing places.

Newcastle University

I’m sure Newcastle students do study too!

You can peruse the 129 courses for UK and international students and here. Law places are often hard to come by in clearing, particularly at Russell Group unis. However, Newcastle has vacancies for Law and the Bachelor of Laws in Global Law with Honours. Run!

University of Nottingham

Notts has spots on 187 courses for UK applicants, and 185 for international applicants. You can sign up for everything from A to Z – or, Ancient History to Zoology. Unusually, there are vacancies for Law and for Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.

Queen Mary University of London

282 courses are available through clearing for both UK and international applicants. If you fantasised about becoming Elle Woods, Queen Mary still has spots on LLB programmes. Pick from Law, English and European Law, Global Law, Law and Politics, or Law with Business.

Queen’s University Belfast

Northern Irish students can apply to 217 courses through clearing. Other applicants have a choice of 222. Queen’s also has law places! You’ve got a choice of Law, Law with Politics, and Law combined with a range of languages.

University of Sheffield

Ta-da!

Sheffield has availability for 142 courses – including Law, Nursing, Orthoptics and Pharmacy programmes.

University of Southampton

Soto will still take students for 324 courses, many of which feature placement years or study abroad. There’s a particularly large array of different engineering and law subjects.

University College London (UCL)

If you’re interested in applying to UCL through clearing, check out the dedicated section of UCL’s website.

University of Warwick

Warwick has a particularly strong rep for STEM, but there are still many humanities subjects lurking among the 149 courses in clearing. The uni has plenty of options for English, Law and various languages.

University of York

If you would like to make ducks your whole personality, apply to the Uni of York through clearing! Spots on 256 programmes are available to UK applicants, and international applicants can pick from 260. York has Law and Nursing vacancies.

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