Read about the experiences of some of our students who joined through Clearing.
Jesamine Corran - BSc Rural Land Management
I did a BTEC in equine management at Bishop Burton College and had always thought that I would go on to university. But then Covid hit and I decided that I didn’t want to do any more studying so I started working as a groom.
I worked on quite a few different yards – including at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire which was amazing – but, while I really loved the job, I realised that there isn’t necessarily any progression in that career and I knew it wasn’t something I wanted to be doing for the rest of my life.
I decided I need to push myself but, when I started looking for jobs, I realised that I would need a degree to get the sort of job I wanted so I went back to my original plan of applying to uni.
I applied to the RAU, and a few other universities, through Clearing. I was offered a place at both the RAU and Harper Adams but I chose the RAU and I’m so pleased I did.
I’ve really enjoyed my time here and have made some great friends. I can’t believe I’m about to head into my final year.
I would like to work as a Land Agent and, over Easter, I did my work placement with Savills which was a really great experience.
I would advise anyone out there who is thinking about applying through Clearing to look into it and make sure you are really interested in the degree that is being offered.
Give it a go – you’ve got nothing to lose and perhaps everything to gain!
George Holden - BSc Business Management (Professional placement year)
I took a gap year after sixth form and then, at the end of that, I applied to study Business Management at both the RAU and Harper Adams.
I was offered a place at both unis but I chose Harper Adams. It’s only about 20 minutes away from home and I knew it a bit, as I had done a few things there while I was at school, so that was where I thought I wanted to go. I was planning to live at home and commute to uni.
But then I came to the RAU campus – to help my friend, who is a student at the RAU, to move in - the day before I was due to start at Harper.
That was the first time I’d visited the campus and, as soon as I saw the RAU, I knew that was where I wanted to be.
I think Harper was just too close to home and, having seen the RAU campus, I decided that I really wanted to experience living on campus.
I contacted the RAU the following day to see if there was availability on the course I wanted and any accommodation on campus. Luckily there was both and I was offered a place which I accepted straight away. I was even able to get a room in Coad Court which is where I wanted to be.
Everyone I spoke to at the RAU through the whole process was great and really helpful. It was all really easy. It took about 10 days before I eventually got here and started my course but as soon as I arrived on campus, and moved into my room, I knew that this was right and where I wanted to be.
If anyone out there is considering Clearing I would tell them to just go for it! You might think it’s a lengthy process – and it does take a few days to get everything sorted – but the RAU made it really easy for me and, in the end, it’s so much better to be in the place you want to be.
Callum Clement - BSc Business Management
Having done my A levels at Sixth Form, I took a gap year which I had always planned to do.
I had accepted a place at Cardiff Met to study Sports Business Management but, in the summer of my gap year, I decided I wanted to change to study straight Business Management.
I tried to change course at Cardiff Met but they couldn’t accommodate that so I had to rethink. I looked around and the saw that the RAU offered Business Management and it appealed as it is right on my doorstep which meant I could still work while I studied and also I could still live at home.
I was getting really late and it was all a bit of a scramble but, when I called the RAU, everyone I spoke to was really helpful and gave me everything I needed.
They were even able to get me in for an Open Day so I could see the campus before I joined. I really liked that as it is a quiet small campus which is exactly what I wanted.
Luckily, because my A level grades were OK and there was space on the course, I was offered a place only about two to three days after I put in my Clearing application.
I think some people initially think that there is a stigma to applying to uni through Clearing and might find it a bit embarrassing but there really isn’t. If you’re thinking about it – stop thinking and just do it!
It doesn’t matter at all how you get there but what really matters is that you get onto the course you want at a uni you are happy with.