Clearing at City St George's: Students Maruf and Sabrina share their unique paths to university

Sabrina’s story: changing direction through Clearing

Sabrina Abdow joined City St George’s through Clearing and recently graduated, joining the consumer banking graduate scheme at Lloyds Banking Group. Reflecting on her Clearing experience, she said:

“I decided quite last minute that I wanted to stay in London for university, so clearing gave me the flexibility to change direction. The process was more straightforward and less stressful than I expected.

Choosing City St George’s turned out to be the right decision for her. “I wanted to stay in London because of the opportunities the city offers, especially being close to employers and having access to everything happening here. City St George’s stood out to me as it offers the International Political Economy programme at undergraduate level, which is quite rare. The course is interdisciplinary and aligns perfectly with my interests in politics and economics.

“My experience over the past three years has been really positive. The university has a strong academic community and the support from staff has been a big part of that. I’ve found the teaching to be really engaging, and the fact that we’re in London means we’ve had access to great events, guest lectures, and internship opportunities that tie into our studies.”

Her advice to others looking to secure their university place through Clearing?

Read more about Sabrina’s time at university and career achievements.

Maruf’s story: a rollercoaster journey which led to ‘incredible opportunities’

“Like many students, I woke up on results day feeling a mix of nerves and hope,” said Maruf, 20. “I believed I’d done enough to secure the grades I needed for my firm choice. But when I opened my results, my heart sank - I was just one grade short.”

After confirming that his firm choice was full, Maruf was left with his insurance offer which was a university that did not seem like the best option for him. “It was an hour and a half away, and it didn’t feel right,” he explained.

“That’s when I approached my teacher, who suggested City St George’s as a better option and highlighted the good commute and excellent engineering facilities.”

Encouraged, Maruf called the City St George’s Clearing team, who confirmed there was space for him on the course. Despite already holding an unconditional offer from his insurance choice, he decided to decline it. “This process took longer than expected but City St George’s was able to hold my space,” he said.

What does Maruf wish he knew before he began his Clearing journey? “It’s important to keep your cool and tackle the problem one step at a time,” he said.

Thinking about Clearing?

If you are considering going through Clearing like Maruf and Sabrina, you can read Head of Marketing and Student Recruitment Events Carl Whinder’s top tips for a smooth Clearing process.

• Find out more about Clearing at City St George’s
• Browse all our courses in Clearing

Maruf said his time at City St George’s has been ‘genuinely enjoyable’. He added: “What makes it truly unique are the opportunities and the level of support available.

“We have a dedicated Student Support Hub focused on our wellbeing and personal development, along with helpful academic staff who are always available during office hours to offer their support. Unlike what we were often told in sixth form or college, we are not alone here. Support is genuinely there when we need it.

“The University offers numerous opportunities, including summer internships abroad, plus a dedicated careers team to help with professional development. Initially, I chose City St Georges mainly for its location and the unique design aspect of the course, but I have stayed because of the welcoming atmosphere and the incredible opportunities available.”

• Read more about International Political Economy BSc (Hons)
• Read more about Mechanical and Design Engineering BEng (Hons)