The results process
What happens, when, and what your students need to do to avoid delays to their application.
What’s UCAS’ role?
We receive assessment grades and results from many awarding bodies. We then match these to your students’ applications and send them to the universities and colleges that are holding offers for them.
View the list of results we receive and forward to universities and colleges.
Are your students taking a qualification not listed in the above?
It’s really important they send their results/certificates to their firm and insurance choice universities or colleges as soon as they receive them! Unis and colleges will need to see proof of qualifications listed in the ‘Education’ section of their application – this includes GCSEs or National 5s or equivalent.
Sending proof of qualifications is equally important to students with international qualifications.
What happens, when?
Applicants can view Confirmation decisions in their application, which is updated continuously except for when we are processing results during the embargo periods – ucas.com alerts will give details of when information is available in the lead up to results days.
The 'CU12' Confirmation letter for UCAS Conservatoires applicants will be available in their application.
You can view details of your students’ applications, including Confirmation decisions, in the adviser portal.
SQA results day – 5 August
On 5 August, SQA results day, the adviser portal will open, and your students will be able to access their applications. Adviser portal opening times will be confirmed in May.
- If you go straight to the Tracking offers and decisions section for 2025 you will see the different confirmation decisions for your students.
- This status list will help you know the next steps for your students.
- Students will be able to add a Clearing choice from 10:00 (UK time).
JCQ (incl. AS/A levels) results day – 14 August
The adviser portal will open on 14 August to allow you to check the status of your applicants and identify those who may need your support. Adviser portal opening times will be confirmed in May.
You must not under any circumstances disclose the details relating to exam results, application status or mention anything which could be used to infer that information to applicants, parents, guardians, universities and colleges, or with any of your colleagues, who don’t have access to this information through the adviser portal, until the embargo has lifted at 08:00 (UK time) on JCQ results day.
Understanding the embargo
JCQ sets strict controls when giving UCAS privileged early access to results. These extend to universities and colleges who receive results before 14 August and also to all adviser portal users who will have early sight of applicant statuses.
If you access the adviser portal before 08:00 (UK time) on 14 August, you must keep to this embargo arrangement.
In the staff management section of the adviser portal, please review who has permission to view offers and decisions at your school or centre. It is important that anyone who can access this embargoed information is aware of the serious implications of breaching the embargo.
- If you go straight to the Tracking offers and decisions section for 2025 you will see the different Confirmation decisions for your students.
- This status list will help you know the next steps for your students.
- Students will be able to add a Clearing choice from 13:00 (UK time).
Applicant status and suggested actions
On results day your students may be unplaced. If this is the case, you will see one of the statuses below on their application in the adviser portal – we have suggested the actions they can take.
Status: Final place accepted
| What this means | What applicants can do next |
|---|---|
| Applicants who have firmly accepted an unconditional offer, received an unconditional offer after meeting their conditional offer requirements, or been given a place in Clearing – for example, UF. |
Applicants should check the details of the course they have been placed on. They should receive details from the university or college about what to do next. If this is the course they would like to study, they don't need to do anything. However, if they don’t think it is right for them they can use the 'Decline my place' button in their application to apply somewhere else through Clearing. |
Status: Eligible for Extra/Clearing/new choice(s)
| What this means | What applicants can do next |
|---|---|
| Applicants who applied before 30 June and are holding no offers. |
Applicants can use Clearing Plus by clicking the 'View matches' button in their application to see courses they've been matched to, and express an interest in any they’d like to be considered for. Although Clearing Plus is designed to enhance the process of finding another place, it’s important unplaced applicants remain proactive – they can still use our search tool to browse all official Clearing vacancies and contact universities and colleges directly to discuss options as they usually would. If applicants receive an offer they’d like to accept, they can add it as a Clearing choice from 10:00 (UK time) on SQA results day or 13:00 (UK time) on JCQ results day. Their Clearing number will be displayed in their application. |
Status: In Clearing
| What this means | What applicants can do next |
|---|---|
| Applicants who applied after 30 June and have been entered directly into Clearing. |
Applicants can use Clearing Plus by clicking the 'View matches' button in their application, to see courses they've been matched to, and express an interest in any they’d like to be considered for. Although Clearing Plus is designed to enhance the process of finding another place, it’s important unplaced applicants remain proactive – they can still use our search tool to browse all official Clearing vacancies and contact universities and colleges directly to discuss options as they usually would. If applicants receive an offer they’d like to accept, they can add it as a Clearing choice from 10:00 (UK time) on SQA results day or 13:00 (UK time) on JCQ results day. Their Clearing number will be displayed in their application. |
Status: Applicant to reply to revised offer
| What this means | What applicants can do next |
|---|---|
| Applicants who have received a revised offer from their chosen university or college – e.g. a change of course, entry year, or campus – but have not replied yet. |
Check their application to view the revised offer, and either accept or decline it. The applicant can phone the university/college to discuss the revised offer if they have any queries. If the applicant accepts a revised offer, they are placed. If the applicant declines the offer, their insurance choice (if they have one) becomes their firm choice. If the applicant does not have an insurance choice, follow the steps for 'Eligible for Extra/Clearing/new choice(s)' above. |
Status: Waiting for university/college to respond
| What this means |
What applicants can do next |
|---|---|
| Their application has been sent to their chosen universities/colleges but decisions have not yet been made. |
|
Status: University / college to make final decision
| What this means | What applicants can do next |
|---|---|
| Applicants who are waiting for their university or college to confirm their conditional offer. The decision will be based on whether they meet the conditions of the offer. |
|
Helping you to support students
There is a flag in tracking offers and decisions so you can easily identify students who may need more support when receiving their results.
