In England, a record 38.1 per cent of the 18 year old population have applied through UCAS. In Northern Ireland, the application rate is 47.6 per cent, and in Wales, 32.7 per cent of young people hope to start an undergraduate course.
In total, more than 635,000 people have applied so far this year.
Based on previous years, UCAS expects around three quarters of those to be accepted to their first choice.
Applicants can sign in to Track on ucas.com from 08:00 on 16 August, to see if they’ve been accepted.
The new UCAS Clearing hub is the official place to find which universities have courses available. Clearing choices can be added through UCAS Track from 15:00 on 16 August.
Last year, 66,865 people were accepted through Clearing, with 16,950 of those applying with their results and submitting their application directly into Clearing.
Clare Marchant, UCAS Chief Executive, said: ‘In the run-up to A level results day, I recommend taking some time to make sure you’re as prepared as possible. The help and advice on ucas.com will tell you everything you need to know.
‘If your grades end up being different from what you expected, it’s important not to jump into making a decision. Make the right choice for you. It can help to talk your thoughts through with family, friends, a teacher, or careers adviser. If you decide to look for courses in Clearing, there are fewer 18 year olds in the UK’s population, so there’s never been a better time to search for opportunities.
‘If there’s somewhere you’re keen to apply to, take a look at their website now. Many universities and colleges will be holding open days next weekend.’
The UCAS website also has information on alternative routes for students, including apprenticeships, taking a gap year, and reapplying next year.
ENDS
Notes to editors
UCAS is due to publish the latest 2018 higher education admissions figures shortly after 08:00 on Thursday 16 August. The statistical reports will be released as soon as our analysts have produced them. We will not be pre-releasing them under embargo.
UCAS’ expert advisers can answer questions about Clearing in several ways:
- Twitter @ucas_online (06:00 until 19:00 on A level results day).
- Facebook ucasonline (06:00 until 19:00 on A level results day).
- Instagram ucas_online (06:00 until 19:00 on A level results day).
- 0371 468 0 468 (07:30 until 19:00 on A level results day).
Students who need wider advice about all the opportunities they can explore, can call the Exam Results Helpline for free, impartial advice on 0800 100 900 from 08:00 on Thursday 16 August.
About UCAS
UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is a charity, and the UK's shared admissions service for higher education. We manage almost three million applications, from around 700,000 people, each year, for full-time undergraduate courses at over 380 universities and colleges across the UK.