CLEARING 2026IS CLOSED

WHY CHOOSE CUMBRIA IN CLEARING?

No matter your reasons for applying to university through Clearing—whether you’ve changed your mind about your university choices, you're applying late, or you don’t get the grades you were hoping for—the University of Cumbria is here to help you move forward with confidence. From your first conversation to your first day on campus, you’ll be supported every step of the way.

At Cumbria, we see more than your grades – we see your potential. Your ambitions, passions, and future matter to us. With campuses in the Lake District, Lancaster, Carlisle, Barrow, and London, you’ll study in inspiring locations that combine outstanding natural surroundings with welcoming, close‑knit communities.

Our courses are designed with your future in mind. Through strong links with law firms, schools, NHS Trusts, the creative industries and more, we connect your learning directly to real-world careers. You’ll gain practical experience, industry insight, and the confidence to take your next step, whatever your journey into university looks like.

no.1

University in the Northwest and in the Top 5 in the UK for Graduates into employment or further study within 15 months

97.5% of Graduates – Graduate Outcomes Survey, HESA 2026

no.1

University in the UK for producing CEOs and Managing Directors

Novuna Business Cash Flow, 2025

silver

A Silver rated university for Student Outcomes

TEF, 2023

1st

in the UK for overall postgraduate research student experience

Postgraduate Research Experience Survey, 2025

Commuting to Cumbria

Not planning to live in halls? Find out how to make the most of life at Cumbria as a commuter student.

Learn More

Parents, carers & supporters

Get helpful guidance and resources to support your young person throughout their Clearing journey.

Learn More

Integrated Foundation Years

Requiring 48 UCAS points, our Integrated Foundation Years courses will help you build the skills, knowledge, and confidence to progress to your full degree.

Learn More

HOW CAN I SUPPORT MY YOUNG PERSON DURING CLEARING?

We're here to guide both you and your young person through the Clearing process. Our exclusive Parents and Carers Guide includes all the essential information you need, including what Clearing is, how it works, and how you can help your young person secure a place that’s right for them.

Frequently Asked Questions

2 July 2026: UCAS Clearing opens! Clearing vacancies are displayed in UCAS’s search tool.

4 August 2026: SQA Results Day (Scotland)

13 August 2026: A-Level results day (England, Wales, and Northern Ireland). A-Level results are available from 8am – at this point, many students will know if they have been accepted into their firm or insurance places, or whether they want/need to apply to universities through Clearing.

1 October 2026: Clearing for September 2026 entry closes.

You can apply to university through Clearing if:

  • You didn’t receive any offers on your original UCAS application.
  • On results day, you don’t meet the entry requirements for your conditional offers.
  • You haven’t yet applied to university but are interested in starting this academic year.
  • You’ve changed your mind about your original UCAS application and want to attend a different university or study an alternative course.
  • You get better grades than predicted and would like to find a place on a different course with higher entry requirements.

Clearing Plus is an option for anyone who is unsuccessful with their original UCAS application or is applying to university for the first time through Clearing. The UCAS Hub will take your personal information and grades and will suggest some courses you might like based on what different universities are looking for. If you express an interest in a course that’s recommended to you, the university can contact you.

If you’re eligible for Clearing Plus, you’ll see a button on your UCAS profile called ‘See matches’.

Universities can adjust their entry requirements during Clearing. However, this may not be the case for every course, and applications will be assessed individually.

Some courses require an interview, so be prepared, as you may be interviewed over the phone by a member of our academic team.

Make arrangements with your school or college to get access to your results online or by phone. You should also check your UCAS Hub as soon as possible on the day – you will be able to see your status from 8.00am UK-time. If you need to go through Clearing, don’t leave it until you get back to contact universities, as this could reduce your options.

Do research into Clearing vacancies and hotline numbers before you travel, and keep the details to hand.

If we’re unable to accept you on to your original course, we may offer you an alternative option instead. However, if we can’t provide you with a place, or you decline the offer for an alternative course, you’ll be released so you can enter Clearing or accept your insurance place.
Yes, if you are holding an Unconditional Firm place that you no longer wish to accept, you can release yourself into Clearing via UCAS Hub. But it's worth remembering that you can't undo this, so you should only decline your current place when you know you have an offer from another university.

If you’re unsure about what your future career looks like, or you don't have the right qualifications to get you started with an undergraduate degree, you could consider an Integrated Foundation Year. It’s the perfect stepping-stone to help you achieve your dreams, and we have plenty of courses to choose from.

There is no limit to how many universities you can contact in Clearing, but you can only add one Clearing choice at a time to UCAS Hub.

How you accept a Clearing offer will depend on how you originally applied to university.

If you applied via UCAS, log in to your UCAS Hub account. Under the ‘your choices’ tab, click on ‘add Clearing choice’ and submit the details for the University of Cumbria (C99) and the course you have been offered. Our Admissions team will then review and confirm this.

If you applied to the university directly, look out for an email from our Admissions team, who will advise you on the next steps.   

On average, universities give applicants around 48 hours to accept a Clearing offer, but this can vary between institutions. Ask about the deadline when speaking to Clearing advisers so you know exactly how long you have to decide.

Yes, but the review process can take 6-8 weeks, so if you haven't submitted an application yet, you should apply straight away. You don’t need a confirmed place to get started – you can enter your preferred course and university for now and update the details once your Clearing offer is confirmed. Read our guide to applying for Student Finance in Clearing for more information.

If you change course or university in Clearing, you will just need to log into your Student Finance account and update your details. You should do this once your place is confirmed.
University accommodation is usually allocated on a first come, first served basis, so the earlier you submit your accommodation application, the better your chances of securing your preferred option. Once you accept your Clearing offer, you should contact the University of Cumbria’s Accommodation team – they'll guide you through the next steps.