The Russell Group unis with the fewest Clearing courses left in 2024

Bit late to apply to Oxbridge

3 months ago

Claudia Cox | News

Not all the Russell Group unis have courses available through Clearing in 2024. Oxford and Cambridge don’t offer places through this system, so if your dream was to get drunk at an Oxbridge ball, you might have to take a gap year and reapply in the Autumn (or just go to Durham and pretend?). The University of Bristol, Imperial College London and UCL (University College London) also don’t have any courses available through Clearing on the UCAS website right now. However, you can still snap up spots at the remaining Russell Group universities through Clearing.

This section of UCAS opened on 5th July, so if you did your A-Levels last year then you can swoop in and claim a place now. If you’re getting your grades tomorrow and are currently scrolling through the Complete University Guide in a state of stress, then it might be worth spending some time today planning what you’d like to apply for tomorrow. UCAS is constantly adding courses at the moment. You can search for particular subjects and unis here.

1. University of Warwick – 1 course

The University of Warwick (which, confusingly, isn’t really in Warwick) has just one course available in Clearing this year. If you want to study Health and Medical Sciences, you’ll need AAB if you’ve studied one relevant STEM subject at A-Level, or ABB if you’ve studied two.

=1. The University of Edinburgh – 1 course

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If your dream was to do Nursing Studies, then you’re in luck! You’ll need AAB at A Level or ABBB in Scottish Highers. The website emphasises that you’ll gain lots of critical thinking skills, so if you want to start thinking critically about university places, then you can read their advice for Clearing applicants here.

3. Durham University – 42 courses

Durham has courses ranging from Biological Sciences to Visual Arts and Film. The uni has guides about Clearing for both you and your parents. Be warned, many of the courses require A*AA or higher.

4. King’s College London, University of London – 63 courses

London was ranked as the world’s best city to be a student in for the sixth year in a row. If you like the idea of studying right in the middle of it, then King’s website has more information about applying through Clearing.

5. Newcastle University – 153 courses

Newcastle University has risen up the Complete University Guide’s ranking over the last few years – from 37 in 2022 to 26 this year. You can sign up for email notifications here in case they add any more courses on Result’s Day.

6. University of York – 190 courses

York is one of only four UK universities rated Gold for teaching, alongside Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial. You can sign up for email alerts here.

7. University of Leeds – 191 courses

The Leeds uni site has a FAQ page about Clearing and tips for preparing to apply through it on Results Day.

8. Queen’s University Belfast – 207 courses

If you like the look of Queen’s University Belfast’s very pretty campus buildings, then their Clearing hotline opens at 8am on 15th August.

9. University of Exeter – 214 courses

Exeter (or should we say, Exetaaaaaaah?) has courses spread across its main campus in the city of Exeter, and the Penryn Campus in Cornwall. If you like the look of their courses (or Exmouth beach in the summertime), then you can sign up for email updates here.

There are plenty of places at Exeter available through Clearing. Credit: Francesca Gunner

10. University of Liverpool – 219 courses

Liverpool slightly fewer courses in Clearing than last year’s massive 352, but still a high number! You can sign up for email notifications about places here.

11. University of Sheffield – 229 courses

The University of Sheffield is ranked 18th in the 2025 Compete University Guide. It has 229 courses in Clearing to choose from, including ones with foundation years. Their website says that if you register your interest online now, then your phone calls will be fast-tracked on Results Day.

12. University of Nottingham – 240 courses

Newcastle University has risen up the Complete University Guide’s ranking over the last few years – from 37 in 2022 to 26 this year. You can sign up for email notifications here.

13. Cardiff University – 245 courses

Cardiff is the highest ranked university in Wales. You can check out Cardiff’s own guide to Clearing vacancies here and sign up to their Clearing mailing list.

14. University of Birmingham – 267 courses

Birmingham has a course available in Applied Golf Management Studies (sounds fun) If you want to be prepared to snap up a different subject, you can sign up for email alerts from this university here.

15. Queen Mary University of London – 290 courses

This uni is located in the trendy east of London. You can register your interest in Clearing here.

16. University of Southampton – 329 courses

The Southampton uni website boasts that 97 per cent of students are employed or in further education a year after graduating. Their Clearing hotline will be open from 8am to 9pm on Thursday 15th August, then 8am to 6pm on Friday 16th August.

There is a wide selection of STEM subjects on offer at Southampton uni. Credit: Emily Baldock

17. University of Manchester – 341 courses

This university is known for its great nightlife – ideal for those who plan to spend more time in the club than in the library. Here is a blog post about applying for Clearing places at Manchester.

18. University of Glasgow – 657 courses

Glasgow has by far the most courses available at the moment. There are spots open for virtually every subject from A-Z (or at least from Accounting to Zoology). Apply for Clearing courses here.