A record 262,820 UK 18-year-olds secured a place at university or college on A-Level results day, according to the university admissions service Ucas. The figure marks the highest number of placed students on results day on record, driven by a rising number of 18-year-olds in the population.
Top grades continue to climb
The proportion of candidates earning top grades rose for the third year in a row, remaining higher than before the Covid-19 pandemic. More than a quarter (28.5%) of UK entries were awarded an A or A* grade, up from 28.3% last year. This is the highest proportion of entries scoring top grades outside the pandemic-affected years of 2020-22, according to figures from the Joint Council for Qualifications for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Boys outperformed girls in terms of top grades again, having done so for the first time in seven years last year. Overall, 28.9% of boys’ A-level entries scored an A* or A this summer, compared to 28.0% of their female classmates.
Maths remains most popular subject
Maths was the most popular subject for the 13th year in a row, with 115,380 entries, up 3.9% from 111,033 in 2025. About one in eight of all A-level entries this year were for maths.
International and disadvantaged student numbers rise
International student numbers also increased by 2%, with 53,740 applicants accepted onto undergraduate courses. Accepted applicants from China rose to 13,870 from 12,380 last year. The number of students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds gaining places also soared.
Jo Saxton, chief executive of Ucas, said: “Today’s school leavers were just starting secondary school when the pandemic interrupted their education. Given the significant disruption they faced at such a formative stage of their learning, it is wonderful to see so many young people getting a place at university or college.”
New Prime Minister Andy Burnham added: “I want to congratulate everyone receiving their results today. I know there will have been a mix of excitement, nerves and relief this morning, but you should all be proud of the hard work that got you here.”
Mr Burnham pledged in a speech during his bid for the Labour leadership that the “days of a school system configured entirely around the university route will be brought to an end”.
