Is there a specific Mature Study & Retraining board?

[Edmontine]

I know there have been mature student threads. But I feel I’ve read countless, tentative Am I too old to - threads, with each OP believing they’re the first person ever to consider a degree or postgrad at 30 / 40 / 50 onwards - and almost talking themselves out of the idea before they’ve even posted.

It would be helpful to have a dedicated space - with a note at the top assuring people that they’re not freaks and would be welcomed by places of learning.

(If such a board already exists and I’ve failed to find it, consider me suitably embarrassed.)

This thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4327824-Degrees-for-older-people-successful-career-changes?msgid=110097585

would be exactly the sort of thing it would be helpful to have in the same place as individual queries about whether mature study is possible.

Hi @Edmontine thanks for this suggestion which we'll pass on.

And so many threads like this:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4327769-To-retrain-at-45

would benefit from cross-referencing.

Thanks, soniamumsnet!

Having taken a postgrad degree in extreme middle-age, I’m keen to encourage others to do the same. It’s incredibly frustrating that most potential (very) mature students who post here feel isolated and uncertain and don’t realise:

• how many other people have done it successfully,

• how to find the right course

• where or how to apply for loans or other funding.

Oh, this is a great idea! I lurk on all those threads and having them in one place would be brilliant.

Hi @Edmontine thanks so much for these suggestions - we will keep our eye on this thread and keep note of the interest in the topic.

Yes would be interesting, as the focus on things like finding are different-based on your income /partners and nothing for most second degrees.

I just did a second degree at 46, was interesting and I enjoyed the actual study far more than I did at 18 (as I was aware I very much choosing to do this rather than just it being what one does at 18)

Are you including Postgraduate Master’s Loans in your comments on funding, burnoutbabe? What I found wonderful about them was that the only criteria were possession of an undergraduate degree and eligibility of the proposed course.

I was just referring to under graduate degrees in my comments as masters are different as you say (and I won't bother with masters funding as I have the ability to pay and the interest rate is very high.
If I don't ever get earn over £30k I think it doesn't need to repaying but if I earn my old salary I'd pay it back in a few years.
So then it's a more complex decision.

I’d like a board like this, as someone considering a first degree, post 30.

I think this would be a great idea, I'm sure there's plenty of MNers who are doing professional qualifications and PhDs as well.

I would also love a board like this, I'm about to start an MSc in my 30s, and would find it really helpful

I would also be interested in this.

I'd be interested in this! I retrained as a nurse in my late 20s and I am now about to start my Health Visiting SPCHN PGdip

Yes please! I would love a thread like this. Please do it...

I think this is a great idea, Edmontine. I've noticed that sometimes replies are based on posters' own experiences some time ago and/or their children. There has been a huge expansion in work based routes, professional doctorates etc but it's quite hard to know what's available unless you have a really good employer or know someone through your personal network.

Yes, that’s the thing - the threads, and therefore the information, are all so scattered. I’d say MN is an ideal place to build a store of information based on the wide variety of current experience.

This is an amazing idea, please can this be taken forward? I'm just finishing a masters around full time work and am starting completely retraining (I needed the masters to get on the second course, I don't just enjoy punishing myself lol). It would be great to have people in a similar boat and also would have been useful when I was asking around about whether it was a good idea/ possible to do the retraining at my age. I've seen loads of those types of thread.

I would love something like this - I'm almost finished a degree and I'm 38. Would love to do a masters or a PGCE next. I was probably one of the posters a few years ago doing an "Am I too old..." thread.

And I probably posted on it, Tammy!

Thanks, Sattherelikealemon.

Can’t imagine what it’s like studying through a pandemic. I know it’s been hard for the very young - but there must be multiple complications for older students.

Yes please! I’m also middle aged and starting again!

45 and about to (hopefully) finish a masters… it would’ve been great to have a board for support. Great idea op

I think this would be a great idea. I’m just finishing up a Masters and would have liked somewhere to talk about it.

I think this would be a great resource. Another one studying and would enjoy a forum to discuss with people who are at a similar place to me.

This is a great idea - I don’t know anyone in real life who is doing further study so it would be good to have a forum. I’m mid-30s if relevant.