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UCAS tips to help you prepare for Results Day

In this blog, UCAS share tips on what to do once you have your results, whether your grades are what you expected or not.

25 July 2024 - SQA - Categories: Awarding 2024 Programme

National Qualifications

Results Day is one of the most momentous days of the year for students up and down the country. This year, you may be among the tens of thousands of young people preparing for your next steps as you wait to discover your results on Tuesday 6 August 2024.

Firstly, if one of your choices has been confirmed, then you’re in – congratulations. Your university or college will be in touch if they need any further information, such as proof of your qualifications. They will also direct you on what to do next.

Secondly, if you’ve not yet got a place or have changed your mind, there are still plenty of options open to you. There will be about 30,000 courses available in Clearing again this year. Clearing offers greater choice and flexibility to all students, especially for anyone wanting to keep their options open, or change course or institution. Last year, 2,500 students from Scotland were accepted onto a course via Clearing – up 11.9% on 2022. With so many different courses available, we know it can be hard to find the right option but our Clearing Plus feature can help – a tool on ucas.com that matches you to a personalised list of available courses.

Securing a place in Clearing is a competitive process though. Our advice is to explore all your options before results day – make a list of alternative degree and university choices with their contact details, so you can be quick off the mark once you know your results. You’ll then be one step ahead when Clearing vacancies go live within our search tool. You should then contact the university or college to discuss your options before adding them as a choice in your application.

It’s best to be prepared for all eventualities, so make sure you know how it works and what to expect. It’s important to choose a course that’s right for you and that you’re going to enjoy. To help you prepare, you can explore our subject guides to get a sense of the courses you might want to study and the jobs graduates go on to do. Our Careers Quiz can help match you to your best-suited career options and suggest suitable courses.

Whether you’ve met the conditions of your offer or found a place in Clearing, you can then start preparing for the next stage of your journey to university or college. We have all the advice and tips you need – from money, to accommodation, and looking after your mental health. At UCAS, our mission is to help students discover a route to their future, which is why our teams will be on hand to offer you support and guidance on ucas.com, on the phone and on our social media channels.

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