A record 541,240 students were accepted onto undergraduate courses this year as high offer rates, increased consideration of those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and improvements to Clearing give applicants more choice than ever before.

A record 1,250 talented performers from outside of the EU have applied through UCAS Conservatoires to study music from September 2020, up 25 per cent on last year, and the third straight year of sharp increases.

A record 23,710 people have applied to study medicine at university next September, up 6 per cent on last year.

More than a third of students applying to university are setting their sights higher after using the new UCAS Hub, which brings together information and advice on all their options for life after school in one dynamic place.

For the first time, more than a fifth of young people (20.4 per cent, 25,910 students) from the most disadvantaged backgrounds (POLAR4 quintile 1 ) across the UK have a confirmed place at university or college, slightly narrowing the gap between the most and least advantaged groups.