A record number of students accepted university places on the first day of clearing after a smaller proportion of 18-year-olds secured their first-choice offer on A-level results day.
According to data released by admissions service Ucas, 17,640 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have now been placed through clearing, a 5 per cent increase on the 16,820 recorded on the first day in 2025.
It follows a rise in the share of UK 18-year-olds accepting insurance offers to study, with some experts questioning whether higher-tariff institutions could be reaching their limit despite once again taking the lion’s share of domestic students.
Universities with the toughest entry requirements have still been active in clearing, however, with 4,450 more students placed in these institutions. This is slightly up on this point last year, when the more elite institutions recruited 4,380 students on the first day of clearing.
Medium-tariff institutions have also performed well, taking in 5,810 extra students so far. In contrast, lower-tariff institutions have increased numbers by just 2,990.
