Direct answer
Clearing 2026 at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) is now open. It provides an opportunity for you to explore your university options if you have not secured a place. You can use Clearing if you have not already applied to university, are applying after 30 June 2026, have applied through UCAS but are not holding any offers (or none you want to accept), have changed your mind about your university or course, did not meet the conditions of your offers, your results are better than expected, or you have declined your firm place using the ‘decline my place’ button in UCAS Track. Over 20 undergraduate courses are listed across agriculture, business, environment, equine, and land and property subject areas. To apply, you must decide which courses interest you, ensure your exam results meet the entry requirements, contact the admissions team to discuss your application, and then register and make an application through UCAS. If you are offered a place, you must log in to your UCAS Hub account and confirm the offer.
What Clearing 2026 means at RAU
According to the official Clearing page, Clearing 2026 is now open and provides an opportunity to explore your university options if you have not secured a place. The page explains that you can use Clearing if you:
- Have not already applied to university
- Are applying after 30 June 2026
- Have applied through UCAS but are not holding any offers, or none that you want to accept
- Have changed your mind about your choice of university or course
- Did not meet the conditions of your offers or your results are better than expected
- Have declined your firm place using the ‘decline my place’ button in UCAS Track
The page also notes that Clearing is only open to students looking at undergraduate programmes to start in September 2026.
Undergraduate courses listed for Clearing 2026
The undergraduate courses page states that Clearing 2026 is now open and lists the following courses under five subject headings:
Agriculture
- BSc (Hons) Agriculture
- BSc (Hons) Agriculture (Professional Placement Year)
- BSc (Hons) Agriculture (Foundation Year)
- FdSc Agriculture & Farm Management
- BSc (Hons) Agri-Management (Top-up)
Business
- BSc (Hons) Agricultural Business Management
- BSc (Hons) Agricultural Business Management (Professional Placement Year)
- BSc (Hons) Agricultural Business Management (Foundation Year)
- BSc (Hons) Business Management
- BSc (Hons) Business Management (Professional Placement Year)
- BSc (Hons) Business Management (Foundation Year)
- BSc (Hons) Business Management (Top-up)
Environment
- BSc/BA (Hons) Environment & Sustainability
- BSc/BA (Hons) Environment & Sustainability (Professional Placement Year)
- BSc/BA (Hons) Environment & Sustainability (Foundation Year)
- FdSc Wildlife Conservation & Countryside Management
- BSc (Hons) Wildlife & Countryside Management (Top-up)
Equine
- BSc (Hons) Bloodstock & Equine Performance Management
- BSc (Hons) Bloodstock & Equine Performance Management (Placement Year)
- BSc (Hons) Bloodstock & Equine Performance Management (Foundation Year)
- BSc (Hons) Bloodstock & Equine Performance Management (Top-up)
- BSc (Hons) Equine Science & Business
- BSc (Hons) Equine Science & Business (Professional Placement Year)
- BSc (Hons) Equine Science & Business (Foundation Year)
- BSc (Hons) Equine Science & Business (Top-up)
Land and Property
- BSc (Hons) Real Estate
- BSc (Hons) Real Estate (Professional Placement Year)
- BSc (Hons) Real Estate (Foundation Year)
- BSc (Hons) Rural Land & Property Management
- BSc (Hons) Rural Land & Property Management (Professional Placement Year)
- BSc (Hons) Rural Land & Property Management (Foundation Year)
The Clearing page states that over 20 undergraduate courses are available across a range of subjects and directs readers to find all courses on the UCAS website.
How to apply through Clearing at RAU
The official Clearing page sets out the following steps:
- Decide what courses you are interested in. You can find all RAU courses on the UCAS website.
- Make sure you have received your exam results and that they meet the entry requirements for the chosen course.
- Contact the admissions team to discuss your application.
- Register and make an application through UCAS.
- If you are offered a place by the University, log in to your UCAS Hub account and confirm your offer.
