What happens when you no longer want to attend your firm or insurance choices? You can enter Clearing by declining your place.
Updated: 09 Aug 2026
If you’re holding an unconditional firm place but have changed your mind, you can use the Decline my place option in your UCAS application to enter Clearing and apply elsewhere. You might have reconsidered what or where you want to study or received a place at your insurance choice that you no longer want. Whatever the reason, declining your confirmed place is an option if you’re certain you no longer want to accept it.
We've got loads of handy Clearing articles and more on our Clearing Hub. Browse unis across the UK, find courses with open Clearing spaces, and get advice on your next steps in Clearing.
Sign in to your UCAS Hub account. On the homepage, next to the course you wish to be released from, click the ‘decline my place’ button. Only use this button if you have a verbal offer for another course through Clearing and are absolutely sure you no longer want your firm or insurance choice.
UCAS will then explain what you’re about to do and what it means to proceed. You'll then need to answer a drop-down question before you confirm your decision.
Afterwards, you’ll get confirmation that you’re in Clearing. Declining your place will cancel your contract with the university or college and any insurance choice you still hold, and UCAS cannot reverse the decision. If you think you’ve made a mistake, contact the university or college straight away, although there is no guarantee it can restore your place.
Remember, declining your place will also cancel any accommodation and scholarship arrangements you’ve made with that insitution. Make sure you discuss this with your teachers, tutors or parents before making a decision.
Think of Clearing as a marketplace of available courses. It’s not just a place to find a different course because you didn’t get the grades you’d hoped for. Many students use it because they’ve changed their mind about what they want to study, or they want to see what other courses are available.
It’s normal to change your mind about what to study or where. You may have a change of heart after submitting your UCAS application. Having researched different subjects and universities in more detail, another degree could interest you more. You’ll have decided on your original choice of course and uni for certain reasons, so be sure to ask yourself whether those reasons still apply.
Declining your place is an easy process. All you have to do is sign in to your UCAS Hub account and click a button. There are also steps in place to make sure you don’t accidentally release yourself from an offer.
Before committing to declining your place, chat to your teachers, tutors and parents about your decision. When you get your results, phone the universities you’ve shortlisted and see what verbal offers you get before declining your current offer. This way, you won’t be left without a place at uni.
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