University clearing 2026: could you get a better place? Here’s what to think about

Clearing has never been easier to navigate. So if you’ve changed your mind about courses, or your results are not what you expected, here’s how it works

Five years ago, predictions for the 2025 university admissions cycle were looking bleak for students. With a rising number of 18-year-olds in the UK, many assumed it would be a competitive scramble for places – but reality has unfolded rather differently.

“This year, the demand just isn’t there,” says Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute. “International numbers are down, there’s spare capacity, and more universities – even very selective ones – are opening places through clearing. Students now hold more power than expected.”