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Clearing may appear a bit daunting for some, but for Business Economics and Risk Management MSc student Mayuran Mariyathas, it’s a chance to share his successful experience with prospective students. 

Having joined Â鶹´«Ã½ Leicester (Â鶹´«Ã½) through Clearing in 2016, Mayuran has now come full circle and is manning the university’s Clearing hotline, helping university applicants discover their ideal course.

Â鶹´«Ã½ has recently opened its Clearing hotline and is encouraging potential students to get in touch to learn more about the courses and accommodation on offer at the university.

Despite initially shunning the idea of studying at university, the 22-year-old from Cheshire went on to gain a first-class degree in Economics at Â鶹´«Ã½. He is hoping his positive experience of Clearing will persuade any nervous applicants not to be put off by A-level results and see the whole process as an exciting opportunity.  

Mayuran said: “Personally, I never thought I’d ever go to uni. I wanted to do a business apprenticeship, but when it came to mid-August and that hadn’t materialised, I decided to look at university as an alternative after the UCAS application deadline.

“For anyone like me that missed the deadline – don’t give up on the idea of studying at university. I found Â鶹´«Ã½’s Economics course through UCAS and simply phoned the Clearing team to express my interest. One month later, I was studying in Leicester.

“Â鶹´«Ã½ was the only university I contacted. No one I knew had any experience of university, so I was naturally a little nervous, but the Â鶹´«Ã½ staff were so friendly and accommodating. I simply told them my grades and on the same day, I was told that I had a place. It was all very exciting.

“You may be looking at a course and thinking there’s no way that your grades will be enough to get you in, but I would thoroughly recommend giving Â鶹´«Ã½’s Clearing line a call. The course may not be full up and the required grades may drop to accommodate more places if there is interest.”

SEE HOW TO APPLY AND WHAT COURSES ARE ON OFFER

Mayuran has grabbed his opportunity to study at Â鶹´«Ã½ with both hands, creating and presiding over the university’s Tamil society and becoming a student ambassador, guiding visitors around the university before jumping onto the Clearing hotline.

Following a successful four-year sandwich course, which included a one-year placement at Network Rail, he is staying with the Â鶹´«Ã½ family to study for a Master’s in Economics and Risk Management.

“The people I have met over the years have really made my time in Leicester special, whether I’m volunteering on the LORUS Twilight Walks which starts at Â鶹´«Ã½ or studying in the library, everyone is really nice,” he said.

“I’m hoping to use all my qualifications and everything I’ve learned at Â鶹´«Ã½ to become an economic analyst, ideally within the government.”

There is, however, just one regret Mayuran admits to when it came to applying to Â鶹´«Ã½.

“In hindsight, I wish I decided to go through Clearing much earlier,” he said. “Talking to the team early can put your mind at ease if you’re still undecided. We can talk to you about our experiences of studying here and what it’s like to live in Leicester.

“I had never been to Leicester and because I applied so late, I didn’t see the campus. It was a bit of a shot in the dark for me, but luckily the city is interesting and the Â鶹´«Ã½ campus is really nice. I was pleasantly surprised, particularly with the library.

“By applying for Clearing early, it gives you time to visit the university’s facilities and also book your preferred choice for student accommodation because it can fill up quickly.

“We are always just on the other end of the phone and more than happy to help if you need to talk to us about anything you may be worried about.”

Â鶹´«Ã½ is guaranteeing accommodation for all 2021 UK, EU and international Clearing students that request it. The dedicated accommodation team will also be on hand throughout the Clearing period to ensure all students’ living needs are catered for.