What to do on A-level results day 2023

With A-level results day tomorrow (Thursday 17 August), now is the time to read up about what to do if you don’t get the grades you were expecting or would like to change your mind about your university options.

Olivia Phillips works in the University of Northampton’s Schools and Colleges Liaison team. She spends time visiting schools and colleges to talk to potential students about studying at the University and helps with their applications, so is well-placed to offer some expert advice.

Olivia says: “A-level students can usually check their UCAS Hub before heading to collect their results at school/college. This will let them know if they are in Clearing, or on their way to their firm or insurance-choice university.

“If your results aren’t what you had hoped for, and you’re now exploring your options, my message is – don’t panic. It might sound easier said than done, but you have to remember that thousands of students go to university through Clearing every year and go on to have an amazing experience.

“Clearing is not just for students who have missed the conditions of their offers, you can also use Clearing to swap your Firm and Insurance choices, choose a different course altogether, or you may have decided to choose a different university; one closer to home for example.”

“Each University will have a Clearing hotline – ours is 01604 214 808 – or visit the Clearing section of our website. The helpline is open from 8am on Thursday 17 August.

“Before you call, make sure you have your grades and UCAS ID to hand. At UON we have teams waiting to talk you through what our courses involve, the entry requirements, and the application process. The later you call, the higher the chance that a course will become full, so don’t leave it too late, but give yourself time to look at the University website and modules so that you know you’re calling about a course you can see yourself studying.

“We do still have spaces available in Halls, but they are limited so make sure you apply for accommodation as soon as you’re invited to. We do have an Open Day on Saturday 19 August, where you can tour the campus accommodation, speak to academic teams, and meet student services.

“Always remember that we understand that University is a huge investment, if you’ve got a question just ask, we will probably have heard it before! We have a live Q&A taking place all day on our Instagram story, and you can ask us a question any time 24/7 via our WhatsApp chat, so any way you would like to get in touch, we will be ready to answer your questions.

“If things have gone well, congratulations, but before you celebrate make sure that you’ve done everything you need to for your student finance and accommodation applications, and read any emails your University sends so you are fully prepared to start your first term.”