As we prepare to welcome this year’s new students, find out more about the Confirmation and Clearing activities that go on behind the scenes on A-Level Results Day.
Every August, students across the country receive the A-level results they’ve been working towards for years - a moment that can bring relief, joy, or disappointment. For those hoping to join UCL, their journey often begins with a phone call or webchat with one of our staff or volunteers.
This year, UCL’s Clearing and Confirmation contact centre, staffed by colleagues from Admissions alongside volunteers from across the university, handled more than 9,000 calls and over 1,000 webchats. At peak times, that meant a call almost every 30 seconds, showing just how responsive and student-focused our operation is.
One volunteer, Amanroop Rahal, Senior Communications Manager within VPEE, described the experience as extremely rewarding:
" The training from the Admissions Team in advance of the day was thorough and supportive, and from the moment I joined, I felt part of something much bigger - helping young people as they take their next step in life. On the day, all the volunteers were genuinely excited to be there. I spoke to so many hopeful voices who were reassessing their options, all’united by their desire to make UCL part of their story. It was a powerful reminder of the university’s purpose and impact."
What happens after Results Day?
Although A-level Results Day is a milestone, the work of Admissions doesn’t end there. In fact, the weeks that follow are some of the busiest of the year.
Even after Clearing closed on 19 August, our Admissions team continued to:
- Issue offers and process results from a wide range of qualifications beyond A-levels.
- Verify academic qualifications to ensure every student meets UCL’s entry requirements.
- Produce supporting documentation for visas, enabling international students to join us on time.
- Respond to applicant queries and provide guidance to help students navigate the final steps of joining UCL.
For undergraduate applicants, the deadline to meet offer conditions was 31 August, while postgraduate applications (for those not requiring a visa) remained open until 29 August.
Reflecting on this activity, James Ackroyd, Executive Director of Student Recruitment & Admissions, said:
At the end of what has been, overall, a very successful student recruitment and admissions cycle, we would like to express our sincere gratitude. Whether you’re part of the admissions or student recruitment teams, a faculty colleague, a volunteer call handler on A-level results day, or a colleague in one of the many professional services teams supporting essential tasks behind the scenes, your hard work and dedication have been central to delivering this year’s Confirmation, Clearing, and Postgraduate admissions activity. We simply could not have reached our current recruitment position without your hard work and dedication. We are incredibly grateful for your support."
Colleagues can explore detailed undergraduate and postgraduate recruitment data through Tableau.
Welcoming new students to UCL this month
With term just around the corner, new students are now beginning to enrol and join the UCL community. Every staff member has a role to play in helping them feel at home.
Resources and events include:
Student Welcome and Induction SharePoint - staff hub with key information, FAQs, and resources to share with students.
Students’ Union UCL Welcome Fest 2025 - a week of events to help students settle in and meet their new community.
As we move from results day to the start of term, thank you once again to everyone across UCL who has helped make this year’s recruitment and admissions cycle such a success.
- University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT (0) 20 7679 2000
