How I used Clearing to change my university course

Let me set the scene...

It’s 4AM - I’m in my previous university library, studying for my Pharmacy degree, surrounded by empty Red Bull cans, three highlighters, and a pile of notes that don’t make any sense anymore. Somewhere between my fifth reread of the word “entropy” and silently questioning all my life choices, it hit me:

I don’t want to do this for the next four years. And I definitely don’t want to build a career out of it.

Cue the google spiral

Once the panic wore off (well... kind of), I did what any stressed-out and sleep-deprived student would do... Opened my laptop and started furiously Googling:

“How to change university course last minute”
“Can you switch degrees after first year?”
“Clearing for students already at uni?”

At that point, my search history was 90% Clearing-related and 10% cat memes to keep me from spiralling.

I started exploring different universities and courses. I knew I wanted something that actually matched my interests - something global, political, and people-focused. I went deep: course modules, graduate outcomes, student reviews... I trawled through uni websites like it was a full-time job. And then, I came across Leeds Beckett University - and their International Relations course.

The more I read, the more it clicked. This could actually be it.

Enter: the people who made it all possible

The first person to come to my rescue was a Leeds Beckett Student Ambassador on the 'talk to a student' section of the website - and honestly, she deserves a medal. I basically handed over my entire life story (plus my UCAS info), and she took it from there. She talked me through the whole process, step by step, without making it feel overwhelming. It was like having my own personal uni fairy godmother.

But what really made the difference was the conversation I had with a lecturer from the course I was interested in. As someone who plans ahead like it’s an Olympic sport, I had about a million questions - career prospects, module content, opportunities after graduation, you name it. I was fully braced for a polished sales pitch. Instead, I got honesty. The lecturer answered every question in detail, didn’t sugar-coat anything, and actually made time for the conversation. That really stuck with me.

By the end of the call, I felt… excited? (Weird, I know.) But for the first time in months, I could actually picture myself enjoying my studies  and building a career I cared about.

Fast forward, no regrets

Now, here I am - studying International Relations at Leeds Beckett, planning my study abroad, and honestly, I’ve never been happier. I love what I’m learning, I’m genuinely excited about my future career, and I’m surrounded by people who share my interests (with thankfully zero Thermodynamics equations in sight).

If you’re sitting there right now, having your own 4AM crisis, feeling scared about making a change, or worrying what others might think… Here’s the truth: it’s your life. Your career. You’re the one who has to wake up every day and do this for years to come so you might as well love it.

And if I survived Clearing (with all my drama and occasional spirals), trust me, so can you.

I can’t wait to see you on campus this September!