My name is Olivia Apps, I am 44 years old and live near Milton Keynes. I am in my final year of the BSc Midwifery course with placements at Bedford Hospital.

I hadn't planned on applying through Clearing originally and had started a biology course in preparation for the Midwifery degree. I then decided to have a try to see if I could get a place sooner rather than waiting another year to start studying Midwifery as my previous job came to a natural end.

The Clearing process was very simple and straightforward. I found the admissions team to be very helpful and friendly, answering any questions I had. I was offered an online interview soon after applying and was really excited to be offered a place.

I have been lucky to have great Personal Academic Tutors who have all been approachable and supportive. Our cohort have encountered some challenges through the course but overall any issues have been resolved. 

Studying and being on placement has been a challenge financially but entirely possible. The NHS Learning Support Fund (with an extra £2,000 for parents) has helped with this. Some students manage a part-time job during the holidays to help support themselves financially. With a family, I prioritise spare time with them so just make sacrifices in other ways to save money.

The support and friendship from other students has been such a huge part of university. Our first year was predominantly online due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so we quickly created a WhatsApp group for the whole course and for the hospital site we were training at. This has been great for reminders, sharing ideas, tips and support. I would also recommend talking with students from other year groups at your local Hospital Trust as their experience is so helpful.

Do your research on the course you are applying for and – for those interested in healthcare courses – if possible do some volunteering at a local hospital to get a better idea of what might be involved in the role.