From representing De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) at a global competition to gaining invaluable experience in the NHS, Clearing has proven to be the right choice for Accounting and Finance student Nodira Karimjonzoda.
Originally from Tajikistan, central Asia, Nodira decided that studying at DMU would make her more employable than staying on the Business and Accounting Diploma that she had initially enrolled on elsewhere.
Nodira applied to DMU through Clearing in August 2019 and has not looked back, enjoying her experience so much that she has become a student ambassador on behalf of the university’s Business and Law faculty.
DMU has opened its Clearing hotline and is already accepting applications for a range of courses. Students can find out more information about the process online or by ringing +44 (0)116 257 7000
“When I decided university was what I wanted, the application process was already closed,” Nodira said. “I spoke to some students and they informed me about the Clearing process, so I started researching and DMU offered a strong course with high employability rates for my subject.
“DMU’s Accounting and Finance course offered a lot more flexibility, giving me more time for work experience and the opportunity for a placement year. The university also offered an exemption for me because I studied on my diploma, so I went straight into my second year when I arrived here.
“Some of my friends studied at DMU and they were impressed with the multicultural vibe Leicester has as a city. This, coupled with discounts of up to £2,000 for the first year of study for international students, made up my mind.
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“I was surprised by how easy and fast the whole process was, as I was actually back home in Tajikistan when I phoned the DMU Clearing line. Initially, I was worried that I wouldn’t get a fast response but that wasn’t an issue for me. If I had any questions, I could easily get in contact.
“I was offered accommodation through Clearing at Merlin Heights within the city after I received my CAS letter. Having all your documents ready to upload can make the process even quicker and of course, I’d say you need to make sure you’re happy with the course and its requirements.”
Nodira is now preparing for her final year at DMU, having just completed a placement year at the NHS West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group within primary care, taking on responsibilities coordinating the organisation’s Covid-19 vaccination programme.
With the help of her faculty’s placement team, Nodira worked remotely as a Finance and Planning Assistant. Now, she wants to pursue her interest in the public sector and explore its challenges.
She said: “I loved the experience. I can definitely say my Excel skills have improved and I got to apply all the theories we learn at university in a real-world setting.
“The Covid situation definitely made things very interesting and being involved in the vaccination programme helped me understand how huge scale projects are organised and financed. I was responsible for ensuring that all the expenses incurred by staff, such as swabs, medical clothing and sanitisers, were reimbursed.
“One of my modules in my final year is Public Sector Accounting and Finance, which I’m really looking forward to because I can apply everything I learnt from my placement into my studies. Working in the public sector, there is always something new to learn as you gain more responsibilities. It’s the perfect environment for me.”
Working for the NHS isn’t the only highlight of Nodira’s time at DMU. During her first year she represented the university at the FTxBocconi Talent Challenge – a global competition hosted by the Financial Times that tasks small teams to pitch an innovative idea as a new business model.
Her team made it to the semi-finals and just missed out on the top prize – financial backing from Bocconi University to support the winning team’s business idea to become a start-up company.
“The opportunity was advertised through the placement team and I thought, ‘What is there to lose?’. About a week later I was told I would be going to London for two days at the Financial Times’ headquarters.
“My role was to ensure the expenses and revenue on our advertising campaign were correct. It would have been nice to win but I’m incredibly proud to have represented DMU and made it to the semi-final.”
Posted on Thursday 5 August 2021