Clearing 2021: From PR to Physio, Clearing gave me a second chance

Mon 16 August, 2021

A first year Physiotherapy student at the University of Bedfordshire has shared her Clearing story and described why she chose to study for a second time at Beds, which involved her securing a Merit Scholarship.

Applying to university isn’t just for people who have recently received their A Levels or BTEC results. Higher Education is open to all adults, with more and more mature students deciding to study for the first time, or retrain in a different area in order to change their career.

One student who utilised the University’s Clearing team is Dionne, a mature student who already holds one degree from Beds but wanted to retrain to become a Physiotherapist. Ordinarily, as a second time student she wouldn’t have qualified for student finance, but thanks to the support and advice of the Clearing operator she was able to apply for available funding.

Dionne was also able to benefit from the University’s Merit Scholarship which is available to all students who apply with more than 112 UCAS tariff points.

Read on to find out how Clearing provided her with clarity in a stressful situation…

My name is Dionne Jules, I am 40 and from Enfield, North London. I am a first year BSc Physiotherapy student.

I'd accepted an offer from another university but (because of the chaos of Covid) there was concern that I wouldn't meet the offer requirements by the deadline, so my offer was withdrawn at the last moment. Although this was initially devastating, I knew that the University of Bedfordshire were possibly going to be offering a Physiotherapy degree starting that academic year, so I got in touch with their Clearing team and made an application!

I was offered an online interview the very next day and offered a place on the course the following day. While the original university did agree to reinstate my offer if my qualifications came through in time, I decided that Beds would be my first choice in the end.

I'd previously graduated from the University of Bedfordshire in 2006 with a BA in Public Relations. The fact that I'd had such a good experience at Bedfordshire really swayed my choice, as well as the small 2020 Physiotherapy cohort and the enthusiasm and warmth of the course Leads who interviewed me during the Clearing process.

After becoming a personal trainer and a Pilates instructor, I developed a massive interest in rehabilitation and a desire to study Physiotherapy but I was concerned that university study wouldn’t be a possibility for me due to financial restraints, as (because I already have a degree) I wouldn't ordinarily qualify for student finance.

However, after finding out that as Physiotherapy is an Allied Health degree I would be able to get full student finance for a second degree, I completed an Access to Science Diploma to meet the entry requirements of a Physiotherapy degree. As well as student funding I was also lucky to benefit from the new NHS grant, available to all Allied Health students from September 2020. On top of this I was also awarded a Merit Scholarship from the University of Bedfordshire.

After graduating I hope to begin my career as a qualified Physiotherapist in 2023!

If, like Dionne, you fancy changing your career path and want to retrain in a new field, then pick up the phone and dial the University’s Clearing hotline to discuss your options.

The University of Bedfordshire’s Clearing team is on hand to discuss courses, funding, accommodation, student support and any queries about Beds’ different campuses. Give the Clearing Hotline a call today on 0300 3300 073 or apply online 24/7.

Visit our Clearing page