UK UCAS Clearing Guide for Nepali Students explains who can use Clearing, the 2027 dates, how to research vacancies, why university permission comes before adding one formal choice, and how a Nepali applicant should protect CAS and visa timing. Clearing can create a good route to a suitable course, but it rewards prepared decisions rather than rushed acceptance.
Information checked on 24 July 2026. Clearing vacancies, provider deadlines and 2027 application features can change, so confirm them in the live UCAS account and university website.
UCAS Clearing 2027 facts at a glance
| Item | Current 2027 entry guidance |
|---|---|
| Clearing opens | 2 July 2027 |
| Automatic entry | Applications submitted after 30 June enter Clearing |
| Final application date | 23 September 2027 at 18:00 UK time |
| Last Clearing choice | 18 October 2027 |
| Formal choices | Only one Clearing choice can be added at a time |
| Permission | Contact the university and get permission before adding the choice |
| International students | Eligible international applicants can use Clearing |
What is UCAS Clearing?
Clearing is the UCAS route for finding an undergraduate course with a remaining place later in the admissions cycle. It can help an applicant who applies after 30 June, receives no offer, misses offer conditions, declines a place or changes direction.
It is a real admissions process, not a lower-quality category of degree. The university still decides whether the applicant meets its course, English, document and international sponsorship requirements.
Can international students use Clearing?
Yes. UCAS states that international applicants use Clearing through the same central process as UK applicants. A Nepali student can research vacancies, contact providers and add an authorised choice in the UCAS application.
International admission can require extra checks and a Student visa, so the practical deadline may be earlier than the final UCAS date. Confirm the university’s last date for CAS assignment, visa processing and arrival.
Who is eligible?
An applicant may be eligible when applying after 30 June, holding no confirmed place, receiving no offers, not meeting offer conditions or declining an existing place. Eligibility and available buttons appear in the applicant’s own UCAS account.
Do not withdraw or decline a place merely to make a button appear. Understand the consequences and secure a suitable alternative in principle first.
Clearing is different from Extra
Extra opens earlier for an eligible applicant who used all five choices and is not holding an offer. It allows one additional course at a time before Clearing begins.
For 2027 entry, Extra opens on 25 February and the last day to add an Extra choice is 1 July. Clearing opens on 2 July, so the two services should not be treated as interchangeable.
The 2027 Clearing dates
UCAS lists 2 July 2027 as the opening date for Clearing and its vacancy search. Applications submitted after 30 June are automatically entered into Clearing.
The final date to submit a 2027 entry application is 23 September at 18:00 UK time, and 18 October is the last date to add a Clearing choice. A university may close a course or international applications much earlier.
Start preparing before July
Prepare a passport copy, full education history, final or pending results, English evidence, reference information and the three personal-statement answers before Clearing opens. Keep verified contact details for target universities.
Fast action should come from preparation, not panic. A same-day decision can still involve a major tuition, accommodation and visa commitment.
Research live vacancies
Use the UCAS search tool and the university’s official Clearing page. Vacancy data changes as places are added, filled or reopened, so refresh the live source instead of using an old screenshot or agent spreadsheet.
Search related subjects, joint honours options and different campuses where appropriate, but read the complete course structure and entry requirements before contacting admissions.
Check the course, not just availability
Compare modules, assessment, accreditation, placements, teaching location, duration and progression. A course with an available seat is not automatically suitable for the applicant’s academic goal.
Confirm the exact year of entry and point of entry. Do not accept a foundation year, different campus or alternative subject unless its content and additional cost are understood.
Confirm Student sponsor status
A Nepali applicant who needs a Student visa must study with a licensed student sponsor and receive a CAS for an eligible course. Check the current Home Office sponsor register and ask the university about its international Clearing process.
A verbal or informal Clearing offer is not a CAS. Sponsorship can depend on document, finance, English, deposit and compliance checks after admission.
Contact the university before adding a choice
UCAS instructs applicants to contact the university or college first and provide the Personal ID and Clearing number so admissions can review the application. Ask for the course code and explicit permission to add it.
Speak to several providers if useful and record the names, times, conditions and expiry of informal offers. Only official university channels should receive sensitive documents.
What to have ready for the call
- UCAS Personal ID and Clearing number
- Passport name, nationality and contact details
- Complete achieved and pending qualifications
- English-language test type and component scores
- Course code and preferred campus
- Current offer or Clearing status
- Student visa requirement and intended funding
Questions to ask admissions
Ask whether the place is genuinely available for an international applicant, whether the qualifications meet entry criteria and what documents or interview remain. Confirm tuition, deposit, scholarship, accommodation and latest arrival information.
Also ask how long the permission to add the choice remains valid. Course capacity can change quickly, and an informal discussion is not indefinite.
Informal offers versus the UCAS choice
A university can indicate by phone, email or chat that it is willing to consider or accept the applicant. UCAS calls these informal offers until the applicant adds the authorised course and the provider confirms it through the application.
It is possible to discuss several options, but the account accepts only one formal Clearing choice at a time. Do not add the first course simply because the call felt urgent.
Only add a choice with permission
After the university gives permission, use Add Clearing choice in the UCAS account and enter the exact institution and course details. Adding the choice counts as accepting that offer for consideration.
An unauthorised choice can be declined and block another formal choice while it is pending. Verify the code and campus before submission.
One formal Clearing choice at a time
UCAS permits only one Clearing choice at a time. If the university accepts it, the place is confirmed. If it declines, the applicant can return to research and add another authorised choice.
