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Clearing a path to success – UEL set for record numbers of applicants on Thursday 14 August

Tuesday 5 August 2008

The University of East London (UEL) is preparing for a flood of applications through Clearing, the late summer round of student recruitment, which opens with the announcement of A-level results on Thursday 14 August.

From the second the hotlines open at 8am, over a hundred UEL tutors and admissions staff will be processing applications and answering enquiries from thousands of potential students. Places are still available on a wide range of programmes, from Fashion Design to Forensic Science, but popular degrees are expected to fill up fast.

Visitors to UEL’s on-campus Application and Advice Centres at Docklands and Stratford will receive one-to-one attention from academics, specialist advisers and student ambassadors.

Emma Burchfield, Head of Student Admissions at UEL, said: “We're expecting it to be incredibly busy, but we're well set up to handle the process. It’s 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’. There are so many reasons why people apply during Clearing – some do better than expected at A-level, making a degree a realistic option; others simply change their mind about the course they wish to study; and some don't quite achieve their original offer requirements.

“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, prospective students will be able to talk to people who understand what they’re 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 limited number of £1000 UEL Achievement Scholarships are still available, and progress bursaries worth £500 will be awarded to all students who successfully complete their first semester and continue on into their second.

UEL also offers two-year Foundation Degrees and extended degree programmes in fields including architecture, visual arts, computing, engineering and science. This means that students who do not have the qualifications required for direct entry to degree programmes can join a foundation ‘year zero’ rather than going back to school or college.

UEL’s Clearing Hotlines are open weekdays from Thursday 14 August until Friday 19 September. The lines will also be open on Saturday 16, Sunday 17 and Saturday 23 August from 10am to 4pm. For full details of all programmes and up-to-date availability of places, call 020 8223 3333 or log on to www.uel.ac.uk/clearing.

UEL students who came through Clearing last year include:

Shelima Alom (20), of Manor Park, found a place on UEL’s BA (Hons) degree in Business Studies in September 2007. Shelima previously achieved a triple distinction in her National Diploma in Business Studies at Redbridge College. 

Shelima said: “I originally applied to two other universities, but there was a major misunderstanding over the GCSEs that I needed, which led to me wasting a great deal of time. In the end, I didn’t apply through Clearing until the middle of September, and was very relieved when UEL offered me a place.

“It’s turned out to be a really good decision. UEL’s got a diverse student community and I’ve made friends from all over the world. The new library, which is in the same building as the Business School, is really impressive, and the lecturers are all very helpful – you can reach them at any time via web-mail.”

Rashidat Lawer (20), of Tooting, was accepted onto UEL’s Combined Honours degree in Journalism with Creative and Professional Writing after applying through Clearing last August

Rashidat said: “I’d been accepted by another university, but at the last minute decided to change to UEL instead. I’d been there before and was really impressed by the Docklands campus – it just felt like somewhere I’d be comfortable.   

“Applying through Clearing was amazingly simple – I called up the hotline, gave my grades and a few other details and it was all over in under five minutes. In retrospect, it's been a great decision; I’ve really enjoyed the first year of my course and everything’s working out well. I’m very happy that I re-applied through Clearing, and can’t wait to start again in September.”

For details and pictures contact Daniel Cherry: 020 8223 2194

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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