Finding a Clearing course match with UCAS Clearing Plus

Clearing Plus uses technology and data analysis to give you personalised recommendations and guidance during Clearing. Clearing Plus highlights a wider range of opportunities and helps you discover courses you may have overlooked.

What is Clearing Plus and your Clearing matches?

Clearing Plus is a tool made by UCAS that matches you to the best options available through Clearing, opening 2nd of July. It takes into account your previous course choices from your UCAS application and cross-references these with similar courses that are still available in the Clearing process. If you’re struggling with the options after Results Day, then Clearing Plus may be a suitable path to try!

What's the difference between Clearing Plus and Clearing?

Essentially, Clearing Plus is a tool you can access while you're finding a course through Clearing. Clearing Plus doesn't exist outside of Clearing so it'll only be available to use from the 2nd of July to the 19th of October. Both the Clearing Plus tool and Clearing are available to anyone who missed out on their grades for their university choices or is yet to receive an offer.

Who can use Clearing Plus?

If you're eligible to use Clearing Plus, a "see matches" button will show in your UCAS Hub. If you find one you like the look of, you can tell the university that you're interested and the university will take things from there. This doesn't necessarily guarantee that you will hear back from that university.

How does Clearing Plus work?

To use Clearing Plus, you must first have your final grades, whether that's Scottish Highers, A-Levels or BTEC qualification.

The UCAS Clearing process is:

1. UCAS looks at the original choices you applied for
2. They cross-reference these with courses the universities and colleges that are happy to be included in Clearing Plus
3. UCAS match your profile to courses available through Clearing
4. You'll see your matches through your UCAS Hub under "see matches"
5. For the courses you like, you can say you're interested and the uni can contact you directly
6. You can also use the university's Clearing hotline to talk to them yourself and receive an informal offer
7. Receive an offer from the university and accept this on your UCAS Hub. You can learn more about how to do this with our how to apply through Clearing guide.

Courses in Clearing tend to go pretty quickly after Results Day, so you'll want to be quick with reaching out to the university and finding an option. You can get prepared ahead of Results Day and understand what you need for Clearing.

Do I have to use Clearing Plus?

You don't have to use Clearing Plus if you don't want to! Plenty of students go through Clearing, finding the degrees they like by themselves. Clearing Plus is a great tool to get you started on the search but, as places fill up fast, it can be easier to find options yourself and contact the universities directly. You may use Clearing Plus and still call up universities as well, whatever is the best option for you.

When can I use Clearing Plus?

Clearing can be used as soon as Clearing opens. This year, Clearing opens on the 2nd of July, 2026 ahead of Results Day. Although, most Clearing courses will be available to you after you receive your results so don’t get ahead of yourself and try to pick somewhere before Results Day just because you’re worried. There are lots of students in the same boat as yourself, and your perfect course may be available after August 20th, 2026.