Surviving results day: Clearing, confidence, and finding the right fit

As thousands of people around the country await their A-level grades, the University of Leicester’s Head of UK Student Recruitment, Dan Flatt, explains the ins and outs of surviving results day...

Having missed out on my grades for my firm choice university, I know how anxiety-inducing results day can be. I’m so glad that I ended up at University of Leicester, which was my insurance choice.

2025 will be my tenth year in a row of supporting the Clearing call centre on results day. Every year, we speak to hundreds of worried and stressed students on the phone. It’s such a wonderful feeling when making an offer to a student to study at University of Leicester.

A-level results day. Those words alone are enough to bring on a wave of nerves for students – and often for their families too. Whether you're the one refreshing UCAS Hub at 8am, or the parent on the other side of the kitchen table pretending not to check your watch every 30 seconds, this week can feel like a pressure cooker.

But if results day doesn’t go as expected it’s not the end of the world. In fact, it can often be the start of a new, brilliant beginning.

Every year, thousands of students across the UK enter university through Clearing. It’s not a last resort or a fallback plan; it's a well-established route into higher education and, for many, it ends up being the moment they find the course and university that’s genuinely the best fit for them.

What is Clearing, really?

Clearing is a way for students who don't have an offer – or who want to explore other options – to connect with universities that still have places available. You might not have met the conditions of your firm or insurance choice. You might have changed your mind. You might even have done better than expected and are now thinking differently about what you want to study or where.

All of these are valid reasons to consider Clearing. It’s about finding your direction, even if the path there takes a few unexpected turns.

What does Leicester offer through Clearing?

Here at the University of Leicester, we have availability across most of our courses – the main exception being Medicine. From life sciences to humanities, business, social sciences, healthcare, and engineering, there’s still time to find a place with us.

Why choose Leicester?

It’s easy to throw around rankings and awards (we are TEF Gold, top 15 for student satisfaction, carry out world-changing research, and have 100 years of history in research and teaching, just for the record), but the real reason students thrive here is because we’re an institution that puts people first.

Leicester is a community. We’re proud to be inclusive, to support our students holistically, and to foster a culture of kindness. Students from across the world come here, and they leave as Citizens of Change – ready to make an impact in the world. That’s the part that makes me proudest of all.

To students (and their parents) who are worried: don’t panic.

If things don’t go to plan, take a breath. Clearing is not about “making do”; it’s about reassessing, refocusing, and sometimes, discovering a better option than the one you originally expected.

Our Clearing call centre is staffed by experienced advisors and friendly student volunteers. They’ve been through this process and know how to help. Have your UCAS ID and results to hand, and a shortlist of universities and courses you're interested in. Then, give us a call on 0116 373 6000.

Lines are open 9am–5pm on weekdays, and we extend our hours on results day to make sure we’re here when you need us.

To students: wherever you end up, know that how you got there doesn’t define your success - what you do next does.

To parents: support your child, reassure them, and trust that there are plenty of good options out there - including at universities like ours.

Results Day is big, yes. But it’s just one day. What comes after is what really matters.