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UEL set for record numbers of applicants on first day of Clearing

Wednesday 15 August 2007

University of East London (UEL) is preparing for a flood of applicants through Clearing, the summer university recruitment ‘window’ which opens with the announcement of A-level results on Thursday 16 August.

UEL has experienced strong growth in applications throughout the year. The number of prospective students who have firmly accepted offers of places at UEL is already running well ahead of 2006, itself a record year for enrolment.

From the moment the hotlines open at 8am tomorrow, over 100 tutors and admissions staff will be busy processing applications and answering enquiries from prospective students. Visitors to UEL’s on-campus Applicant Information Centres will receive one-to-one attention from academic staff, specialist advisers and student ambassadors.

Places are still available on a wide variety of programmes, but popular degrees are expected to fill up fast.

Emma Burchfield, Acting Head of Admissions at UEL, said: “We are expecting it to be incredibly busy, but we are well set up to handle the process. It is our job to make it as easy as possible for students to get the information they need and hopefully get on the courses they want!

“The advice we give applicants is ‘act swiftly, but don’t panic’. In our experience, even students who didn’t get top grades at A-level can go on to succeed at university and in their future careers because attitude and potential are just as important as qualifications. At UEL, you will be able to talk to people who understand what you are going through and can offer practical help.”

Students coming to UEL through Clearing can also benefit from a generous package of scholarships and bursaries. A number of £1000 Achievement Scholarships are on offer to applicants showing exceptional achievement, and progress bursaries worth £500 will be awarded to all students who successfully complete their first semester and continue on into their second.

Annabelle Satchwell, who recently completed a BTEC National Diploma in Dance, has now secured a UEL Achievement Scholarship and will begin on our exciting new BA (Hons) degree in Dance this September.

“It’s great to have been awarded this scholarship,” said Annabelle. “It’s definitely going to help me to manage my finances, and it’s also a really nice confidence boost. Now I just can’t wait to move in and start working my degree.”

UEL also offers two-year Foundation Degrees and extended degree programmes in fields including architecture and visual arts, computing, engineering and science. This means that students who lack the necessary qualifications for direct entry to degree programmes can join a foundation ‘year zero’ rather than going back to school or college.

There are currently over 20,000 students enrolled at UEL, representing an 80% increase over the past 5 years.

Professor Martin Everett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of East London, said: “Applications have been very strong this year, showing that we are increasingly seen as a first-choice university, not only locally, but nationally and internationally as well.”

UEL’s Clearing Hotlines are open from Thursday 16 August until Friday 14 September, seven days a week.

For full details of all programmes and up-to-date availability of places, contact 020 8223 3333 or log on to www.uel.ac.uk/clearing.

UEL students who came through Clearing last year include:

Gemma Moody secured her place on UEL’s Combined Honours degree in Photography and Journalism in August 2006. “It was a pretty simple process and the UEL staff were all very helpful”, she said.

“Things have worked out really well so far; living on campus was fun and the teaching's been great. This year I’ve been involved in a group photography exhibition in Mayfair and enjoyed a successful work experience placement at a leading PR company in central London.”

Alan Gooding (19), of Wanstead, obtained a place on our extended BSc (Hons) degree in Sports Coaching through Clearing in August 2006. Alan, who gained a BTEC in Sports and Exercise Science from Redbridge College, said: “I came through Clearing simply because I didn’t get round to applying before the UCAS deadline.

“UEL was always my first choice because it’s close to home and one of the few universities in the UK to offer a Sports Coaching degree. With the Olympics coming to East London in 2012, there should definitely be a lot of exciting opportunities in the field.

“I was a bit nervous about coming through Clearing, but it was incredibly easy and everything’s worked out brilliantly. The first year of my degree offers a wide variety of modules and allows you to get a good overall understanding of the basics of Sports Coaching. I’ve particularly enjoyed the psychology and human movement aspects, and I’ve met a great bunch of like-minded friends.

“The tutors have been extremely helpful too; very approachable and always available. It’s definitely a very different relationship from what I knew at school. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the degree and hopefully going on to a career as either a professional football coach or a secondary school PE teacher.”

Dale Glen (19), of Canterbury, found a place on our BA (Hons) degree in Product Design through Clearing in 2006. Dale, who took A-levels in Psychology, Film Studies and Product Design, was one grade away from his first choice university’s requirements, but is now very happy with the way things worked out.

Dale said: “Naturally, I was a bit disappointed when I got my results, but the important thing was there were still plenty of options available, and UEL turned out to be a wonderful choice.

“I went to an open evening at the Docklands campus and was extremely impressed by the modern facilities and friendly environment. The Clearing process itself was all very easy; I exchanged a couple of e-mails with the head of Product Design, who quickly accepted me on to the course.

“So far, the degree’s been excellent and I’m really enjoying life at UEL. The tutors are great, and I really like the fact that the classes are small and we get a lot of one-to-one tuition. I lived in the new Student Village, which has wonderful views of the dock, and I’ve been playing for the rugby team and working in the Student Union bar – I can’t wait for the brand-new one to open in September!

“Things have worked out really well. It just goes to show that, even if you don’t get the results that you wanted, Clearing can still offer places on fantastic degrees.”

Natalie Moore (19), of Islington, was on holiday in Italy when she found out her A-level results in August 2006. She got B, C, D – just one grade short of her first choice’s requirements – but, after they were unable to confirm that she still had a place, Natalie decide to apply to the University of East London (UEL) through Clearing. She has now completed the first year of her BSc (Hons) degree in Psychology, based at UEL’s Stratford Campus.

Natalie said: “Being abroad, I was really keen to get everything sorted out quickly, and I wasn’t very impressed with the way that the first university were dealing with my situation. When I called UEL, the staff were much more friendly and polite; within fifteen minutes I’d accepted a place. It was a real relief to have that security, and I went back to enjoying my trip.

“This year at UEL has been great. I really like the people – there’s a wonderful mix of different cultures – and the degree’s been even better than I thought it would be. All my modules have been interesting in their own way, and I’m particularly looking forward to learning about the clinical psychology of mental health, which is the field that I’d like to go in to.

“For anyone who finds themselves in the same situation, I’d definitely advise them to try going through Clearing. It’s really nothing to be scared of; it’s a very easy process, and it’d be stupid to miss out on a place at university just because you’re feeling a bit disappointed.”

Ends/.

For details and pictures contact Patrick Wilson: 020 8223 2061 or 07951 797 975

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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