Ipswich mum who thought university had passed her by returns to study after a 13-year gap
She joined through clearing and started studying Business Management.
An Ipswich mum who thought a 13-year break from education meant university was no longer an option has spoken of how returning to study through Clearing has transformed her confidence and helped her launch her own business.
Hephzibah Gad, who is known as ZG, has just completed her first year studying Business Management at the University of Suffolk after deciding it was time to return to education.
After completing college in 2013 while pregnant with her first child, she went on to raise four children before considering university again. But she said she wasn't sure whether qualifications gained more than a decade earlier would still be accepted.
"I wasn't sure if what I got was enough because I had completed Suffolk New College in 2013," she told us.
"I didn't know whether my grades at the time were still useful.
"So I called to make sure that it was still okay – and then here I am, it's still okay."
"It was my seeking of knowledge that brought me here"
Rather than applying because she had missed her grades, Ms Gad said she contacted the University's Clearing team because she wanted reassurance that returning to education was still possible.
She said speaking to staff gave her the confidence to attend an open day before deciding to enrol.
"So every doubt I had in mind, they cleared it," she said.
"It cleared the way for me to actually come for the open day and see what it is and to help me make my decision."
Ms Gad said returning to education came after recognising she needed to develop new skills to progress in business.
"I realised pretty quickly that I was a bit bankrupt in knowledge and I needed to scale up," she said.
"I wanted to move forward in business. I wanted to move forward in life, create something for myself and it wasn't just working.
"It was my seeking of knowledge that brought me here."
Her own businesses
Since beginning her degree, Ms Gad has launched Unity Eats, an African fusion food business celebrating authentic African flavours.
She also secured an £8,000 grant after pitching the business idea during the University's six-week summer bootcamp, which supports students developing new enterprises.
"I pitched the idea and I got a cut of the pot that was being given to help scale the idea," she said.
"So Unity Eats has secured £8,000 grant funding... and now I'm in partnership with the University."
The University of Suffolk says Clearing is open to a wide range of applicants, including mature students, people changing careers and those who decide to apply after the UCAS deadline, rather than only students who miss their grades. Places remain available on a number of courses for September entry, including Business Management, Adult Nursing, Law, Pharmacy and Psychology.