8 Great Things About Being a Mature Student at University

There will be times when you will cry secretly about not understanding a single idea of a professor. It’s normal, so don’t panic. You’ll find a way to deal with it. Those moments occur far less frequently than the times when you will actually understand what your lectures are about because you’re able to apply what’s being taught to reality. It might be because you’ve already worked on a similar project in your working life, or for a particular employer. Whatever the reason, you’ll be far better-equipped than many of your course mates.  

In contrast to your younger and greener peers, you’ll notice that you bond with your professors and tutors much more easily. It helps that you can talk with them about various concepts in both theory and in practice, and also relate their teaching to your working life.

Being a student means having access to a load of discounts and promotions you haven’t been able to claim for ages. London, for example, offers a great range of discounts for students on food, drink, and shopping. You can even claim discounts on transportation, with a student Oyster card, or 16-25 Railcard.

It’s not just London though. No matter where you study, you’ll probably be able to benefit from student discounts for theater, cinema and opera tickets as well as other cultural events. Depending on your circumstances, you may also get a discount rate for a mature student loan, be eligible for mature student funding or some form of tax exemption due to being a student.

When I was in London, I quickly realized there was a lot, sometimes even too much, going on. Being able to prioritize things was crucial, and is much easier when you’ve already learned to value your time and pick and choose events that will be of interest to you.

Of course, that doesn’t mean your interests might not get refined, with newer exciting ones appearing on your list. Even so, you’re probably well-placed to realize reading a book by the riverside could be a better way to spend your time than an all-night party in your dorm.

Coming to uni with a little bit of extra life experience makes networking and building relationships with people so much easier. Your campus will offer hundreds of events every term for you to potentially get involved in, as well as countless societies and clubs. Some of these may even be exclusively for mature students. After a few weeks, you’ll be stunned how much wider your network of friends and contacts has grown.

Working while studying is an increasingly popular option, especially in money-draining London. As a mature student, you’re able to work many “serious” jobs that other students don’t have the experience for. If you need some extra money, consider applying for jobs that require extra responsibility. I was able to land a role as an invigilator for another university’s finals and also work in event coordination for an educational company, two roles that are a massive change from the usual bartender/waiter jobs most students have to settle for.

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Lecture image: Nick Case-Leng (Flickr); Reading image: David Morgan (Flickr)