It's results day!

The day you've been waiting for approaches: BTEC, T Level and A-Level results day! Whether you've had good news or bad, check out our advice on what to do next. But remember: no matter what happens on results day, be proud of the work you've done to get there and get ready to start the next chapter!

So, here you are. The big day has arrived, and you’re probably feeling a lot of emotions right now.

Whatever the result, this week marks the end (or at least the beginning of the end) of all those stressful exams, coursework, hours revising and all the worrying, so take a few minutes to breathe, make yourself a cuppa’ and a nice breakfast, log online to get your results, or head to your college and join your classmates!

Now for the important bits. Whatever your results, you’ve got things to do. Before we start, make sure you’ve got the following bits handy:

• Your UCAS ID,
• A notepad and pen,
• The phone numbers of your firm and insurance choice universities,
• A fully charged phone.

So, where are you?

• I didn't get the results I expected and need to make some phone calls.
• I got higher grades than I needed
• I'm going to uni!

I need to make some phone calls

Okay, first up, remember that breathing thing we mentioned before? Do a little more of that. Don’t panic – all is not lost!

If your UCAS Track isn’t giving you the status of your application, you’ll need to ring your chosen university's admissions team.

The number should be found on their website, although if you call clearing you should also be able to get through to admissions from there. FYI, Solent’s admissions team can be contacted on 023 8201 5066.

If you didn’t meet the entry requirements for your firm choice, but did for your insurance, you’ll automatically be placed – woohoo! However, you’ll still need to update your Student Finance application and sort out accommodation.

Get clear about Clearing

If your UCAS Track status is unsuccessful in both your firm and insurance choices, you’ll automatically be placed into Clearing.

First, talk to your first choice or insurance university and see what advice they can give you. If you then need to start looking at other universities, take a moment to think about your options - what you'd like to study and where. Don't just take the first available course as you're making a big commitment for your future.

Hopefully, you’ll have seen our previous two-parter on clearing – Ultimate clearing guide - part one which will help you with making another choice, and Ultimate clearing guide - part two goes through how to handle the call.

If you get anxious on the phone, a lot of universities now handle Clearing applications via other means. At Solent, you can apply through Clearing via:

• Facebook
• X
• Instagram
• Snapchat: solentuni
• WhatsApp: 07712 402 951
• Clearing hotline: 023 8001 1722
• Email

If your results have taken you by surprise and/or you have no idea where to apply, don’t feel like this needs to be done today. Clearing is open until 20 September so, while it’s advisable to apply sooner rather than later, don’t go making any hasty decisions.

Many universities offer Clearing open days soon after results day, so you can always head over for a look, and chat to student ambassadors about what life there is like.

I got higher grades than I needed

Congratulations, clever clogs! You’ve now got a really nice choice to make: you can stick with your firm choice university, or you can apply to a different one whose entry requirements you now meet.

To do the latter, you need to register for adjustment on UCAS Track and call the universities you’re interested in to see if they have any places available.

You’ll have five days from when your offer was confirmed to make a choice, but try not to be too hasty. Think about the things that mattered to you when choosing your current choice – does the new university and course tick those boxes? Do your research carefully.

I'm going to uni!

Congratulations! In a few weeks you’ll be beginning the next chapter of your life, and we have no doubt you’ll love it!

Everybody coming to uni will need to make sure they have funding and accommodation in place before they can start. If you’re going to the university you originally applied to, chances are you’ve got all of this sorted.

If not, no drama. You can update your Student Finance application with your new uni here, and we recommend doing this as soon as your place has been confirmed.

As for accommodation, contact your uni’s accommodation team. They’ll be able to advise on whether there are any spaces left in the halls of residences, or point you towards accredited and vetted landlords.

The most important thing we haven’t mentioned yet is… CELEBRATE! You’ve worked really hard, and it’s paid off.