Clearing 2021: UK universities with courses available

As A level results day gets closer, take some time to explore which universities are offering courses through clearing to prepare

Seeta Bhardwa

Editor, THE Student

July 30 2021

For Ucas Clearing courses for 2023 please click here

With A-level results day fast approaching in the UK (results are out on 10 August), students will be eager to find out whether they have achieved their first (or second) choice of university.

Clearing – the process that allows students who didn’t secure a place (or perhaps those who did better than they anticipated and wish to change their choice) to select a different course – is already open on the Ucas website, where you can search for courses that are still available at UK universities. If you are thinking of making a switch, now is a good time to check it out.

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The university application process might look slightly different this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. For many students who were unable to complete exams or who are wishing to change subjects, clearing can help students understand which courses universities are offering and which universities still have courses available. If you have any specific concerns about how courses will be taught, the best option is to contact your prospective university to find out.

Students who have their exam results (including those who did their A levels last year) and do not have any Ucas offers can apply for university places through clearing from July 2021, while students who miss their grades for conditional offers can use clearing after A-level results are released.

How to survive A-level Results Day
How to deal with stress over exam results
Ucas clearing advice from students who have been through it
Ucas clearing 2021: will it be different because of Covid-19?
Everything you need to know about Ucas adjustment
A-level results day: what to do when you receive your A-level results
Navigating clearing: what to do if you don’t receive your grades
Clearing: what you should say on the phone to universities

Some of the top universities in the UK are notably missing from the clearing catalogue, including the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London.

Some others, such as the University of Bristol, have now closed their early clearing applications; however, students are able to register their interest before results day and then will be able to browse courses closer towards results day.

However, many of the top universities in the UK have plenty of clearing places available for a range of courses including cybersecurity, Korean studies, world literatures and ancient history. Students must contact universities directly in order to secure a place through clearing.

Below are the top universities in the UK (according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings) with clearing places available at both undergraduate and graduate level. This table was correct at the time of publication; but as things may change, it’s a good idea to check the Ucas clearing selection tool regularly.

This is also based on a general search, so it’s always worth refining the search based on your location and requirements.

