Prepare for Clearing
Clearing is an opportunity to apply for an undergraduate place at a university after the UCAS deadline.
You might apply through Clearing if:
- you’ve changed your mind about your chosen course or university
- your grades are different than expected
- you missed the UCAS deadline and haven’t yet applied for a course beginning in September 2026
- you didn’t receive the offer you wanted.
How to apply
It’s very important to keep your contact details up to date in your UCAS account, ideally with your personal email address instead of one from a school.
Top tip: If you want to choose someone to speak to us on your behalf, you’ll need to add them as your nominated contact on your UCAS application.
Follow our step-by-step guides to help you through your Clearing journey:
UK students
Apply before you get your results
You’ll be able to view our Strategic Clearing course vacancies and apply for a place from Thursday 2 July – Monday 3 August 2026 (9am).
If you apply without results, being offered a Strategic Clearing place means we will hold a place for you on your chosen course until we can confirm you’ve got the results you need.
Thursday 2 July – Strategic Clearing opens
You’ll be able to browse our Strategic Clearing course vacancies and apply for a place at Leeds. Don’t forget that course names vary between universities, so it’s worth checking out similar courses within the same subject area on Course Search.
If we can offer you a Strategic Clearing place, we’ll send you an email containing all the information you need, including your unique link to accept your place.
The deadline to apply is 9am on Monday 3 August.
Thursday 6 August – deadline to accept your place
The deadline to accept your Strategic Clearing place is 12pm on Thursday 6 August.
Top tip: If you accept a Strategic Clearing place before Monday 3 August, you’ll also be invited to book an exclusive campus tour and visit us in person before you get your results.
Thursday 13 August – Strategic Clearing phone line opens
Call us to confirm your results.
You can call our dedicated Strategic Clearing phone line between 8am –12pm on A-level results day to confirm your final grades and discuss whether you’ve met the requirements of your place.
The phone number will be shared with you by email prior to Thursday 13 August. Your place won't be confirmed until we've spoken to you.
Important: If your grades don’t quite meet the requirements of your Strategic Clearing place, but are close, please call us between 8am –12pm on Thursday 13 August to discuss your options. Take some time beforehand to think about why you’re interested in the course and studying at Leeds, and why you’re a great fit.
Apply if you already have your results
You’ll be able to view our Strategic Clearing course vacancies and apply for a place from Thursday 2 July – Monday 3 August 2026 (9am).
Thursday 2 July – Strategic Clearing opens
You’ll be able to browse our Strategic Clearing course vacancies and apply for a place at Leeds. Don’t forget that course names vary between universities, so it’s worth checking out similar courses within the same subject area on Course Search.
If we can offer you a Strategic Clearing place, we’ll send you an email containing all the information you need, including your unique link to accept your place.
The deadline to apply is 9am on Monday 3 August.
Thursday 6 August – deadline to accept your place and update UCAS
The deadline to accept your Strategic Clearing place and update UCAS is 12pm on Thursday 6 August.
Important: After accepting your place, you'll need to add us as your Clearing choice in your UCAS account. Go to the ‘Your courses’ section of your application, click 'Add Clearing choice’ and enter your course details.
If you are already holding a firm unconditional place, you’ll need to decline this offer in your UCAS account first. It’s important you don’t decline any offers in your UCAS account until you’ve accepted your place with Leeds.
Top tip: If you accept a Strategic Clearing place before Monday 3 August, you’ll also be invited to book an exclusive campus tour and visit us in person before the deadline to update UCAS.
Apply on or after results day
If you’d rather wait until A-level results day to apply for a course through Clearing, you’ll be able to phone our Clearing call centre which will be open from 8am on A-level results day, Thursday 13 August 2026.
We’ll share our 2026 Clearing course vacancies and all the information you’ll need to contact the Clearing call centre closer to the time.
Apply for a Foundation Year course through Clearing
You can apply for a Foundation Year course through Clearing:
- before you get your results
- if you already have your results
- when you get your results on results day.
