A-level results - what to do next if you didn't get the grades you wanted

A-level results - what to do next if you didn't get the grades you wanted Thousands of students picked up their A-level results this week - here is what you need to know next If there's a teenager in your house who's just had A-level results, I'm guessing money is not top of anyone's mind right now. Grades, university places, whether they've got into their firm choice... there is a lot to think about. But here's the thing: results day doesn't just decide where they're going. It kicks off a string of financial decisions that need to happen fast, and a lot of families haven't talked about any of them yet. So here's the conversation worth having, ideally as early as possible. The money clock starts the moment results land If your teen got the grades for their firm choice, that's brilliant news! But it's also the moment student finance stops being theoretical and starts being real. If they're going into Clearing instead, because they missed their grades or changed their mind, things move even faster: Clearing choices are already live on UCAS Hub and universities fill spaces on a first-come, first-served basis. Either way, the days immediately around results are not the time to be starting from scratch on the money side. Check student finance now If you haven't already applied for Student Finance, or you're not certain the application's actually gone through properly, check it today. Maintenance loan payments don't automatically appear the moment a place is confirmed. They need an approved application on file, and delays here are one of the most common reasons new students turn up at university with no money in their account in the first few weeks. If your teen's gone through Clearing and ended up somewhere different to their original choice, their Student Finance application will need updating too. This is genuinely easy to forget in the chaos of results week, and it can cause a real payment delay if it's not sorted quickly. The maintenance loan probably won't cover everything - and that's normal This is the bit that catches a lot of families out. The maintenance loan is means-tested and, for a lot of households, doesn't come close to covering rent, bills and food for a full year, particularly in cities with higher living costs. That's not a sign anyone's done anything wrong; it's just how the system's built. Worth having an honest conversation now about what the gap actually looks like, and how it'll be covered, rather than discovering it three weeks into freshers. It might be worth talking to your teen about extra income opportunities such as part-time work to keep control of their finances. A few practical things to sort this week ● Confirm accommodation as soon as a place is confirmed. Most universities hold rooms based on firm-choice deadlines, and delays can mean losing a spot in halls. ● Set a realistic weekly budget together before your teen leaves, covering food, essentials and a bit of a social life- not as a restriction, but so they're not guessing in week one. ● Look into a student bank account now. Many come with genuinely useful perks (0% overdrafts, railcards, sign-up cash), and it's worth comparing a few rather than taking the first one offered. You can find a rundown in our fresher’s finance guide. If things didn't go to plan If the grades didn't land the way your teen hoped, take a breath before doing anything. Clearing runs until 19 October, there's no need to make a panicked decision on the spot, and a place secured a day or two later through a considered choice is almost always better than one grabbed in a rush on the day itself. Whatever's happened this results day, the money side is manageable; it just needs a plan, ideally one you talk through together sooner rather than later.