UK Rank 2021	World University Rank 2021	University	Clearing availability 2021
6	30	University of Edinburgh	413 courses available including architecture, German and illustration
7	35	King’s College London	14 courses available including comparative literature and music
8	=51	University of Manchester	462 courses available including electronic engineering, philosophy and speech and language therapy
9	77	University of Warwick	197 courses available including chemistry, English literature and history of art
11	=92	University of Glasgow	703 courses available including environmental science and sustainability, anatomy and international relations
13	110	Queen Mary University of London	284 courses available including astrophysics, drama and geography
14	=121	University of Sheffield	305 courses available including biology, economics and microbiology
15	=127	University of Southampton	386 courses available including ancient history, civil engineering and finance
16	=133	University of York	236 courses available including archaeology, ecology and nursing
17	=136	Lancaster University	340 courses available including computer science, law and zoology
18	=149	Durham University	147 courses available including accounting, Classics and finance
19	=158	University of Nottingham	351 courses available including aerospace engineering, criminology and film and television studies
20	=160	University of Leeds	254 courses available including art and design, civil engineering and food science
20	=160	University of Sussex	198 courses available including anthropology, digital media and culture and liberal arts
22	163	University of Liverpool	615 courses available including Egyptology, genetics and medicine
23	=170	University of Leicester	166 courses available including clinical sciences, English and journalism
24	=174	University of Exeter	412 courses available including animal behaviour, geology and marine science
25	=178	University of Aberdeen	428 courses available including art history, geophysics and sociology
25	=178	Newcastle University	223 courses available including dentistry, international relations and psychology
27	=191	Cardiff University	340 courses available including maths, midwifery and Spanish
28	=200	University of East Anglia	280 courses available including biological sciences, business management and history
28	=200	Queen's University Belfast	201 courses available including architecture, French and pharmacy
30	201–250	University of Dundee	183 courses available including animation, environmental science and international finance
30	201–250	University of Reading	344 courses available including building surveying, food science and philosophy
30	201–250	St George’s, University of London	12 courses available including biomedical science
30	201–250	University of St Andrews	951 courses available including classical studies, physics and statistics
35	251–300	University of Surrey	312 courses available including chemistry, food science and nutrition and medicinal chemistry
35	251–300	Swansea University	460 courses available including computing, human geography and modern languages
38	301–350	Anglia Ruskin University ARU	267 courses available including business management, crime and investigative studies and mechanical engineering
38	301–350	University of Essex	792 courses available including curating, film studies and marine biology
38	301–350	University of Kent	260 courses available including data science, forensic science and marketing
38	301–350	Royal Holloway, University of London	271 courses available including biology, economics and translation studies
38	301–350	University of Stirling	181 courses available including cell biology, heritage and tourism and nursing
43	351–400	Birkbeck, University of London	181 courses available including biomedicine, Classics and creative writing
43	351–400	Brunel University London	227 courses available including civil engineering, film production and modern history
43	351–400	City, University of London	96 courses available including data science, international politics and history
43	351–400	Heriot-Watt University	109 courses available including actuarial science, interior design and software engineering
43	351–400	Loughborough University	291 courses available including chemical engineering, criminology and media and communication
43	351–400	Northumbria University	143 courses available including 3D design, fashion and physiotherapy
49	401–500	Aberystwyth University	334 courses available including astrophysics, criminal law and psychology
49	401–500	Aston University	86 courses available including neuroscience, optometry and transport management
49	401–500	Bangor University	495 courses available including English literature, forestry and wildlife conservation
49	401–500	Bournemouth University	147 courses available including finance, midwifery and tourism management
49	401–500	Liverpool John Moores University	202 courses available including child nursing, events management and nutrition
49	401–500	Middlesex University	223 courses available including dance performance, illustration and public health
49	401–500	University of Plymouth	177 courses available including anthropology, cybersecurity and occupational therapy
49	401–500	Royal Veterinary College	18 courses available including bioveterinary sciences and veterinary nursing
49	401–500	SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College)	37 courses available including agriculture and rural business management
49	401–500	University of Strathclyde	321 courses available including business enterprise, immunology and social work
49	401–500	University of the West of England	159 courses available including education, games technology and product design
61	501–600	University of Hull	209 courses available including economics, history and graphic design
61	501–600	Keele University	274 courses available including data science, medicine and physics
61	501–600	University of Lincoln	193 courses available including business and finance, creative writing and photography
61	501–600	University of Portsmouth	190 courses available including dental hygiene, history and musical theatre
61	501–600	SOAS University of London	144 courses available including East Asian studies, global development and Korean
61	501–600	University of the West of Scotland	82 courses available including forensic science, law and maths
67	601–800	Birmingham City University	334 courses available including economics, mechanical engineering and radiotherapy
67	601–800	University of Bradford	114 courses available including chemical engineering, sociology and software engineering
67	601–800	University of Brighton	174 courses available including criminology, film and linguistics
67	601–800	Coventry University	242 courses available including digital marketing, geography and mental health nursing
67	601–800	De Montfort University	163 courses available including architecture, drama and politics
67	601–800	Edinburgh Napier University	96 courses available including computing, music and sound design
67	601–800	Glasgow Caledonian University	89 courses available including international business, paramedic science and podiatry
67	601–800	University of Greenwich	206 courses available including cybernetics, physical geography and sports science
67	601–800	University of Huddersfield	259 courses available including biochemistry, graphic design and media studies
67	601–800	Manchester Metropolitan University	322 courses available including business technology, fashion and French studies
67	601–800	Nottingham Trent University	324 courses available including broadcast journalism, mechanical engineering and textile design
67	601–800	Oxford Brookes University	196 courses available including early childhood studies, health care and real estate
67	601–800	Ulster University	167 courses available including fine art, management and social policy
81	801–1,000	University of Bedfordshire	356 courses available including biochemistry, performing arts and television production
81	801–1,000	Cardiff Metropolitan University	101 courses available including computer security, housing studies and robotics engineering
81	801–1,000	University of Central Lancashire	417 courses available including creative advertising, international journalism and pharmacology
81	801–1,000	University of Derby	183 courses available including journalism, motorsport engineering and theatre arts
81	801–1,000	University of East London	241 courses available including counselling, interior design and public health
81	801–1,000	University of Hertfordshire	261 courses available including astrophysics, dietetics and sports studies
81	801–1,000	Kingston University	216 courses available including business, English and psychology
81	801–1,000	Leeds Beckett University	160 courses available including childhood studies, nutrition and physical education
81	801–1,000	University of Roehampton	84 courses available including digital media, history and zoology
81	801–1,000	University of Salford	242 courses available including construction, maths and social policy
81	801–1,000	Sheffield Hallam University	299 courses available including animation, game art and sport coaching
81	801–1,000	Teesside University	267 courses available including business economics, education studies and health sciences
81	801–1,000	University of Westminster	180 courses available including computer science, human nutrition and medical sciences
81	801–1,000	University of Wolverhampton	434 courses available including law, pharmacology and war studies
95	1,001+	Canterbury Christ Church University	464 courses available including animal science, international relations and theology
95	1,001+	University of Chester	276 courses available including cybersecurity, geography and microbiology
95	1,001+	Edge Hill University	125 courses available including accountancy, education and nursing
95	1,001+	London South Bank University	154 courses available including architecture, chemical engineering and fashion media
95	1,001+	Robert Gordon University	59 courses available including communication design and pharmacy
95	1,001+	University of South Wales	271 courses available including computer science, forensic science and sociology
95	1,001+	Staffordshire University	158 courses available including education studies, graphic design and music production