Choosing Chester in Clearing gives student Anna opportunities to achieve

Anna-Louise Tyson is set to graduate in November with a BA Education Studies and Sociology. 

The 21-year-old from Whitehaven in Cumbria has been described by her lecturers as ‘incredible’, seizing all the opportunities offered while studying at Chester. 

As well as working hard for her degree, Anna was selected to speak at the University’s SURE 2025 conference about her dissertation research which focused on the socio-economic barriers to higher education access; led the Education Society during her first-year organising social events for students on her course and across the University; was a University Enhancement partner on a research project for Clearing and acting as a Student Ambassador for Education Studies representing the course and helping out at open days. 

Anna said: “I had a very positive experience in clearing, I thought Chester was amazing at making me feel so welcomed and supported throughout the whole process. I remember on the day I applied through clearing I had a phone call off both my programme leaders to introduce themselves and ask if I had any questions. 

“I also chose Chester because I love the city with its small historical feel and great links to Liverpool and Manchester.” 

Following the completion of her degree Anna is now working for a company that specialises in creating educational itineraries for families travelling abroad. 

She said: “I have just started a new job in an independent travel company which specialises in family adventure travel. I felt like the ethos of the company I worked for aligned so well with my degree, with seeing education in a global and lifelong context through different cultures and lived experiences. I am loving all the opportunities to travel and learn about different places that my new job is giving me, I am also eventually hoping to pick my research back up alongside and do some work within education policy.” 

Anna credits the opportunities offered during her time at Chester in helping her to reach where she is today. 

She added: “Being part of student projects such as student enhancement partners for clearing was a great opportunity to gain work experience on a research team. I also felt like my second-year work-based learning placement to an education charity also gave me an amazing opportunity to really learn and develop my research and administrative skills which I’ve now carried through to my current role. Presenting at the SURE conference also gave me immense confidence to believe in my own abilities and has really given me the determination to carry on with education research post my undergraduate studies. 

“The best thing about University has been the people I have met and the connections I have been able to make. I’ve been very lucky to have been able to meet people from different places and backgrounds to me, and on my course been able to learn about how different experiences can impact an individual.” 

Dr Helen Eadon-Sinkinson, Senior Lecturer, said: “It's been wonderful to work with Anna these past three years. She has taken every opportunity to build up an incredible portfolio of experience in a wide range of areas and this has helped to secure her dream job role. I can't wait to see where the future takes her.” 

To find out more about Clearing at Chester visit here