University of Southampton Opens 2026 Clearing for Indian Students: CBSE & ISC Cutoffs Start at 70%

The University of Southampton opened Clearing 2026 on Thursday, August 13, with two hotline numbers live from 8am UK time (12:30pm IST). Indian applicants holding CBSE or ISC results can secure an undergraduate seat with scores from 70% upward, depending on the course. UCAS confirmed a record 695,740 applicants by the June 2026 deadline, up 4.6% year on year, pushing Clearing demand higher. The window runs until October 19, 2026. Southampton sits in the UK’s Russell Group and normally closes UCAS applications by January. Clearing is the only live route for Indian students who missed the main window, and this year’s timing gives them just over two months to fix a firm offer.

• The published equivalency ladder sets CBSE/ISC 70% against an A-level C, 75% against a B, 80% against an A, and 85% against an A*.
• Accommodation applications must land by 5pm UK on Monday, August 17 (9:30pm IST) to lock in a first-come, first-served hall place.

Also Read,

• University of Southampton Admissions
• University of Southampton: Admissions 2026 and Scholarships 
• University of Southampton Rankings 2026
• Russell Group Universities 2026: List of All 24 Members 

Southampton Clearing Hotline: Numbers and Timings for Indian Callers

The university has published two dedicated Clearing lines. Callers are told to hold on one line rather than switch to keep their place in the queue. Press option 1 to reach the Clearing team.

Outside these windows, the online course vacancies portal stays open around the clock, and applications can be filed at any hour.

CBSE and ISC Cutoffs Southampton Will Honour

The university’s grade table converts A-level bands into Class XII percentages from the CBSE and CISCE boards. UCAS-based courses feed off the same ladder in Clearing.

A course asking for A*AA maps to an 82% CBSE or ISC average. Courses accepting BBB open at 75%. Southampton has also said admissions officers can flex on some courses when results are close to the published bar.

Also Read, University of Southampton Courses and Fees 2026

When Indian Students Can Skip IELTS at Southampton

Southampton lets a slice of CBSE and ISC applicants use their Class XII English score in place of IELTS. The waiver is narrow but useful for students who did not sit a language test before results day.

• The student must have been taught and assessed in English for the final four years of high school at a CBSE or ISC school.
• The Class XII English mark must be 70% or higher.
• The waiver does not extend to state-board students, who still need IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE.

Applicants who fall short of the waiver still need a standard English test on file before the university issues a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), the document needed for the UK Student Visa.

£3,000 Global Excellence Scholarship Still On Offer

Indian applicants entering through Clearing remain eligible for Southampton’s £3,000 Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship, worth about ₹3.21 lakh at ₹107 to the pound (August 2026). The award is applied as a first-year tuition discount and is a one-off, not a renewable multi-year package.

How Do Indian Students Apply Through Southampton Clearing?

The steps mirror the domestic process, with one extra layer on funding and visa proof for Indian callers.

1. Check the live Southampton Clearing course vacancies list for your subject.
2. Confirm your CBSE or ISC result meets the equivalent grade in the table above.
3. Call the hotline or submit online. Keep your UCAS ID, passport, transcripts, and English proof ready.
4. If offered a place verbally, add Southampton as your Clearing choice on UCAS Hub after 1pm UK on August 13.
5. File the accommodation application before the August 17, 5pm UK cut-off.
6. Pay the tuition deposit, then wait for the CAS letter to book your Student Visa slot with VFS Global.

Action Plan for Indian Applicants This Week

1. August 13: Call the hotline between 12:30pm and 1:30am IST once your CBSE or ISC score is in hand.
2. August 14: Firm up the Clearing choice on UCAS Hub and accept the offer.
3. By August 17, 9:30pm IST: Submit the halls application to lock in guaranteed accommodation.
4. By end-August: Pay the tuition deposit and request the CAS letter from the admissions team.
5. September: Book the biometric slot at VFS, arrange the IHS payment, and file the Student Visa application well before the term start.

The Clearing window is short but not razor-thin: applications stay open until October 19, 2026. The tighter deadline is August 17, when the guaranteed accommodation offer lapses. Indian students who miss that will be pushed into Southampton’s private rental market, where rooms are booked out fastest by the end of August.

Also Read,

• How to Apply to UK Universities as an Indian Student
• UK Student Visa Process Step by Step 2026 with Costs
• How to Write a Strong SOP for UK University Applications

• UK Student Visa 2026: Requirements, Fees and Process