Hazel Shearing
Education correspondent

We’ve just heard from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas), which says a record number of UK 18-year-olds have secured a place at their first choice of university.

Overall 228,990 18-year-olds have been accepted into their firm choice.

That's an increase from last year in terms of raw numbers.

But there's been a rise in the number of 18-year-olds in the UK, and the actual percentage of 18-year-old offer-holders who got into their first choice has fallen - from 82% to 79%.

Dr Jo Saxton, chief executive of Ucas, just told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that there were around 27,000 courses available in clearing.

"For those applicants who might be tearing open their results and not quite be getting what they hoped for, they can absolutely still go to university in the autumn if that’s what they would like to do," she says.

"There is lots and lots of choice."

She stressed that clearing is not just for people who didn't get the grades they needed to take up an offer - it is also used by applicants who want to "trade up" or change their mind and live closer to home, for example.

A moment ago, we reported that a quarter of a million students in the UK will be finding out shortly they have got an undergraduate place at university or college this year.

We can bring you more details on the figures:

• In total, 228,990 UK 18-year-olds have been accepted at their first (UCAS ‘firm’) choice of university or college - an increase of 1% on last year - while 31,770 have been placed at their insurance choice today

That figure translates to 79% of 18-year-olds from England, Wales and Northern Ireland who had received an offer and got their decision this morning have secured their 'firm' choice. While an additional 13% have got their insurance choice.

The clock has struck 8am and students across the country are opening their exam results.

The Ucas hub is expected to update shortly at around 08:15 and will confirm if pupils have made their offer for university.

Stick with us as we bring you more details on the national picture and speak to students about their next steps.

Ucas chief executive Jo Saxton has told the BBC a quarter of a million UK school and college leavers are "getting their place at university today" - calling it a "really good picture".

Image source, Getty Images

The government will take action to prevent university courses which are not a good investment from expanding, according to skills minister Jacqui Smith.

Smith tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme the government will make sure future increases to tuition fees are linked to the quality of what is provided by universities.

"For most people going to university is a very good and important investment in their future earning potential and in their life," she says.

The results students are receiving today follow an "enormous amount of hard work", Smith says, adding that it's important young people have "the opportunities to take the sort of pathways that will build on their strengths".

She says the government will improve the way students learn from age 14 so that if pupils want to focus on more practical skills they have the opportunity to do so.

Our panel of experts will be on hand throughout the day to answer your questions on anything you're unsure of.

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In less than an hour's time, students across the country will be ripping open envelopes and refreshing their emails to get those long-awaited A-level, T-level, Btec and Level 3 results.

Here's a few things to remember while you wait:

• Keep calm: You can't change the contents of that envelope now. A missed grade isn't the end of the world - you have plenty of options

• Know who to speak to: Keep contact details close to hand for your school or college, as well as universities and the clearing helpline

• University isn't the only route: Remember: the world is your oyster. An apprenticeship, job, gap year, travel or volunteering opportunity might sound like a better next step for you

• Make sure you have login details ready: If you are hoping to go to university Ucas should start updating at around 08:00 BST, letting you know if you've made your offer. Ahead of time make sure you know your Ucas sign-in details and personal ID
• Give yourself time and space: Getting your results can be very stressful. It's fine to take a step back and have a break from social media and WhatsApp

Hazel Shearing
Education correspondent

This morning another record number of students are expected to find out they have secured a place at their first choice of university.

The cost of going to university has been in the spotlight this year, with mounting pressure on the government to reform student loan repayments, and there has been a renewed focus on technical education under Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

The chief executive of Universities UK, which represents more than 140 vice-chancellors, has urged students to not "let politicians make your decision for you".

Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, says she's concerned that "people talking [university] down" could "put off" potential students from the least-advantaged backgrounds.

She urged students to "make the right decision for you", adding: "Don't let politicians make your decision for you."

Here's a quick guide to the different qualifications people are receiving today:

• A-levels: Traditional academic route where you study classroom-based subjects like English, Maths, History or the sciences. You typically take three A-levels and there's over 40 subjects to choose from
• BTecs: Practical qualification in a vocational subject like construction or health and social care with exams, coursework and sometimes placements - gradually being phased out and replaced with other vocational routes
• T-levels: Technical qualification focused on understanding one industry, such as accounting or marketing - a mix of classroom study and hands-on experience

• Apprenticeship: Paid work where you learn on the job while also working towards a qualification

Image source, Getty Images

• 08:00: Results are released - but check what time your school or college opens if you plan to collect them in person
• 08:15: Applied to university? The Ucas hub will update around this time, confirming whether you've met your offer

• If you miss your grades, don't panic. Other university places are available through clearing, with phone lines opening from 8:00

• 09:30: We'll get a picture of the national results, along with information from the Department for Education on T-levels
• 13:00: Once you've secured a place through clearing, you can add it to the online Ucas portal

Freya Scott-Turner
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

For thousands of students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the anxious wait is nearly over.

In just under two hours, you will be ripping open envelopes, refreshing your emails or heading into schools and colleges to get those long-awaited A-level, T-level, BTec and Level 3 course results.

For some of you, this might be the stepping stone to an apprenticeship or a place at university, others might be entering the world of work or taking a year out.

It's completely normal to be feeling nervous, but we'll be bringing you some tips and tricks to help you along the way.

We've got journalists in schools around the country who will be speaking to students about their results and hopes for the future.

And if things don't quite go your way today, we'll also be bringing you expert advice about what your options are (and there are many).

Class of 2026, good luck!