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.”
According to Hillman, some Russell Group universities, long known for high entry tariffs, are dropping their offers substantially and picking up more students through clearing. “There is a real fear among less prestigious institutions that students who might have come to them are being pulled further up the chain.”
Clearing is also being made easier by changes to the Ucas process. While the “Decline My Place” function – which allows students automatically to enter clearing – is not new, what is different this year is that students can use it even if their offer is conditional on obtaining certain grades. Previously, only those holding unconditional offers could release themselves into clearing.
Katherine Lloyd Clark, associate director of student access, recruitment and admissions at the University of Exeter, says: “You can’t decline a conditional place until you’ve got your level 3 results, but from 1pm on 14 August, if your university hasn’t made a decision, or you’re still waiting on something like a GCSE result, you can call Ucas and request a release.” There is no button for this, so students will need to speak with a Ucas adviser and make sure they understand what it means.
Clearing is not just for those who missed their grades. It is an option for students who have changed their mind, only recently decided they want to go to university, or done better than expected. The full application cycle is long and plans can also change.
Just ask Amelia Shackleton. The 21-year-old from Grimsby was originally planning to study English but ended up accepting a place in motorsports engineering at the University of Derby through clearing. “I think schools can push you to stick with what you’re already doing,” she says. “But I got better grades than I expected, felt a sudden boost of confidence, and realised I could do something totally different. I’ve always loved motorsports, I just didn’t know engineering was an option for me.”
First-year economics and finance Queen Mary University of London student, Latheeseni Puspanathan, is equally positive. “I thought I would be one of those people anxiously on the phone line waiting for hours to get a hold of someone to confirm my spot, but that was not the case at all,” she says. “The process was a lot quicker than I expected.”
According to Ucas, 13.5% of students secured their place through clearing last year. Of those, more than two-thirds (67%) had already researched the university they eventually joined before August, a sign that students are becoming more strategic, using clearing as a targeted route rather than a last-minute fallback. To date, 62,070 students have found places via clearing this year.
Hillman believes that although it is creating more uncertainty for institutions, this change in mindset is empowering. “Students should aim high with their initial picks,” he says. “That doesn’t always mean the most prestigious university, it means the best fit. But the reality is, more places are available at older, better-resourced institutions than in the past.”
Indeed, research from Leeds Beckett University found 41% of students say going through clearing helped them make a bold decision.
Nevertheless, some caution is necessary. Helen Bower, chief marketing officer at Northumbria University, says more students using clearing is a good thing, but only if it is used carefully. Ask yourself what kind of university experience you want, she says. “It’s not just about entry requirements. It’s a head and heart decision. Go back to the shortlist you already had and revisit your options rather than starting from scratch.”
Lloyd Clark echoes the need for a cautious approach. Making a change at this late stage requires certainty, she says. “Many universities make clearing offers verbally, but doing a ‘Decline My Place’ without a written guarantee or email confirming that a clearing place is available is risky.”
This is why students cannot refer themselves for a clearing place via Ucas Hub until 1pm on results day, giving time to call around, weigh options and secure formal offers. If a university is putting pressure on students to confirm within an hour or two, Lloyd Clark urges applicants to pause. “The harder they sell, the more questions you should ask,” she says. Incentives such as money, discounts or freebies should be a warning sign. “You may want to ask why they are doing this.”
There are practical considerations too, particularly around accommodation. Giving up a firm place might mean giving up guaranteed housing. Clearing applicants may need to source accommodation independently, and options can be limited.
Still, for many, clearing unlocks unexpected new paths, and it is now easier than ever. Shackleton says you will not regret it. “Don’t just do a degree because it feels like the safe option,” she says. “Within hours, I had changed my mind, switched courses and gained so much confidence. It was surprisingly easy.”
