Not every journey to university has to be completely linear. Sometimes it can take a break from education to understand which path is the best for you.
That was certainly the case for Heidi Morris, who spent four years working and travelling before deciding to follow her gut and study Interior Design at De Montfort University (DMU) Leicester.
Having finished studying photography at college, Heidi worked her way up to a managerial role within the fast food sector, while saving for a three-month road trip around continental Europe, taking in 12 countries.
When she returned to the UK in September, Heidi’s mind was made up; interior design was the dream.
She said: “I remember just telling my mum that I wanted to study interior design but I thought I was too late to apply.
“My mum just said ‘go for it’ and encouraged me to go through Clearing at DMU. She actually studied English and Journalism here, and really enjoyed it, so she said it was worth at least contacting the university.
“I cobbled together a portfolio from my photography and wrote about my experience travelling, why I loved interior design and then went down with my mum to the Welcome Week to basically check out the university.
“They explained how Clearing worked, I went away and emailed the admissions team, and the whole process was really easy. Most of the communication happened over email, which was really helpful for me.
“It was the best decision I’ve made.”
Since enrolling, Heidi’s passion for interior design has only further developed, with the budding designer having worked on live briefs from Leicestershire charity, Pedestrian, and design practice Briggs Hillier.
DMU’s pioneering block teaching method has also allowed her to understand her modules in more depth, which has helped her develop both her theoretical and practical skills.
Students under block teaching learn one module over seven weeks, rather than several modules at once throughout the year. At the end of each ‘block’, students complete their assessments, giving students quicker feedback, a simplified timetable, and eliminating the stack of assessments at the end of the year.
“It’s really nice focusing on one project at a time,” Heidi said. “I can do my research, model-making and everything else knowing it’s working towards the end-of-block assessment.
“I’ve also been able to keep my managerial role at McDonald’s, which is a big bonus to me.
“My tutors have been incredibly supportive too. When I felt like I wasn’t making much progress with my grades, my tutors gave me advice and my confidence, and results, have both shot up.
“At the end of every block, I look back and think, ‘Wow, I actually did that.’ Seeing all your hard work come together is an amazing feeling.”
DMU Clearing is open. You don’t have to wait until Results Day to get in touch with us. If there’s a course you’re interested in, you can contact us by email, phone, or WhatsApp.
Posted on Monday 13 July 2026