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Clearing for international students
Yes, international students can use Clearing. UCAS says international students, including EU and other overseas students, “can use Clearing in the same way UK students can”. What makes it harder is time: you need a CAS from the university and then a Student visa before your course starts.
Checked against official sources on 25 September 2026.
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Who can use Clearing
International students can use Clearing for the same reasons as UK students: you are applying after 30 June, you have no offer, you missed your offer conditions, or you got your grades but want to change course. International Baccalaureate results come out in early July (6 July in 2026), before Clearing’s busiest weeks.
The timeline that matters
- Get an offer through Clearing and add it as your Clearing choice.
- Meet the conditions, including English language, and send any documents.
- Receive your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) from the university. You need it before you can apply for a visa, and you must apply within 6 months of getting it.
- Apply for your Student visa. From outside the UK you can apply up to 6 months before your course starts, and a decision usually takes 3 weeks. You may be able to pay for a faster decision in some countries.
- Book travel only once you have your visa, or buy a flexible ticket.
Ask every university: “What is the latest date you can issue my CAS, and the latest date I can arrive?” UCAS warns that although you can technically apply until late September, a university’s latest date for visa students may be earlier.
What to have ready before results day
- Money: your first year’s unpaid tuition fees plus living costs of £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months, held for 28 days in a row. Start holding it early. See visa money.
- English: degree-level study needs level B2. Many universities can assess this themselves; others want a test result. See English tests.
- ATAS: some sensitive subjects, including some integrated master’s degrees, need an ATAS certificate. It takes at least 30 working days, longer from April to August. See ATAS.
- Passport valid for the whole application.
The embargo problem
For about a week before each results day, universities do not make Clearing decisions. UCAS notes this “can be a barrier for international applicants” because it shortens the time left for CAS and visa steps. If you already have your results (for example IB or a national qualification), contact universities in July, before the embargo.
Who does not need a Student visa
- Irish citizens.
- People with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
Your fee status (home or international) is decided by each university. See fee status and UKCISA.
Protect yourself
Never pay anyone for a “guaranteed” Clearing place or CAS. Pay fees only to the university. See scams and education agents.
This is general information, not immigration advice. For your own situation, speak to the university’s international student adviser, UKCISA, or a regulated immigration adviser.
Sources
- UCAS: Clearing guide for international students
- UCAS: advisers' guide to Clearing for international students
- GOV.UK: Student visa
- GOV.UK: visa processing times outside the UK
- GOV.UK: Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
- UKCISA: fee status in England
- UCAS: results day 2026 news release
Quick answers
Can international students apply through Clearing?
Yes. UCAS says international students, including EU and other overseas students, can use Clearing in the same way UK students can.
Is there enough time to get a Student visa through Clearing?
Often, but it is tight. A decision from outside the UK usually takes 3 weeks, and you need a CAS first. Ask each university for its latest CAS and arrival dates.
Do EU students need a visa to study in the UK?
Yes, unless they are Irish citizens or have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
How many international students were accepted in 2026?
UCAS reported 53,740 international students accepted through UCAS by results day 2026, up 2% on 2025. This covers all routes, not only Clearing.