UCAS figures published for Level 3 results day today show 255,130 UK 18-year-olds have been accepted, compared to 243,650 in 2024 (+4.7%). Overall 82% of those holding an offer who received their decision this morning have been placed on their first choice (UCAS’ firm), the same proportion as last year.
In total, 439,180 applicants (all ages, all domiciles) have been accepted, up +3.1% on 425,860 last year – the highest number of placed students on results day on record.
There has been an increase in the number of 18-year-olds from the most deprived areas in England, Wales and Northern Ireland gaining a place. There have been 35,920 accepted students from IMD Quintile 1 (+6.4%), 1,260 accepted students from WIMD Quintile 1 (+5.3%), and 1,060 from NIMDM Quintile 1 (+5.5%).
Today’s figures also show:
- Overall, 226,580 UK 18-year-olds have been accepted at their first (UCAS ‘firm’) choice compared with 216,750 last year (up 4.5%), while 26,330 have been placed at their insurance choice up from 24,850 in 2024 (up 6.0%). This means the UK 18-year-old entry rate on results day stands at 32.0%, an increase of 0.3 percentage points.
- The number of UK 18-year-olds accepted at higher, medium and lower tariff institutions have all increased; higher tariff +7.2%, medium tariff +4.5% and lower tariff +1.4%.
- The number of UK mature students (aged 21 and over) securing a place has declined, from 52,130 in 2024 to 50,880 this year (-2.4%).
- The number of accepted international undergraduate students applying via UCAS has risen (52,640 acceptances compared with 51,170 in 2024, up +2.9%) with the largest market, China, growing by +13.0% to 12,380 acceptances.
- The subjects with the largest percentage increases in placed students this year are engineering and technology with 30,020 placed applicants, up from 26,680 last year (+12.5%), mathematical sciences with 9,220 acceptances, an increase from 8,350 in 2024 (+10.5%) and law with 27,150 placed applicants compared with 24,590 last year (+10.4%).
Dr Jo Saxton CBE, UCAS Chief Executive, said:
“This year's students were just 13 when the pandemic hit, and their secondary schooling was turned upside down. It’s great to see these applicants securing a university place in record numbers, seeking more education and investing in their futures. I am equally delighted to see how universities across the country have responded to their ambition.
“For any student who didn’t quite get the grades they were hoping for, or even those still yet to apply, there are plenty of options in Clearing with around 27,000 available courses. UCAS experts are also available on the phones, on social media and on the UCAS website, to help all those deciding on the next step that’s right for them.”
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UCAS
UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is an independent charity, and the UK's shared admissions service for higher education.
UCAS’ services support young people making post-18 choices, as well as mature learners, by providing information, advice, and guidance to inspire and facilitate educational progression to university, college, or an apprenticeship.
UCAS manages 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.