Clearing: Harvey’s Story

After taking a gap year, studying elsewhere, and spending time working abroad, Sports Journalism student Harvey realised he wanted to return to higher education. Clearing gave him the opportunity to find the right university and course.

UA92’s accelerated degree structure, location in Manchester, and focus on practical opportunities made it the perfect fit. Since joining, Harvey has represented UA92 in a charity boxing event, developed his confidence, and gained valuable experiences both on and off camera.

He describes coming to UA92 through Clearing as a life-changing decision and encourages students to keep an open mind about the opportunities Clearing can offer.

When did you first consider Clearing?

I never really planned on going to university. I didn’t apply through UCAS when I was in school because it just wasn’t something I wanted to do at the time.

I took a gap year, then decided pretty last minute to go to a different university through Clearing. It wasn’t the right fit, so I went back to Prague and started working again.

After a while, I realised I actually missed university life and wanted to give it another go. The only issue was Student Finance. It took around five months to sort out because I’d been living abroad, and by the time it was approved I’d missed the normal application deadline.

As soon as Clearing opened, I called UA92. The first day I couldn’t get through, so I rang back a few days later. Within about an hour of the phone call, I’d been accepted and had my welcome email. It was a really quick and easy process.

How did you feel on Results Day?

Compared to a lot of people, I probably wasn’t as stressed.

I did the International Baccalaureate, so we get our results earlier than A-Level and BTEC students. I was definitely nervous because the IB is a tough qualification, but I didn’t have loads of pressure on me.

At the time I already had a secure job working in motorsports and esports, and university wasn’t really part of my plan yet. So for me it was more about seeing how I’d done rather than worrying whether I’d get into my first-choice university.

When I got my results, I was happy with them, and it was just a relief knowing it was all over.

Why did you choose UA92?

One of my biggest worries was that I’d already taken a gap year and had been to university once before, so I didn’t really want to spend another three years studying. I found out about accelerated degrees, and UA92 was one of the few universities offering one in a subject I actually wanted to do.

I wanted to stay within sport because that’s always been a huge part of my life. I looked at Sports Management, Sports Coaching and Sports Journalism, and Sports Journalism just felt like the right fit.

I’ve always enjoyed creating content, presenting, being in front of the camera and telling stories, so it felt like something I could genuinely see myself doing.

Manchester was another big reason. I’d spent most of my life living in major cities like Copenhagen and Prague, and after going to Northampton I realised I wanted to be somewhere with more opportunities and a bigger city atmosphere. UA92 ticked all those boxes.

What was your experience with the Clearing Process itself?

Honestly, it was really straightforward.

I rang the Clearing team, explained my situation, and they took me through everything. I’d never used UCAS before, so they helped me understand the whole process.

The only slight delay was because I’d done the International Baccalaureate. They couldn’t immediately match my grades to UCAS points, so I emailed over my certificates. They checked everything, called me back and said I’d comfortably met the entry requirements.

About ten minutes later I had my welcome email from UA92, and from there I just sorted my accommodation and everything else.

Because I’d lived abroad for so long, there was also a bit of extra paperwork to prove my home fee status, but that wasn’t really anything to do with Clearing itself. The UA92 team made the process really easy.

What has been the highlight of your UA92 journey so far?

I’d definitely say representing UA92 in the Wilder Fight Night boxing event.

I trained for around two and a half months, raising money for the Oddballs Foundation, and got to represent the university in front of nearly a thousand people at the Albert Hall.

Walking out with UA92 on my shorts and representing the university was something I’ll always remember. I ended up winning after three rounds against a really tough opponent, and a lot of people said it was one of the best fights of the night.

That whole experience—training, competing, representing the university and getting the win—has definitely been the biggest highlight of my time here.

Looking back, how do you feel about your decision to come through Clearing?

Looking back, it was definitely the right decision.

Coming to UA92 has given me opportunities I don’t think I would’ve had anywhere else. I’ve met some amazing people, developed new skills, represented the university, and it’s helped me become more confident both on and off camera.

If I had the choice again, I’d make exactly the same decision.

What advice would you give to a student who might be applying through Clearing this year?

Honestly, don’t be afraid of Clearing. It’s there for a reason, and it gives people another opportunity to go to university, whether that’s because they’ve changed their mind, missed the main application deadline, want to switch courses, or have found somewhere that suits them better.

From my experience, the staff at UA92 were brilliant. They knew exactly what they were doing, answered all my questions, helped me through the process, and if you’re unsure about a course they’ll happily put you in touch with course leaders or student reps so you can get a better idea of what it’s like.

Even if you’re just looking for advice before Results Day, I’d say give them a call. Ask questions, book a campus tour, have a look around, and see if it’s the right place for you.

For me, Clearing has genuinely been life-changing. It’s the only route I’ve ever used into university, and it’s given me opportunities that I probably wouldn’t have had otherwise. I’ve only got positive things to say about it, and I’d definitely recommend people keep an open mind about it.

Find out more about Clearing on our Clearing Hub.