Using UCAS Hub on Results Day 2025: A Quick Guide
What is UCAS Hub and why is it important?#
UCAS Hub is your central online portal for managing your university applications, and it’s used to view your universities’ decisions on results day. Students across the UK will use UCAS Hub on results day to confirm their university places or explore other options.
In this quick guide we’ll cover some essential tips to help you confidently navigate UCAS Hub on results day 2025, and understand your options moving forward.
What should I do before results day?#
There are a few things you can do in advance to minimise stress when using UCAS Hub on results day:
Advance checks: Log in to UCAS Hub before results day to check that your contact details, course choices and offer conditions are all correct to avoid possible problems on the day
Login details: Make sure you’ve got your UCAS ID and password to hand, and keep them somewhere safe
Practical prep: Charge your phone and laptop, and find a quiet place so you can focus and make phone calls if needed
Set your expectations: Remember that UCAS Hub will display your universities’ decisions, not your A-level results (which you’ll get from your school/college)
What to expect from UCAS Hub on results day 2025#
The UCAS Hub will be updated at around 8.15am on Thursday, 14th August 2025. On results day, you can log in to UCAS Hub, then navigate to the ‘Your Choices’ section to check the status of your applications.
The UCAS Hub will be incredibly busy as everyone tries to check their applications, and the site may take some time to update due to the high volume of traffic. If your applications aren’t updated when you first sign in, just be patient and stay calm! If your status still hasn’t changed after an hour or two, consider contacting your university directly.
Decoding the UCAS Hub status updates#
When you sign in to UCAS Hub, the most important thing you’re looking for is the status of your applications. It’s important to understand the meaning of each status on UCAS Hub. Here are the statuses you can expect to see:
Congratulations - you've been placed…: This status indicates that you have met the conditions of your offer and have a confirmed place at your firm or insurance choice. You don’t need to do anything else in UCAS Hub at this point.
Waiting for confirmation..: This status will be displayed if UCAS is still waiting to hear from the university. This can take a while as universities are very busy on results day, so don’t worry if you have to wait a while longer.
You've not been placed... You are now in Clearing: This status means neither of your firm and insurance choices accepted your application, and that you are now eligible to apply for other courses through the Clearing process.
You've been offered a place for a different course… (Unconditional Change at Confirmation): If you didn’t meet the requirements for your original offer, universities may offer a place on an alternative course for you to accept. This is considered an informal offer.
Troubleshooting common UCAS Hub issues#
If you do run into issues with UCAS Hub on results day, don’t be alarmed! Here are a few of the common issues you might encounter:
Slow or frozen page: If the UCAS Hub isn’t loading for you, try accessing it again on a different browser or device. You may need to refresh the page a few times to ensure the information is up to date.
Status isn’t updating: Be patient – this is normal, as the UCAS Hub is busy and universities have a large number of applications to process. If the UCAS Hub is not updating after a couple of hours, please contact the university or UCAS directly.
Unable to log in: Check you’ve got the correct UCAS ID and password, and use the forgotten password link to reset your password if required.
Exploring your options via UCAS Hub#
You met your offer
If you met your offer, your place at university is confirmed (although you should still check on UCAS Hub). You can now start taking the next steps to get ready to start your course, such as finding accommodation, securing your student loans and bursaries, and potentially planning to move to a new city.
You exceeded your offer
If you did far better than you expected, you may want to look at other courses you weren’t able to apply for with your original predicted grades. In this case you can choose to ‘self-release’ into Clearing (read on for more info on self-releasing). Note that UCAS used to offer a service called ‘Adjustment’ to allow students to apply for other courses without rejecting their confirmed offers, but this service was discontinued.
You’re in Clearing
If you’re in Clearing (whether by rejecting your firm/insurance offer or because you didn’t achieve the required grades), you can browse the available places using the UCAS Clearing Search tool. You can also click the ‘See matches’ button to see suggested courses based on your profile and previous application, which can help to narrow down your options. This feature is called Clearing Matches (and was previously called Clearing Plus).
How to add a Clearing choice on UCAS Hub#
To add a Clearing choice on UCAS Hub, you must first have received a verbal offer from the university’s admissions department (we’ve covered this in more detail in our Clearing guide).
Once you’ve got this, follow these steps to add your Clearing choice in UCAS Hub:
Log in to UCAS Hub.
Navigate to the ‘Your Choices’ section.
Click the ‘Add Clearing Choice’ button.
Enter the course details, such as the course code and title, university, and course start date.
Submit your application – note that this counts as accepting the informal offer from the university.
You can only add one Clearing choice at a time, but if your UCAS Clearing application is rejected, you’re free to apply for another course by adding another Clearing choice in UCAS Hub.
Self-releasing into Clearing via UCAS Hub#
Clearing is also an option for students with a firm UCAS offer who want to explore other courses or universities. If you no longer want to accept your firm offer, you can ‘self-release’ into Clearing, allowing you to apply for available places on other courses.
When you self-release, your firm and insurance offers are cancelled. It’s important to note that this decision is irreversible, so make sure you have a verbal offer from another university before self-releasing. Research your options first and talk to universities so you’re absolutely sure you want to proceed.
If you’re sure you want to self-release into Clearing, follow these steps:
1. Log in to UCAS Hub.
2. Find your application with the firm offer.
3. Click the ‘Decline my place’ button.
4. UCAS Hub will now outline what this means for you. Answer the question to confirm your decision.
You will now receive an email confirming that you’re officially in Clearing, meaning you can now add a Clearing choice or continue exploring your options.
Next steps: Beyond the UCAS Hub#
Once you’ve confirmed your university place through UCAS Hub, there are three important next steps:
Accommodation: Finding student accommodation is your first priority after accepting an offer, as places fill up fast. Check whether your university guarantees accommodation, and use StudentCrowd’s tool to compare accommodation options – you can even reserve a room through StudentCrowd.
Student finance: Next, update your Student Finance account with your confirmed university and course details, as this can affect the loans and bursaries you’ll receive.
Moving preparations: Finally, start preparing to move into your new home, including sorting your travel arrangements and packing your bags.
Tips for parents and guardians using UCAS Hub#
While the UCAS Hub is designed for students, parents and guardians also play an important supporting role on results day. You should help the student to understand the process and provide guidance, but it’s important to let them lead.
As a parent or guardian, you’re also there to provide emotional reassurance to the student, and empower them to make the right decision for themselves. Remind them that temporary setbacks such as rejections or missed deadlines can be resolved with planning and a proactive response.
UCAS Hub success on results day 2025#
As results day unfolds, UCAS Hub is the key to staying on top of your options for going to university. Whatever happens, UCAS Hub is a powerful tool that gives you control over your decisions, for both reviewing and accepting your offers and navigating the Clearing process with confidence.
As you go through the processes we’ve discussed in UCAS Hub, you should try to stay calm and be proactive throughout. Even if you’re initially disappointed, there are great opportunities to find a course you’ll be happy with. If you are stressed or uncertain, there’s support available.
Above all, this is an exciting moment in your story. Whether you’re starting a new course, exploring alternative paths, or regrouping and thinking about future plans, each decision will shape your journey. Best of luck for results day and the start of uni life!
