My Clearing story

Lloyd Townsend always knew he wanted to work in finance, and in 2020 he applied to the University of Salford through Clearing to study BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance with Professional Experience. Within 10 days of calling the Clearing hotline, he was moving into halls. Now, having completed a one-year placement at Unilever, Lloyd is on track to achieve a first-class degree. 

He says: “2020 was an incredibly challenging time for me. The job market for college-leavers pretty much dried up overnight. It was coming to the end of the summer, and I had a change in circumstances – plus all my friends were getting ready to go to university – so I thought, why not apply through Clearing? 

“One of my best friends was already at Salford and was incredibly impressed, and having a great time living in the city, which really resonated with me. It was September and I was late in applying, but after calling the Clearing line I was moving into halls less than two weeks later. I couldn’t have asked for an easier or more straightforward process. I literally just gave my A-level grades, shared a bit about myself, and I was made a provisional offer shortly after. 

“While I applied to Salford in the heat of the moment, it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The support I’ve received from my lecturers and other staff has been second-to-none. From helping me find the right accommodation, to getting part-time work in industry, and the guidance I received for my placement applications – it’s been invaluable. My confidence has grown massively and the independence I’ve gained has been amazing. I’ve discovered so much about myself through my university experience, and I would absolutely recommend the Clearing route to anybody.” 

After deciding to embark on a career change, Rebecca Connor applied to the University of Salford through Clearing to study BSc (Hons) Prosthetics and Orthotics. Three years later, she landed a job as a Graduate Prosthetist – at the organisation she worked for on placement.  

Rebecca says: “I applied to university for the first time in Clearing. I had been working in an office job but realised I wanted a more meaningful role, so I decided to study prosthetics and orthotics.  

“The course at Salford has lots of practical components, plus two long placements that allowed me to get good hands-on knowledge. Post-graduation job opportunities were very important to me, and the employment rate after completing the course was high. 

“Before I applied, I was really excited about the opportunity this could bring. I was kept regularly updated after I’d applied, so I felt at ease. I also had regular contact with the course admissions lead, who was so helpful and kind! 

Reflecting on her time at Salford, Rebecca says doing her final placement was one of her best experiences so far: “My last placement in orthotics was in London, so I was working in a new city, with a new team of clinicians. While I was there, I took part in lots of clinics and helped the rehabilitation of ward patients who’d experienced brain injuries or strokes. I loved being part of the team – sometimes it was a new team every day! It really pushed me to develop as a clinician and made me realise how rewarding the work is.” 

If you have a question about studying any of our courses, or you’d like to learn more about joining the University of Salford, contact our friendly team today on 0161 295 4545 or enquiries@salford.ac.uk.