The 12 most searched-for UK universities on A-Level Results Day 2026, based on Google Trends

It’s A-Level Results Day, which means thousands of stressed students are frantically searching up different universities and attempting to get into one through clearing. But, which universities are people Googling the most? Where is especially popular?

Here are the 12 UK universities which people are searching for the most on A-Level Results Day, based on Google Trends data from the four hours after A-Level grades come out.

=9. University of Exeter, University of Leeds, University of Liverpool, University of Nottingham

Exeter students braving the annual Enchanted Garden Ball

Google search for these four universities is up 400 per cent. They are all prestigious Russell Group universities, so it’s not a shock that many people are searching them up and trying to claw their way in through clearing.

8. Loughborough University

450 per cent more people are searching for it than usual. Loughborough isn’t as famous as some of the other unis on this list, but it has great graduate prospects and student satisfaction scores.

7. Newcastle University

You might want to pack some dress-up outfits ready for sports night

Newcastle is a Russell Group uni, and it has decent nightlife! A rare combination. No wonder it’s popular today.

6. University of York

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650 per cent more people than usual are Googling the University of York. Hmmm, perhaps they all want to see pictures of the ducks.

5. University of Surrey

Search is up by 750 per cent. I too just searched up the Uni of Surrey to see what the fuss was about. Surrey has places on a huge 283 different courses available through UCAS clearing.

=3. University of Southampton and the University of Leicester

Southampton’s rather imposting Hartley Library
(Credit: Iamtheabelman via Creative Commons)

Soton is in the Russell Group, while Leicester isn’t. Google search for both is up by 800 per cent this morning, though.

2. City St George’s, University of London

1,400 per cent more people are searching for City than usual. Perhaps they’re all Googling why the name is so long?

1. Royal Holloway, University of London

Woah, I never would have guessed that Royal Holloway would be the most popular uni on A-Level Results Day. Search is up by a huge 1,500 per cent. Royal Holloway has lots of clearing places up for grabs across 24 different subject areas.

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