Tom applied through Clearing after discovering the Wildlife Media course and realising it was exactly what he’d been looking for. He hadn’t known much about Clearing beforehand, but once he reached out, the process was clear and easy to follow. Knowing that Cumbria offered the only course of its kind in the UK—taught by industry professionals and set in such an inspiring landscape—made it an obvious choice for his next step.
Why did you choose to study your course – what or who inspired you?
I have just completed my first year of Wildlife Media here at the University of Cumbria after applying through Clearing and starting in 2025. At the start of the year, I was working in an office, and by February I was on a career break, taking six months out of employment to cycle solo (self‑supported) through Europe, from Amsterdam to the southern point of Albania and back again. I remember getting a text about “an important business meeting” as I was cycling into Trieste, Italy. This business meeting was a notification of redundancy which, as you can imagine, was a rather unexpected thing to hear at the time. This meant that instead of returning to work in September, I was now at a bit of a loose end and needed something to dive into when I got back home to Stockport.
While I was away, my parents and I were looking at some options for my next venture in life and came across the Wildlife Media course at the University of Cumbria. I have always been fascinated by the natural world, having grown up watching people like Steve Backshall and Sir David Attenborough, so this was a real factor for me. Having been out in nature for such a sustained period of time, often by myself for days on end, I had a lot of time to think about what I wanted to do, and that spark for the natural world I’d had growing up was ignited again.
Could you tell us more about how you came to apply through Clearing and why did you choose the University of Cumbria?
The primary reason for choosing the University of Cumbria was the fact that it was, and still is, as far as I am aware, the only institution in the country that offers this course. There are one or two similar courses offered at other universities, but nothing that looked like the Wildlife Media course I have started here. The industry professionals that teach us are a big pull factor as well. The location, being so close to the Lake District National Park, Northumberland National Park, and Scotland, is also a huge bonus.
Did you understand how Clearing worked before you went through the process?
I didn’t really have any knowledge of the Clearing process before applying; for me, it was just another way to get into university. I found the process really easy though. It just involved getting in touch with the university and registering my interest. Then I sent over a portfolio of my work (which wasn’t particularly substantial considering my background), and after that I had a phone call with the course lead, Laura.
This was less of an interview and more of a chat to get to know each other and the course, and to ask any questions I might have before I fully committed. This again was really helpful. Laura is so nice and helpful, and she really made me feel welcome and at home when it came to actually starting the course in September.
Do you have any advice for students applying to university through Clearing?
My only advice to anyone thinking about applying through Clearing is: just do it. It’s a really streamlined process and the people involved are all really nice – I couldn’t have wished for it to be better, really. It might sound a bit daunting at first, as it’s not necessarily the traditional way of applying, but it is so worth doing in my opinion.
What has been your favourite experience at the University of Cumbria?
The first year has been a great experience and has absolutely flown by. The tutors and other staff members are great, but my favourite experience has been the field trips. The Naturalist Skills module is fantastic and really encourages you to get outside. We have been to places such as the Solway Coast, Ullswater, and St Bees, learning and practising important naturalist skills with the module lead, Alex.
Another big thing for me is the sport opportunities available. The football team has been a great experience, and we’ve travelled up and down the country throughout the year, beating teams in the North and South. You get a great sense of camaraderie too and build a network of friends who are doing all kinds of courses across the university.
What’s been the most difficult obstacle you’ve overcome in your student journey?
There are obviously challenges that come with university, especially in the first year while you are settling into uni life. But everyone is in the same position, and there are great resources and people you can talk to if you are struggling. I genuinely can’t think of any massive challenges I have experienced in the first year. It takes some time to gel with your flatmates and to get to grips with the timetable and so on, but these things get a lot easier with time and are nothing to stress about.
What do you enjoy most about your course?
The thing I have enjoyed most about the course is being able to share a space with so many talented people who share my passion. Our group has really come together towards the end of the year, partly because of the end‑of‑year exhibition, as that was a big team effort.
How have your tutors supported you during your studies?
The tutors are amazing as well. Keith, Jon, and Alex are industry professionals and have such a vast wealth of knowledge that they have shared with us this year. They all specialise in different areas of the course, which is great as you develop a range of skills. Laura, the course lead, is great as well and keeps everything running smoothly. She was the one I first spoke to before I started, and she made me feel really welcome.
As well as the tutors, there is a great network of staff members to support you. Paul Ferguson leads the extra modules, such as Communicating the Natural World, which is very much his area of expertise. He is so friendly and just makes the lecture room a comfortable place to be.
How is university life beyond your studies? What do you enjoy the most about student life at your campus/in the area?
I have enjoyed life outside of the course too, as I mentioned before with the football team and the accommodation. I stayed at Denton Holme for my first year, and it was brilliant. The housing layout is fantastic, and there is a real sense of community there with the shared back gardens. The caretaker, Henry, is so nice, and there is a blue tit nest in one of the cigarette boxes by the back of the house, which has just become home to five adorable chicks and their mum and dad. There is a plethora of societies for you to join, such as the Wildlife Society and the Games Society – I’m fairly sure there is even a Bread Society.
The campus space is great. There are so many resources for you to use, such as the library, the photography floor with the darkroom and printing facilities, and the workshop, which is the home of the Fine Art course but is free to use for other students as long as you have the appropriate induction. There are also various gallery spaces that often have exhibitions to stroll around, and these are great for inspiration for your course as well.
Find your place in Clearing
Applying to the University of Cumbria through Clearing is a great way to discover new opportunities and find the perfect course for you. Visit our Clearing Hub for more information about our courses, the application process, and your next steps.
