Clearing success stories: Single mum who entered higher education through Clearing
A single mother has urged fellow students to ‘go for it’ with the Clearing process.
During the Clearing period (July – October) we will be sharing stories of students who gained places through Clearing.
Lisa Varley, 38, went through Clearing at the University of Bradford in 2020, gaining a place on our BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance course.
She opted for Bradford because it was close to her Liversedge home, where she lives with her daughter, Molly, nine.
Lisa (pictured with her daughter below) recalls her experience of Clearing at Bradford: “I applied through Clearing in 2020, the process was very quick. I was surprised how quickly I heard back after experiencing a long drawn-out application process with my first choice university, which turned out in the end I would never have been accepted by them due to their criteria.
“I was almost immediately offered a foundation year course by the University of Bradford with reassurance that I would likely be able to progress onto the undergraduate course following completion. The process was really simple and straightforward and I accepted without hesitation.
“My main priority was close proximity to home, meaning I was still able to meet my commitments as a single parent without my child's routine being impacted too much.”
She left school in 2002 following her GCSEs and went straight into the workplace, gaining some accounting qualifications between 2015 and 2020. Before enrolling on her course at the University of Bradford in 2020, Lisa had worked in a host of finance and management positions. After being made redundant during the pandemic, and with her daughter in her first year at school, Lisa returned to studying aged 34.
Embrace any opportunity
Lisa had advice for anyone looking to go through Clearing at the University of Bradford this year. She said: “Go for it and embrace any opportunity that comes your way.
“Ideally, I would have entered my degree straight away but the foundation year was so valuable. Especially for me, because I had been out of education for so long.
“I have always found the university more than meets expectations and I think it's what you make it. I have met so many interesting people who I would never have otherwise met.”
Chance to progress
After graduating in 2024, Lisa is juggling her career with parenthood.
She said: “I am self-employed, offering accounting services, mostly in the charity sector. This is something I am passionate about and now having the extra skills and knowledge allows me to offer additional support and services which I would not have been able to previously.
“The role works well for me and my personal situation and offers opportunities for progression when my daughter is a little older.”
Further information on Clearing
Clearing is part of the UCAS application system and it runs from July 5 through to October 21.
It is an opportunity for prospective students to find a place at university or college and applies to a wide range of people, from students who may already have results from the previous year to those who have changed their mind about a course or who have not received the grades they expected (whether those are lower or higher).
It is especially useful for those who want to reconsider their options after they receive their A-level results.
Apply online or call 0808 196 9129