To apply, please follow the same steps and deadlines outlined in the previous sections.
International students
Apply before you get your results
You’ll be able to view our Strategic Clearing course vacancies and apply for a place from Thursday 2 July – Monday 3 August 2026 (9am BST).
If you apply without results, being offered a Strategic Clearing place means we will hold a place for you on your chosen course until we can confirm you’ve got the results you need.
Thursday 2 July – Strategic Clearing opens
You’ll be able to browse our Strategic Clearing course vacancies and apply for a place at Leeds. Don’t forget that course names vary between universities, so it’s worth checking out similar courses within the same subject area on Course Search.
If we can offer you a Strategic Clearing place, we’ll send you an email containing all the information you need, including your unique link to accept your place.
The deadline to apply is 9am (BST) on Monday 3 August.
Thursday 6 August – deadline to accept your place
The deadline to accept your Strategic Clearing place is 12pm on Thursday 6 August.
Top tip: If you accept a Strategic Clearing place before Monday 3 August, you’ll also be invited to book an exclusive campus tour and visit us in person. If you can’t make it in person, you can take a virtual tour of campus at a time that suits you.
Thursday 13 August – Strategic Clearing phone line opens
Call us to confirm your results.
You can call our dedicated Strategic Clearing phone line between 8am –12pm (BST) on Thursday 13 August to confirm your final grades and discuss whether you’ve met the requirements of your place.
The phone number will be shared with you by email prior to Thursday 13 August. Your place won't be confirmed until we've spoken to you.
Important: If your grades don’t quite meet the requirements of your Strategic Clearing place, but are close, please call us between 8am –12pm (BST) on Thursday 13 August to discuss your options. Take some time beforehand to think about why you’re interested in the course and studying at Leeds, and why you’re a great fit.
Apply if you already have your results
You’ll be able to view our Strategic Clearing course vacancies and apply for a place from Thursday 2 July – Monday 3 August 2026 (9am BST).
Thursday 2 July – Strategic Clearing opens
You’ll be able to browse our Strategic Clearing course vacancies and apply for a place at Leeds. Don’t forget that course names vary between universities, so it’s worth checking out similar courses within the same subject area on Course Search.
If we can offer you a Strategic Clearing place, we’ll send you an email containing all the information you need, including your unique link to accept your place.
The deadline to apply is 9am (BST) on Monday 3 August.
Thursday 6 August – deadline to accept your place and update UCAS
The deadline to accept your Strategic Clearing place and update UCAS is 12pm (BST) on Thursday 6 August.
Important: After accepting your place, you'll need to add us as your Clearing choice in your UCAS account. Go to the ‘Your courses’ section of your application, click 'Add Clearing choice’ and enter your course details.
If you are already holding a firm unconditional place, you’ll need to decline this offer in your UCAS account first. It’s important you don’t decline any offers in your UCAS account until you’ve accepted your place with Leeds.
Top tip: If you accept a Strategic Clearing place before Monday 3 August, you’ll also be invited to book an exclusive campus tour and visit us in person. If you can’t make it in person, you can take a virtual tour of campus at a time that suits you.
Apply on or after Thursday 13 August 2026
Our Clearing call centre opens on Thursday 13 August 2026.
You’ll be able to view our 2026 Clearing course vacancies and apply for a place over the telephone from 8am (BST) on this day.
We’ll share our all the information you’ll need to contact the Clearing call centre closer to the time.
Explore funding opportunities
Arranging funding for your undergraduate study can take time, so we recommend getting started as soon as possible.
Find out more about funding your degree.
Apply for accommodation
If you accept a place at Leeds through Clearing and apply by Monday 31 August 2026, you’ll be guaranteed University-arranged accommodation for your first year.
You’ll be able to apply for your accommodation two days after your undergraduate place has been confirmed in UCAS, via our accommodation portal.