Every year hundreds of thousands of adults around the world take the opportunity to develop their careers by means of higher education….and the good news is that higher education is for everyone regardless of age.
There really is no such thing as a ‘typical’ mature student although they tend to be defined as students aged 21 or over when they begin their studies.
As far as we can generalise, around half the world’s students are aged between 21 and 24, 38% between 25 and 39 and 10% over 40 when they commence their courses.
There are many different reasons for mature students to enrol on higher education courses. Many have the desire to start a new career or develop an existing one, to develop an interest into something more or to take a second chance by opening a new chapter in life. There’s no doubt that higher education offers excellent opportunities such as learning new skills, improving your job prospects or a new life experience.
As a mature student you may be concerned about how you’ll cope with the demands of academic work especially if you’ve been out of education for a few years. However, you’ll be pleased to know that there is always support available to assist you during your time spent studying which will be invaluable in terms of any challenges you may face. Support is available from specialist staff and other informal networks.
Mature students are welcomed at universities and colleges across the world and there is of course the option to study for a degree online too. Mature students are often admired for making a positive difference to the intellectual and cultural lives of their course providers, bringing fresh insight, experience of life and work and a passionate commitment to study. While higher education can be demanding, particularly for those with different commitments, mature students often find that course providers value their enthusiasm, skills and experience. For that reason, providers often offer flexibility in terms of admissions criteria and the types of learning programme they offer.
When applying for university or college, employment history will work in your favour and qualifications taken several years ago will still be taken into account and the kind of courses on offer are as varied as those who study them. Online studying has proved to be an ideal option for mature students in that it allows for home study while enabling students to factor in family and work commitments. This explains why it is a highly favoured mode of study by many mature students.
Life as a mature student is less daunting than you may think….and age is no barrier!
Are you a mature student? Apply for an online degree here.