Multiple informal conversations are allowed, but there is no firm-and-insurance pair in Clearing. Keep backup contacts ready without making conflicting promises.
Applying directly after 30 June
A person who did not submit an earlier UCAS application can register, complete and submit one, receive a Personal ID and Clearing number, then add an authorised course after processing. The applicant does not place a course choice in the form before that stage.
UCAS says a personal statement and reference are usually required unless the university specifically agrees otherwise. Once submitted, those sections cannot simply be added later, so prepare them when uncertain.
There is no separate Clearing fee
UCAS does not charge an additional Clearing fee. The normal application fee applies to the submitted application.
University deposits, English tests, visa fees, the immigration health surcharge and optional adviser services are separate costs. Avoid anyone selling access to a hidden paid Clearing list.
Understand the results embargo
Before major UK results days, UCAS and universities receive results under an embargo so they can process decisions. During the restricted period, the application can appear frozen and Add Clearing choice or Decline my place can be unavailable.
This is a normal system stage. Do not create a second application or share login credentials because the account is temporarily read-only.
Decline my place is not reversible
An applicant with a confirmed place who wants another course may see Decline my place. UCAS warns that this action releases the accepted place and is not reversible.
Research the alternative, obtain the new university’s permission and understand finance and visa consequences before using it. Do not rely on a vague promise that the old university will restore the place.
Compare tuition and scholarships again
A Clearing course can have different tuition, scholarship eligibility or deposit timing from an earlier offer. Ask for current written figures and check whether an award is automatic or still conditional.
Calculate the full study budget, not only a discounted first-year fee. Use the UK study cost guide to structure tuition, living and immigration costs.
Check accommodation immediately
Clearing applicants apply later than many offer holders, so university halls can have limited availability or different guarantees. Ask the accommodation office what is actually open before accepting the course.
Do not transfer a private housing deposit to an unverified person. Confirm tenancy length, cancellation terms, commute and total cost.
English evidence can still be required
A university may ask for an accepted English test and component scores before confirming admission or assigning the CAS. Clearing does not waive academic or language standards automatically.
Send the official result through the required verification method. The UK Student visa English guide explains how admission and immigration evidence can differ.
Move quickly from confirmation to CAS
After the UCAS choice is confirmed, complete every university condition, deposit and pre-CAS check promptly. Review passport details, course dates, tuition and payments on the CAS information.
A Clearing place late in the cycle leaves less room for document corrections. Use the UK CAS letter guide before the visa form.
Protect the Student visa timeline
GOV.UK says an overseas Student visa decision usually takes three weeks, but individual cases can take longer and faster services depend on availability. Biometrics, document verification or an interview can extend the process.
Ask the university for its latest acceptable arrival date and whether late enrolment is permitted. Do not buy a non-refundable flight before the visa decision.
Clearing scams and warning signs
- A guaranteed course sold without a UCAS application
- A request to add a choice before university permission
- A fake vacancy list using an unrelated web domain
- A deposit requested into a personal bank account
- A promise that Clearing removes English or visa rules
- Pressure to decline an existing place immediately
- An adviser withholding the applicant’s UCAS login
Step-by-step Clearing checklist
- Check eligibility. Read the status in the UCAS account.
- Prepare evidence. Gather results, English and identity details.
- Search live vacancies. Verify the course on official pages.
- Compare the commitment. Review content, tuition and location.
- Contact admissions. Give the Personal ID and Clearing number.
- Get permission. Record course code, conditions and deadline.
- Add one choice. Enter the authorised course accurately.
- Complete conditions. Send authentic documents and payment.
- Start CAS and visa steps. Protect the remaining timeline.
Common Clearing mistakes
- Treating any listed vacancy as an automatic offer
- Adding a course before contacting the university
- Entering the wrong course or campus code
- Declining a confirmed place without a secure alternative
- Comparing rankings but not modules or total cost
- Assuming accommodation is guaranteed
- Ignoring CAS and visa deadlines
- Sharing the UCAS password with an unverified caller
- Waiting until the final UCAS date despite an earlier university cutoff
Frequently asked questions
Can Nepali students use UCAS Clearing?
Yes. Eligible international applicants can use Clearing. They must still meet university admission, English, document, CAS and Student visa requirements.
When does Clearing open for 2027 entry?
UCAS lists 2 July 2027 as the opening date. The final 2027 application date is 23 September, and 18 October is the last date to add a Clearing choice.
Can I add several Clearing choices together?
No. You can speak to several universities and receive informal offers, but you can add only one formal Clearing choice at a time in the UCAS account.
Do I need permission before adding a course?
Yes. Contact the university, provide the Personal ID and Clearing number, and get permission for the exact course before using Add Clearing choice.
Does a Clearing offer include the Student visa?
No. After the place is confirmed, the university must complete its sponsorship checks and assign a CAS. The student then applies separately for the visa.
Official sources
- UCAS: 2027 dates and deadlines
- UCAS: applying directly to Clearing
- UCAS: Clearing for international students
- UCAS: adding a Clearing choice
- GOV.UK: Student visa application and decision time
Clearing and visa guidance in Nepal
For a visible review of Clearing course fit, documents, tuition, CAS readiness and the remaining visa timeline, use MKS Education study in the UK guidance. Students preparing for IELTS, PTE, GRE, GMAT or SAT can compare courses at MKS Prep. UCAS, the university and UKVI remain the final authorities for vacancy, admission, sponsorship and visa decisions.