Summary

  • Students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are finding out their A-Level, T-Level and BTec results - watch live BBC coverage above

  • Are you getting your grades today or supporting someone who is? Here are the key timings to be aware of

  • Ucas says a record number of 18-year-olds have secured a place at their first choice of university, writes our education correspondent

  • While some students are getting their results via email, many will have to go into school or college to pick them up in person - remember to check when your school or college opens

  • In Scotland, students received grades for their National 5, Highers and Advanced Highers exams last week - the pass rate rose across the board

Live Reporting

Edited by Charlotte Hadfield

  1. In pictures: Big smiles as students open results

    Students across the country are ripping open envelopes to get their long-awaited exam results this morning.

    We're seeing big smiles and scenes of joy from these students in South Yorkshire and Devon.

    Two girls opening their A level results smiling, one with a white top and blue denim skirt, the other with a black top and blue denim shorts

    Fay and Kayla opening their results in Barnsley

    A young man with brown curly hair and a shirt on

    Zak Flanagan in Umberleigh found out he's secured his spot at Oxford University

    A young woman with brunette hair smiling

    Mia Price in Sidmouth celebrates her BTEC results in applied science

  2. Record number of new engineers this year, says Ucas chief

    Ucas chief executive Jo Saxton says there will be a record number of new engineers this year.

    Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, she says there are 35,000 students going on to study engineering at university, which is up 14% compared to last year.

    Saxton says around 27,000 courses are available through clearing and there is a "huge amount of choice" including subjects such as maths, music and engineering.

    Saxton tells students they can "absolutely still go to university in the autumn", even if they did not quite get the grades they were hoping for.

  3. Students celebrate before they've even opened results

    Emily Doughty
    Education reporter, reporting from Carmel College in St Helens

    People gathered in a bright glass-fronted atrium beneath a colourful stained-glass artwork. At the centre, two people embrace while others stand nearby chatting and watching. Large windows fill the space with natural light, and a building sign is visible outside in the background.

    Niamh celebrated with her boyfriend Jamie in the queue to get her results after finding out she'd got into university through Ucas

    Some students here at Carmel College in St Helens are already celebrating, even though they haven't opened their results yet.

    That's because some, like Niamh, have already seen on Ucas that they've got their place at university secured.

    Niamh says she is happy after finding out she has got into Edge Hill University to study psychology - now she just has to open the envelope to find out her exact results.

  4. Record number secure first-choice university place

    Hazel Shearing
    Education correspondent

    We’ve just heard from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas), which says a record number of UK 18-year-olds have secured a place at their first choice of university.

    Overall 228,990 18-year-olds have been accepted into their firm choice.

    That's an increase from last year in terms of raw numbers.

    But there's been a rise in the number of 18-year-olds in the UK, and the actual percentage of 18-year-old offer-holders who got into their first choice has fallen - from 82% to 79%.

    Dr Jo Saxton, chief executive of Ucas, just told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that there were around 27,000 courses available in clearing.

    "For those applicants who might be tearing open their results and not quite be getting what they hoped for, they can absolutely still go to university in the autumn if that’s what they would like to do," she says.

    "There is lots and lots of choice."

    She stressed that clearing is not just for people who didn't get the grades they needed to take up an offer - it is also used by applicants who want to "trade up" or change their mind and live closer to home, for example.

  5. 228,990 students secure first choice at university

    A moment ago, we reported that a quarter of a million students in the UK will be finding out shortly they have got an undergraduate place at university or college this year.

    We can bring you more details on the figures:

    • In total, 228,990 UK 18-year-olds have been accepted at their first (UCAS ‘firm’) choice of university or college - an increase of 1% on last year - while 31,770 have been placed at their insurance choice today

    That figure translates to 79% of 18-year-olds from England, Wales and Northern Ireland who had received an offer and got their decision this morning have secured their 'firm' choice. While an additional 13% have got their insurance choice.

  6. The results are in
    Breaking

    The clock has struck 8am and students across the country are opening their exam results.

    The Ucas hub is expected to update shortly at around 08:15 and will confirm if pupils have made their offer for university.

    Stick with us as we bring you more details on the national picture and speak to students about their next steps.

  7. A quarter of a million get place at university - Ucas chief executive
    Breaking

    Ucas chief executive Jo Saxton has told the BBC a quarter of a million UK school and college leavers are "getting their place at university today" - calling it a "really good picture".

  8. Government to prevent university courses that are not good value expanding, says minister

    A stock image shows a group of young people wearing backpacks walking together along a tree-lined path on campus, near university buildingsGetty Images

    The government will take action to prevent university courses which are not a good investment from expanding, according to skills minister Jacqui Smith.

