7 Fears You Might Have About Returning to University as a Mature Student

Although it might take some time to get your head around some things at the beginning, it’s important to remember that the priorities, responsibilities and commitments you have now probably aren’t the same ones you had in your late teens and early twenties.

Nowadays there’s no one-size-fits-all degree program. Options exist to study full-time, part-time, online, on-campus, off-campus, blended and even evening degrees, giving you the opportunity to balance your commitments and responsibilities much more easily.

As a mature student you have the advantage of life experience that will better equip you and carry you forward in your studies.

If you’re looking to study a postgraduate degree in business, you should be confident in your ability to think analytically, critically and logically. Whereas if you’re leaning more towards a degree in humanities, strong communication, research and problem-solving skills are considered very valuable.

Universities are very much accustomed to teaching mature students who have been away from the academic scene for a while. At City, mature students are invited to attend workshops and events that aim to help develop their specialized skillsets.

A lot of mature students will choose to study at a university that is close to where they live – but don’t feel like you have to do the same – especially if you are keen to experience something new and different.

Postgraduate mature student, Elizabeth travelled over 8,000 miles from South Africa to the UK to study an MSc in Cyber Security at City. “Moving to a different country, with a different culture, weather, environment can be tough,” she said.

“Putting your life on hold to pursue a dream is a challenge in itself but, in the end, you have to look at the rewards and what you want to achieve. If you weigh up the pros and cons, then the decision was an easy one,” she added.

City has a variety of dedicated halls of residence across London for postgraduate students.

At UK universities, it’s estimated that over half of mature students are between the ages of 21 and 24, while 40 percent of mature students are over the age of 30. Although many return to university to study a postgraduate degree, others are going for the first time to take an Access to Higher Education diploma course or enroll on their first undergraduate degree.

There’s no right or wrong way to be a mature student as you study alongside a range of like-minded individuals of all ages and backgrounds. It’s an enriching experience that can broaden your horizons. You may surprise yourself when you realize you have quite a lot more in common with your younger classmates than you first thought. With years of life experience, you’re also better equipped to build relationships and network with your peers and professors.

Studying a master’s degree is a major investment and requires careful thinking and planning. There are many different funding options out there from government loans and bursaries, to grants and scholarships, so it’s important you do your research before applying.

City student Ruth studied the MSc in Speech and Language Therapy. Having worked in the environmental sector for six years, she talked about the changes and challenges of being a mature student. “It’s been a massive change from having a regular income to studying again. It is a challenge to fit in part-time work around the studies, but it is possible and it’s possible to have a social life too.”

Elizabeth also spoke about taking into account the financial aspects when making the decision to study a postgraduate degree full time: “It wasn’t easy leaving a steady income to take up full-time study and also university costs were something to consider.”

You can also speak to your university’s financial support team who can advise you on what to do should you need additional funding once your studies commence.

And don’t forget the power of the student discount – in the grand scheme of things this may seem trivial but you’ll learn to love it when it gets you a free coffee, discounted cinema tickets, transport and retail discounts! 

“The main thing for me is that I know I’m going to be really making a difference in what I’m doing. I’m a people person and studying at postgraduate level has enabled me to work with people which is something that I really love,” said Ruth.

When asked what her advice would be for anyone else considering postgraduate study, Elizabeth said: “I would definitely encourage anyone considering postgraduate study to pursue it. You’ll gain a whole different way of thinking and meet so many interesting people from all over the world.

“My advice would be to tackle this with an open mind, an open heart, and to always start studying from day one!”.