We will flag to show you students who:
- have been made a course change
- are waiting for confirmation from a university or college
The status will update when either the student or provider makes a change, to keep you updated as things progress.
- To identify those students quickly – simply type in the status column search 'course' to show those who have had a course change, or 'delay’ for those who've had a reason added to their application.
- Select the student’s name to see details of the reasons for delay in Confirmation or the course change offer that has been made.
For more details on adviser portal applicant statuses see the UCAS Adviser Guide.
Your students can find out more on our What your application status means page.
My student’s grades aren’t what they expected – what can they do?
If a student’s grades aren’t what they had hoped for this year, there are a number of options available to them.
They could:
-
speak to the university or college: They may be flexible, especially if they only narrowly missed their offer, they could still be placed despite not meeting the offer
-
use Clearing to find a course: Last year, over 75,000 students used Clearing to find a course, and most universities and colleges have vacancies, which they can find using our search tool. Our Clearing Plus service will match students to appropriate courses making it even easier to find the right option for them. Find out more about Clearing.
-
appeal their grade: They’ll need to discuss this with you – here’s our advice for students on appealing grades.
-
consider an apprenticeship: Earn a salary while they study – and have their course fees paid by their employer and the government. Read more and find vacancies.
-
research alternatives to university: For other options, read our advice on internships, gap years, and studying overseas.
Looking after their mental health and wellbeing
For students who didn’t get the grades they wanted, this can be a difficult time. They aren’t alone, and there’s support available to help them look after their mental health and wellbeing.
- Student Minds is the UK’s student mental health charity – visit their website for resources and advice.
- The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust has practical advice and tips to manage anxiety and stress to help during Clearing and for other aspects of school and going to university.
- Young Minds has advice for young people who are dealing with disappointing exam results.
How you can help
There are a number of ways you can help your students throughout the exam results process.
Changes to qualification details
Complete our qualifications amendment form straight away if any of your students’ qualification details change, and let the universities/colleges know too. That includes anything from qualification subjects, modules or units, to awarding/examining bodies and centre numbers. We cannot add or amend predicted grades or units.
It's important to tell us, as it could delay the processing of results. If results can’t be verified, your student might not get their place.
If anything affects your students’ results, we advise the applicant to contact the university or college that's holding their place, either as a firm or insurance choice. They should explain their situation, and provide a supporting letter from their school, college or exam centre (with supporting documentation if necessary, e.g. a letter from the doctor if it’s a medical issue).
Late results
Universities and colleges have until 3 September to receive qualification results, unless they specify a different date. If the results aren’t available by this date, they’re not obliged to hold a place. If you know of any results likely to be subject to delay, it’s important to let the university or college know in good time.
Important qualification information
International Baccalaureate (IB)
- Please make sure UCAS is listed in the IB Information System (IBIS) as a provider who has permission to access your students' results. IB results will be available to teaching centres on 5 July 2025, and to higher education providers on 6 July 2025. You’ll need to submit your request through the ‘request for results service’ option in IBIS. If you need any help with this, email Support@ibo.org or phone 029 2054 7740.
- If permission is not given, we won't receive the results due on 6 July 2025. This will delay Confirmation decisions from universities or colleges.
Vocational and technical qualifications
Most Level 3 results used for progression to further or higher education will be released to students by Thursday 14 August.
Ofqual has an information hub for exams officers and subject teachers. The hub brings into one place the key dates awarding organisations set to ensure the timely delivery of Level 3 vocational and technical qualification (VTQ) results used for progression to further study. It is the latest in Ofqual’s package of measures to create parity for VTQ students.
Appeals
Students have the right to appeal their grade.
Universities and colleges will endeavour to be flexible in keeping places open until an outcome is received. It’s important to keep the universities and colleges informed of any appeals.
There are variations in the appeals process depending where in the UK you are.
Appeals in England
Appeals should initially be dealt with by the centre to ensure processes have been followed correctly and there are no errors - any errors can be submitted to the awarding body for correction. If a student still wishes to appeal, they should submit a formal appeal to the awarding body through the school or college.
Ofqual guide for schools and colleges 2025.
Appeals in Wales
After results day, students in Wales may appeal to WJEC if they feel the grade was unreasonable or erroneous.
Full details about the appeals process for the summer 2025 exams series will be made available on the Qualifications Wales website.
Appeals in Scotland
Full details about the appeals process for the summer 2025 exams series will be made available on the SQA website.
Appeals in Northern Ireland
In the first instance, students should submit an initial appeal request to their centre. If they are unhappy with the outcome, the centre may then appeal to CCEA.
Full details about the Post-Results Service in Northern Ireland will be made available on the CCEA website.