    Smith tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme the government will make sure future increases to tuition fees are linked to the quality of what is provided by universities.

    "For most people going to university is a very good and important investment in their future earning potential and in their life," she says.

    The results students are receiving today follow an "enormous amount of hard work", Smith says, adding that it's important young people have "the opportunities to take the sort of pathways that will build on their strengths".

    She says the government will improve the way students learn from age 14 so that if pupils want to focus on more practical skills they have the opportunity to do so.

  9. If you have any last minute questions, get in touch

    Our panel of experts will be on hand throughout the day to answer your questions on anything you're unsure of.

    You can get in touch in the following ways:

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    In some cases a selection of your comments and questions will be published, displaying your name and location as you provide it unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published.

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  10. Things to remember before receiving your results

    A mum and daughter sit together on a blue sofa in a bright room, looking at a smartphone. The mum, who has dark brown hair and wears a turquoise top with blue jeans, has her arm around her daughter's shoulder. The daughter has fair hair tied back and wears a grey hoodie and holds the phone. A kitchen with white cupboards, blue wall tiles, wooden worktops, chairs, appliances and a fruit bowl is blurred in the background.Getty

    In less than an hour's time, students across the country will be ripping open envelopes and refreshing their emails to get those long-awaited A-level, T-level, Btec and Level 3 results.

    Here's a few things to remember while you wait:

    • Keep calm: You can't change the contents of that envelope now. A missed grade isn't the end of the world - you have plenty of options
    • Know who to speak to: Keep contact details close to hand for your school or college, as well as universities and the clearing helpline
    • University isn't the only route: Remember: the world is your oyster. An apprenticeship, job, gap year, travel or volunteering opportunity might sound like a better next step for you
    • Make sure you have login details ready: If you are hoping to go to university Ucas should start updating at around 08:00 BST, letting you know if you've made your offer. Ahead of time make sure you know your Ucas sign-in details and personal ID
    • Give yourself time and space: Getting your results can be very stressful. It's fine to take a step back and have a break from social media and WhatsApp

  11. Don't let politicians make your decision for you, says Universities UK chief

    Hazel Shearing
    Education correspondent

    This morning another record number of students are expected to find out they have secured a place at their first choice of university.

    The cost of going to university has been in the spotlight this year, with mounting pressure on the government to reform student loan repayments, and there has been a renewed focus on technical education under Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

    The chief executive of Universities UK, which represents more than 140 vice-chancellors, has urged students to not "let politicians make your decision for you".

    Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, says she's concerned that "people talking [university] down" could "put off" potential students from the least-advantaged backgrounds.

    She urged students to "make the right decision for you", adding: "Don't let politicians make your decision for you."

  12. At-a-glance guide to qualifications

    Here's a quick guide to the different qualifications people are receiving today:

    • A-levels: Traditional academic route where you study classroom-based subjects like English, Maths, History or the sciences. You typically take three A-levels and there's over 40 subjects to choose from
    • BTecs: Practical qualification in a vocational subject like construction or health and social care with exams, coursework and sometimes placements - gradually being phased out and replaced with other vocational routes
    • T-levels: Technical qualification focused on understanding one industry, such as accounting or marketing - a mix of classroom study and hands-on experience
    • Apprenticeship: Paid work where you learn on the job while also working towards a qualification

  13. A rundown of what to expect today - in 100 words

    Stock image shows students looking at exam resultsGetty Images

    • 08:00: Results are released - but check what time your school or college opens if you plan to collect them in person
    • 08:15: Applied to university? The Ucas hub will update around this time, confirming whether you've met your offer
    • If you miss your grades, don't panic. Other university places are available through clearing, with phone lines opening from 8:00
    • 09:30: We'll get a picture of the national results, along with information from the Department for Education on T-levels
    • 13:00: Once you've secured a place through clearing, you can add it to the online Ucas portal

  14. The wait is almost over

    Freya Scott-Turner
    Live reporter

    Two teenagers smile as they look at their exam resultsGetty Images

    For thousands of students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the anxious wait is nearly over.

    In just under two hours, you will be ripping open envelopes, refreshing your emails or heading into schools and colleges to get those long-awaited A-level, T-level, BTec and Level 3 course results.

    For some of you, this might be the stepping stone to an apprenticeship or a place at university, others might be entering the world of work or taking a year out.

    It's completely normal to be feeling nervous, but we'll be bringing you some tips and tricks to help you along the way.

    We've got journalists in schools around the country who will be speaking to students about their results and hopes for the future.

    And if things don't quite go your way today, we'll also be bringing you expert advice about what your options are (and there are many).

    Class of 2026, good luck!