The University’s 2020 Clearing campaign coincides as usual with England’s A Level results day (13^th August) but this year things are very different, thanks to the disruption and uncertainty brought about by Covid19.

Understandably lots of school leavers have been left worried about making the grade for their first university choice, or are now considering Higher Education after their dreams of a gap year job or travelling the world have disappeared. Some teenagers are even reconsidering their chosen course after witnessing people in certain roles during the pandemic who have inspired them to change their career path.

“Clearing is just another useful tool to help you get to university.”

A student who contacted Bedfordshire’s Clearing team in 2018 has shared her experience and hopes it will reassure students about the positives of applying through Clearing.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Megan Murphy. I’m 20 years old and have just finished my second year studying Radio & Audio at the University of Bedfordshire.

Why did you decide to go through clearing?

I am from Jersey in the Channel Islands. We don’t have an official university back home so if we (students) decide we want to go to university, we have to move to the UK or abroad to do so.

Due to a lack in student grants offered to me by the Jersey Government, I wasn’t eligible for a sufficient amount of student finance which would allow me to study in central London. I also didn’t have any access to additional funding through the University of Westminster (where I had originally applied to go).

That’s how I found myself talking to the Clearing team at the University of Bedfordshire. I explained my situation to them and they helped me access bursaries that I was eligible for, enabling me to pursue my dream of studying at Beds.

How did you feel on the day?

Clearing is a stressful time for any student but my experience was made a lot easier through regular talks with Beds staff on the phone and through email contact. They talked me through the whole process and what I needed to do to successfully confirm my place.

I was also able to speak with my future lecturers who helped to explain the course in much finer detail which was a big selling point for me. This extra help put me at ease and made me feel a lot more comfortable throughout the whole experience.

Are you happy with your choice to come through Clearing?

Yes, I’m very happy with my decision. I’m doing really well at Beds and have settled into my studies. I’m glad I chose a university which understood my personal circumstances and chose to help me succeed in my goals, rather than appear unable to help at all.

The University of Bedfordshire has been so helpful throughout my time here, helping me with any issues and queries I've had so far.

What advice do you have for students entering Clearing this year?

Stay calm, do your research and talk to people. I personally found it very beneficial to talk to the University’s student support team over the phone as it helped me gain a better insight into what I was applying for, in terms of both my chosen course and the whole student experience.

Also, using platforms such as The Student Room (or even Twitter!) to see what other students are doing, works wonders if you are confused or left unsure on what to do.

I’d finally say, don’t view clearing as the negative thing it’s sometimes portrayed to be. At the end of the day, it’s just another useful tool to help you get to university which is the most important thing.

The University of Bedfordshire’s Clearing campaign kicks off on Thursday 13^th August 2020, with phone lines open and live web chat available from 7am. The dedicated support team will be on hand to discuss course options, funding, accommodation and queries about ‘blended’ learning and student life.

Call the Clearing team on 0300 3300 703. Further information can be found online: www.beds.ac.uk/clearing

Become a Beds Clearing VIP; register for a range of exclusive benefits & content and we’ll call you on results day! 📲 Find out more here: https://t.co/Sl4gnPbWTf #UniofBeds #Clearing #Clearing2020 pic.twitter.com/Bo6bafgjgA

— uniofbeds (@uniofbeds) August 4, 2020