Preparations for Confirmation and Clearing 2025 are well underway.
A key part of this preparation is ensuring that, as an organisation, we are results embargo ready. This means that no results, or communications about decisions based on results, are shared outside of the University during the results embargo period. Breaching the embargo runs the risk of universities not receiving advanced and privileged access to candidate results, thus rendering it impossible for the national admissions system to operate in the way it does now.
To support universities in their preparations for being results embargo ready, UCAS provide an embargo online training module.
When is the results embargo?
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) results have two separate dates, and as such there are two results embargo periods:
- SQA results embargo: 18:00 Monday 28 July – 09:00 Tuesday 5 August
- JCQ results embargo: 08:00 Friday 8 August – 08:00 Thursday 14 August
Given the short gap in between embargo periods, internally, this will be operationalised as one embargo?period. The internal embargo period?will commence at the start of the first embargo – 18:00 on 28 July – and continue until the end of the second embargo – 08:00 on 14 August.
How do I access the UCAS online 2025 results embargo training?
The training is hosted on UoS Blackboard and can be access using this direct link: Embargo Training for Confirmation & Clearing. The training should take approximately 20 minutes to complete. At the end of the training, please ensure you follow the steps to record your completion of the course. You should aim to complete the training as soon as possible, but certainly no later than Monday 21 July.
Tip: You may find it useful to use a Microsoft Edge browser to access the course on Blackboard, as it seems to be less reliable on Chrome.
Who needs to do the online results embargo training?
All staff involved in undergraduate admissions and recruitment related activity should complete the training. However, it is advisable for other staff, such as those occupying technical or student focused roles to also complete the course. This is an anxious time of year for our applicants and they can contact us through a variety of channels. Sometimes even well-meaning communications can result in a breach. It is therefore important that as many staff as possible from across the university undertake the training to raise awareness and minimise the chances of an embargo breach.
I did the training last year, do I have to do it again?
Yes. UCAS have made further improvements to the training for 2025 based on provider feedback, so even if you have completed the training in previous years, you should still undertake this year’s course. This is an annual activity and it is easy to forget crucial details, even for the most experienced staff.
Is there any other training available?
Yes, there is. UCAS have widened the selection of training courses available this year. These courses have been split into two folders; Additional Training and Further Training for Admissions Staff. Both folders can be found on the Blackboard site.
For further information join the Confirmation and Clearing Teams site.