I hold a Firm offer at another university, what do I do if I want to accept your offer?

If you currently hold a Firm offer at another University, you are welcome to submit an application to us through Clearing. However, if we make you an offer and you would like to accept it you will first need to be released by your Firm choice university. If you have your results: Go online today and complete our dedicated Clearing application form or… … call our Clearing Hotline on +44 (0)23 9284 8090 today and speak to one of the team who can go through a Clearing application over the phone. If you are still awaiting your results: Please call us as soon as you receive them to check the latest availability and we can go through a Clearing application with you over the phone or you are welcome to use the dedicated Clearing application form. If you need help or advice about how to be released from your Firm place, please call the UCAS Applicant Advice Line on 0371 488 0468.

Can I defer my place?

We are able to consider deferral requests for most courses to enable you to start in September 2027. Not all of our courses allow a deferral, so please check with us before you decide. Before you make this decision, if you would like more information please read our deferring your university place advice. You can only defer if you are holding an Unconditional Firm place. If you have an Insurance place with us, you cannot defer until you hold a Firm place. If your situation changes, get in touch.

Can you decline after accepting?

If you applied through UCAS, and you no longer want to go to your firm choice university, from the 5th July 2026 you can release yourself into Clearing, by using the ‘Decline your place’ button in your UCAS Hub. You can use this function if: You are holding an Unconditional Firm place If you no longer wish to take up your place at your firm choice and you are completely certain to proceed. If you wish to apply through Clearing and have your final results. If you want to remain at the University of Portsmouth, but swap your course, please call us on 023 9284 8090 in the first instance. You can also email us at clearing@port.ac.uk with your request - don’t forget to include your full name, Clearing or UCAS personal ID number and the title of the course you had a place on - we will process the release for you as soon as possible. Once we have released you from your place, this will fully decline your place with us. This includes cancelling arrangements you may have made with us such as accommodation. You will then be able to apply to another university through Clearing. If you hold a Conditional Firm choice, please contact UCAS for advice.

How do I apply for accommodation/halls of residence?

The best team to contact and provide you with advice about accommodation will be our colleagues in ‘Student Housing’ at the University of Portsmouth. Please see their dedicated web pages for general information about their service and support available, including their contact details.

How long do I have to accept a Clearing offer?

We would advise you to accept your place as soon as possible, as spaces may fill up quickly. Typically, you have 24 hours/a working day to accept. If you require an extension to your offer acceptance period, please email clearing@port.ac.uk - include your full name, Clearing or UCAS ID number and the title of the course you have an offer for - with your request.

How to accept a Clearing offer

Clearing Hotline: 023 9284 8090

Whether you applied through UCAS or directly to us, if you get a verbal offer we will also email you to confirm it with advice on how to accept the offer.

Remember that Clearing places are filled on a first come, first served basis. Your Clearing offer will only remain open while we have places available and can be withdrawn if the course becomes full.

You can accept your offer from 1pm on Thursday 13th August (Level 3 Results Day).

How do I accept my Clearing offer?

Applied through UCAS?

If we made you an offer through UCAS Clearing, you need to make the University of Portsmouth your Clearing choice on UCAS Hub before your place is confirmed.

Here's how to accept a Clearing offer on UCAS:

Log on to your UCAS Hub.
Add details for the University of Portsmouth, UCAS code P80 and the course you have been offered a place on using the Add Clearing choice option.
UCAS will then let us know that you have entered our details on Hub.
Our acceptance will show in the choices section.
UCAS will contact you to let you know your place is confirmed.

Remember you can only accept one offer and once you accept, your original offer will be removed.

Don’t worry if your UCAS Hub takes a while to update. At busy times and over the weekend it can take up to 48 hours for your confirmation to update on UCAS. Please call us if you have any concerns at all on 023 9284 8090.

Applied directly to Portsmouth?

In your offer email, you will see instructions about accepting an offer. Please complete our Record of Prior Acceptance Form which is linked in your offer email. This will then register your place with UCAS and we will notify UCAS on your behalf.

This is a manual process, so please bear with us as this can be a busy time for our Admissions team. Once your place has been registered with UCAS, expect an email from us to confirm your place.

During Clearing, we recommend accepting your offer as soon as you've made your decision. Courses can fill quickly, and accepting promptly allows you to begin arranging accommodation and student finance."

Hannah Lloyd, Senior Admissions Officer

Clearing FAQs

If you currently hold a Firm offer at another University, you are welcome to submit an application to us through Clearing. However, if we make you an offer and you would like to accept it you will first need to be released by your Firm choice university.

If you have your results:

Go online today and complete our dedicated Clearing application form or…
… call our Clearing Hotline on +44 (0)23 9284 8090 today and speak to one of the team who can go through a Clearing application over the phone.

If you are still awaiting your results:

Please call us as soon as you receive them to check the latest availability and we can go through a Clearing application with you over the phone or you are welcome to use the dedicated Clearing application form.
If you need help or advice about how to be released from your Firm place, please call the UCAS Applicant Advice Line on 0371 488 0468.

We are able to consider deferral requests for most courses to enable you to start in September 2027. Not all of our courses allow a deferral, so please check with us before you decide.
Before you make this decision, if you would like more information please read our deferring your university place advice.
You can only defer if you are holding an Unconditional Firm place.
If you have an Insurance place with us, you cannot defer until you hold a Firm place. If your situation changes, get in touch.

If you applied through UCAS, and you no longer want to go to your firm choice university, from the 5th July 2026 you can release yourself into Clearing, by using the ‘Decline your place’ button in your UCAS Hub. You can use this function if:

You are holding an Unconditional Firm place
If you no longer wish to take up your place at your firm choice and you are completely certain to proceed.
If you wish to apply through Clearing and have your final results.

If you want to remain at the University of Portsmouth, but swap your course, please call us on 023 9284 8090 in the first instance.

You can also email us at clearing@port.ac.uk with your request - don’t forget to include your full name, Clearing or UCAS personal ID number and the title of the course you had a place on - we will process the release for you as soon as possible.
Once we have released you from your place, this will fully decline your place with us. This includes cancelling arrangements you may have made with us such as accommodation. You will then be able to apply to another university through Clearing.
If you hold a Conditional Firm choice, please contact UCAS for advice.

The best team to contact and provide you with advice about accommodation will be our colleagues in ‘Student Housing’ at the University of Portsmouth.
Please see their dedicated web pages for general information about their service and support available, including their contact details.

A Clearing offer is an offer of a place, but your place is only confirmed once you have completed the acceptance process and the University has confirmed your place.

We would advise you to accept your place as soon as possible, as spaces may fill up quickly. Typically, you have 24 hours/a working day to accept.
If you require an extension to your offer acceptance period, please email clearing@port.ac.uk - include your full name, Clearing or UCAS ID number and the title of the course you have an offer for - with your request.

What happens after I accept my offer?

We'll be in touch as soon as you accept your offer with details of our Welcome Events, updating your student finance, and registering onto your course and more. Keep an eye on your emails for next steps.

Don’t forget to sort out your accommodation

Once you have firmly accepted your place to study with us, our student housing team will be in touch with details of available accommodation in the area.

Any available hall places are allocated in order of accommodation application receipt, subject to availability – so the sooner you confirm that you will be coming to Portsmouth, the more likely you are to get one of your preferred choices of accommodation.

View all accommodation

Student finance for Clearing

Postgraduate Shoot - NOT FOR USE IN THE PRESS/WEBSITE OR EXTERNALLY

If you're going to fund your university studies with a UK student loan, make sure your loan application fits your Clearing choice. Read our useful blog with all the details of changing your student finance.

Student finance for Clearing