What can students expect from results day 2023?

August is an exciting time in the world of higher education. After Scottish results day last week, hundreds of thousands of prospective students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now gearing up to receive their grades on Thursday which will set them up for the next defining step in their education journey – be that through university, college, an apprenticeship or a different pathway altogether.

We know that results day can be an extremely hectic 24 hours, but we want to reassure students and parents that support is available. From the moment UCAS opens at 8am, advisers and university admissions teams will be on hand over the phone and online to ensure that all applicants feel confident about their options.

To help calm nerves further, UCAS has a range of digital tools to help guide students and, for the first time, will this year be sending applicants a personalised email giving them a clear outline of their next steps.

So, what can students – and their families – expect from results day this year? With 76.2% of UK 18-year-old applicants holding an offer, our expectation is that the majority of students looking to go to university or college will secure their preferred choice.

While there has been a lot of focus around demand for places, UCAS data indicates that the trend of a steady rise in people entering university that we saw up until 2020 will continue, and there will only be a slight decline on the unprecedented demand seen during the pandemic.

Despite the commentary about increased competition and the possibility that we will see more disappointed students, it’s crucial to bear in mind that applying to university is – and always has been – a competitive process.

There are several factors influencing this year's admissions cycle, including growing numbers of 18-year-olds in the UK and that universities have actually increased the number of offers they have made in the run up to results day, which means they may have fewer places to offering clearing compared to previous years but none of these issues are new and universities have been preparing for these eventualities long in advance.

Admissions teams are skilled professionals, who work throughout the year leading up to this point to ensure that each applicant is given a fair and assessment based on their grades, and personal circumstances. They are well aware of the issues each year faces and are extremely practised at ensuring that no student is disadvantaged because of them.

For many, results day is the culmination of 14 years of full-time education and it’s this traditional narrative of teenagers opening envelopes that continues to dominate. But there are as many different student experiences of results day as there are students and it’s important that, as a sector, we reflect the diversity of these experiences. One key aspect of this diverse experience is Clearing.

The first thing that springs to mind for many when they think of Clearing is ‘last resort’ – missed grades, missed offers, missed opportunities. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. In recent years, the purpose and perception of Clearing has changed significantly. There are more ways into university than ever before and, far from being a place for only those who didn’t get the grades they were hoping for, Clearing now offers an array of options for all students.

This year, there will be about 28,000 courses available in Clearing, which will be open from 1pm on Thursday the 17th. From students who have missed their offers, to those who have exceeded expectations with their grades and are looking for a different route, to those who did not apply to university earlier in the year but have now decided it is the path for them – Clearing will be their main port of call.

Clearing will also again this year offer apprenticeship courses, which have grown massively in popularity over recent years, now representing 40% of all UCAS undergraduate applicants.

We understand that results day can be stressful, even when it goes exactly as planned. And for those students who miss out on their first choice, it can feel even more daunting. But we’re here to give reassurance that there will be plenty of courses available right across the university sector – and that you can give yourself the best chance of getting your preferred choice by doing your research in advance of results day, using ucas.com to research all your options, and preparing a Plan B.

Whatever happens next, any student who has made it to this point should be exceptionally proud of themselves. To all students, and their families, friends and carers – good luck, and we’ll see you on the other side.

This article was originally published in The Telegraph.