STORY
A record 262,820 UK 18-year-olds have secured a university or college place on Level 3 results day, according to figures published by UCAS. The total is 3% higher than the 255,130 recorded last year, although the proportion of the 18-year-old population entering higher education remained broadly unchanged at 31.6%.
UCAS said 228,990 UK 18-year-olds had been accepted by their first-choice university or college, an increase of 1% from last year. A further 31,770 were placed with their insurance choice, up 21% from 26,330 in 2025. Overall, 79% of applicants in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who were holding an offer and received a decision were placed with their first choice.
Across applicants of all ages and nationalities, 446,690 people had been accepted, also a record. UCAS said more young people from the most disadvantaged areas had gained places, while engineering and technology recorded the largest year-on-year increase among subject groups. More than 26,000 courses remained available through Clearing.