A Clearing request form is available on the Clearing page. The page notes that this form is for requesting a Clearing offer with the Royal Agricultural University.
What the official pages establish and what requires live rechecking
The official pages establish that Clearing 2026 is open, the eligibility criteria, the application process, and the full list of undergraduate courses offered. They also confirm a Clearing open afternoon on Saturday 15 August, which is only for students who have applied through Clearing to study at the RAU in September 2026.
The pages do not state specific entry requirements for each course; they only direct applicants to ensure their exam results meet the entry requirements for the chosen course. The pages do not confirm current live vacancy numbers for individual courses. These details require live rechecking directly with the admissions team or via the UCAS website at the point of application. The pages also do not provide international fee amounts, visa guidance, or country-specific qualification equivalences. These must be verified through separate official channels.
Distinguishing participating, not participating, and live availability
The official Clearing page confirms that RAU is participating in Clearing 2026 for undergraduate programmes starting in September 2026. The undergraduate courses page lists specific courses, which indicates they are available through Clearing. However, neither page provides real-time vacancy data. The Clearing page directs applicants to find all courses on the UCAS website, which is where live availability is managed. The pages do not list any courses as not participating in Clearing. The absence of live vacancy figures means that course availability must be confirmed at the time of application through UCAS or by contacting the admissions team.
Campus, facilities, and student experience
The undergraduate courses page highlights several aspects of student life and facilities. It mentions an undergraduate open day for visiting the University. It references the RAU Equestrian Centre, which supports teaching on degree programmes and equine research projects. It also notes that in summer 2025, the University opened new and enhanced Land Laboratories and Experimental Barn at the Cirencester campus, improving teaching facilities and research capacity. The page links to information on accommodation, funding, student life, and partner college courses.
The Clearing page includes a student testimonial from George Holden, BSc Business Management (Professional placement year), who states: “If anyone out there is considering Clearing I would tell them to just go for it! The RAU made it really easy for me and, in the end, it’s so much better to be in the place you want to be.” The page also links to more student experiences of joining through Clearing and a campus tour video.
FAQ
Who can use Clearing at RAU in 2026?
You can use Clearing if you have not already applied to university, are applying after 30 June 2026, have applied through UCAS but are not holding any offers (or none you want to accept), have changed your mind about your university or course, did not meet the conditions of your offers, your results are better than expected, or you have declined your firm place using the ‘decline my place’ button in UCAS Track.
What undergraduate courses are available through Clearing?
The official pages list courses across agriculture, business, environment, equine, and land and property. Over 20 undergraduate courses are available, including BSc (Hons) Agriculture, BSc (Hons) Business Management, BSc/BA (Hons) Environment & Sustainability, BSc (Hons) Equine Science & Business, and BSc (Hons) Real Estate, among others. The full list is on the UCAS website.
How do I apply for a Clearing place at RAU?
First, decide which courses interest you and check your exam results meet the entry requirements. Then contact the admissions team to discuss your application. You must register and make an application through UCAS. If offered a place, log in to your UCAS Hub account and confirm the offer.
Is there a Clearing open day?
Yes, a Clearing open afternoon is scheduled for Saturday 15 August on campus. The official page states this event is only for students who have applied through Clearing to study at the RAU in September 2026.
Does the Clearing page confirm live course vacancies?
No. The official pages do not display real-time vacancy numbers. You must check live availability on the UCAS website or by contacting the admissions team.
Are international students eligible for Clearing?
The official Clearing page states that Clearing is open to students looking at undergraduate programmes to start in September 2026. It does not restrict eligibility by nationality. However, the pages do not provide international fee information or country-specific entry requirements. These must be confirmed separately.
Official sources
For broader context on UK university admissions, see our guides on Bangor University 2026 admission, fees and rankings and the University of Manchester 2026 guide. If you are comparing support options, you may also find our UK education agent comparison 2026 useful. For a different perspective on education advisory services, see this analysis of agent profitability and rankings.