Medicine ClearingDo medicine and dentistry places appear in Clearing?
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Medicine and dentistry places can appear in UCAS Clearing, but rarely — of the medical schools whose pages we checked, Leeds says it does not usually enter Clearing for medicine, Plymouth says it "very rarely" has places, and Newcastle and Keele showed no medicine places in Clearing 2026. UCAS Adjustment no longer exists: it ended with 2022 entry.
For 2027 entry, UCAS lists Clearing opening on 2 July 2027 and the last date to add a Clearing choice as 18 October 2027.
How does Clearing work and who can use it?
UCAS describes Clearing as "how unis and colleges fill any places they still have on their courses". You can use it if you apply after 30 June, received no offers (or none you wanted), did not meet your offer conditions, or declined your firm place with the "decline my place" button.
- Vacancies appear in the UCAS search tool from 2 July — UCAS calls it "the only official vacancy list".
- Before adding a Clearing choice you contact the university with your Clearing number and Personal ID; only add the choice once it gives permission. Adding it counts as accepting the offer.
- You can add one Clearing choice at a time. UCAS notes universities "might reconsider you (maybe for the same course) even if you applied to them earlier in the year".
| Entry year | Clearing opens | Final date for applications | Last date to add a Clearing choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 entry | 2 July 2026 | 24 September 2026 (18:00 UK time) | 19 October 2026 |
| 2027 entry | 2 July 2027 | 23 September 2027 (18:00 UK time) | 18 October 2027 |
Do medical schools offer places through Clearing?
UCAS does not publish a medicine-specific Clearing policy; each school decides. UCAS's general warning applies with force: for courses with a 15 October deadline "it's unusual for them to consider late applications because their courses are really competitive". What schools themselves say:
| School | Published statement |
|---|---|
| University of Leeds (MBChB) | Does not usually enter Clearing, “however this is subject to change”; any places would be advertised in Leeds’ Clearing listings. It usually runs a waitlist for applicants who narrowly missed an offer at interview. |
| University of Plymouth (BMBS) | “We very rarely have places available through Clearing”, but applicants are welcome to call on results day to check. |
| Newcastle University (A100) | “This course is not available in Clearing 2026.” |
| Keele University (Medicine) | “No places available in Clearing.” |
Is Adjustment still available for medicine?
No. UCAS states that "Adjustment is no longer available from 2022 entry". If your results are better than expected and you hold an unconditional firm place, you can instead release yourself into Clearing using "Decline my place".
- UCAS says to use it only if you no longer want your firm place and have spoken to your university or an adviser.
- Declining cancels your contract with the university, any accommodation or scholarship arrangements, and your insurance place.
- If your firm place is still conditional, UCAS says you can ask it to release you into Clearing between 13 August and 2 September (the 2026 dates) — losing both firm and insurance choices.
What are the options if I have no medicine offer?
UCAS's rules for four-choice medicine applicants are specific. Because Extra is for people who used all five choices, UCAS says you "can’t normally use Extra"; if you see a medicine or dentistry course available in the search tool, contact that university to check for places and then call UCAS.
The other routes are separate decisions with their own sourced guides: applying again next cycle, using a fifth-choice course, or a published internal transfer route.
See reapplying to medicine, the fifth UCAS choice and transferring into medicine.
Medicine Clearing — FAQs
Sources (accessed 19 September 2026)
Every fact on this page comes from one of these documents, each opened on the date above. Where a source did not state something, this page does not state it either. Admissions rules change between cycles — check the source before you act on it.