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Original poster

Anyone returned to uni in their 40s?

73 replies

Boredbear · 29/12/2020 22:29

For career change. what did you do before/did undergrad in, what did you retrain in and how did it go after?

OP posts:
BananaPop2020 · 29/12/2020 22:33

Yep, did my BA in my 20’s, my MSc and my PGDip in my 30’s and am now doing a PGCert in my 40’s. I love education and it has helped give me a real edge in my career. Unless you are embarking on a full time Bachelors, where most of your peers will be 18-21, it really doesn’t matter.

Original poster
Boredbear · 29/12/2020 22:47

Wow how did you do so much! What is your careers in?
I'm thinking a masters or pgdip when dc off to secondary. Though just like my undergrad I have no clue what I'm interested in!

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BananaPop2020 · 29/12/2020 23:51

I am a Probation Officer and I love it. My top tip for a Masters is to pick something you are interested in rather than something you feel you ‘should’ do because of work. Also, do a tonne of reading! There will be a real mix on a Masters course and you will notice a difference between those who have come straight from an undergraduate degree and those who have either work/life experience. Those from the undergraduate background will think in terms of theory, but the other students will often ground it in experience which is really interesting.

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Shamoo · 30/12/2020 00:02

I went back to uni at 35 to do a masters, although it wasn’t for a career change. It was the best year of my life. Absolutely amazing. I think learning when you are older is even better than when you are young!

Original poster
Boredbear · 30/12/2020 08:34

What did you study @Shamoo ? Was it hard being a mature student?

Banana that's very interesting and also slightly scary to me! Is it a specialised field within social work?

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Partey · 30/12/2020 08:40

Not in my 40’s but returned to do an undergrad at 35. Just been accepted on a social work masters starting next year so will qualify when I’m 40.
I had a foundation degree and ds was born prematurely as I began my top up year so I left.
Probably the best thing I could’ve done. I’ve loved my undergrad course and have probably taken so much more from it than I would’ve done when younger.
I’m hoping my age helps when applying for social work jobs in a few years

TammyTwoSwanson · 30/12/2020 08:44

I went back to college and did an HNC and HND in my mid 30s. I wasn't the oldest, but yes a lot of my class mates were 18-20 years old. Babies! I got on really well with them, and we are still friends now.
I'm going back to uni to get the top up degree now (almost 40). It's distance/online learning so no doubt there will be plenty of mature students. It's an art subject. I love learning

Original poster
Boredbear · 30/12/2020 08:56

I do think learning at this age is so different... perhaps we should rewrite the whole education system! I find the whole thought a little daunting though in 40s (with 20 year olds!)

Partey are you already doing social work or related?

Tammy will you use your art degree?

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dubyalass · 30/12/2020 09:15

Just finished an ecology master’s - strange old year and frustrating in some ways because of Covid restrictions but I loved it. Wanted to do it all again when I finished! Mine is job-related but I also studied it because I’m genuinely interested in the subject. I may yet do a PG Dip in a related subject in a year’s time.

dubyalass · 30/12/2020 09:17

And yes, a mixture of young recent grads and people with life experience - oldest on my course was 59. I’m early 40s. Some of them will be friends for life.

SparklyOnTheInside · 30/12/2020 09:41

I had my 40th birthday in the second year of my BA. Then did a PGCE and am now a teacher. I am really glad I did it.

I loved studying as a mature student and would love to do an MA some day soon.

zafferana · 30/12/2020 09:46

Yes, me, now 47 and in final year of my second degree, which I'm doing PT through the OU. Doing environmental science. Previously worked in finance, which was well paid, but I didn't enjoy it and could never imagine going back into it now. Loving my second degree, so glad I'm doing it. I'm due to graduate at the same time as DC2 leaves primary. OU is great for mature students, although it's a real mix of all ages.

burnoutbabe · 30/12/2020 09:54

I am doing a law degree for interest at nearly 50. won't lead to a career change but is handy for my finance role and doing modules that are more financey (company law etc)

All the youngsters are nice once they got used to me being a student and ask for help on when deadlines are etc I am also in a cohort with graduates anyway (so a 2 year degree) so most of them are mid 20s and we all get on well.

I don't get involved with the social side AT ALL - I commute from home so have my usual mates around me. But do go for coffees with people after classes. (well i did last year!)

TheThingWithFeathers · 30/12/2020 09:59

Really interesting thread as I am hoping to do this in the next couple of years. I'd be interested to know how people supported themselves if they gave up full time work to study. I'm single so this is a big concern of mine.

Original poster
Boredbear · 30/12/2020 11:17

Well done sparkly and burnout and everyone for doing it! I dont have the courage atm

@burnout I'm so impressed you chose to do a law degree out of interest!

Also very heartening to hear the youngsters are nice. I dont expect heavy socialising but coffee after tutorial will be very welcome (assuming one day soon we can do that again)

@dubyalass did you take time out of work to do it? Was it more for personal interest or to advance in your work?

@zafferana how did you land on environmental science from finance? Like what made you choose it? I'm in finance too and I cant see a way out aside from doing something drastically different

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Original poster
Boredbear · 30/12/2020 11:18

Feathers could you do yours part time?

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Maturestudentneedshelp · 30/12/2020 11:24

Yep - in 40s, doing my first ever degree in an academic (not vocational discipline). Full time student - difficult at first as the only mature student on my degree. Absolutely loving it now though!! Previously worked in retail and hospitality

Respectabitch · 30/12/2020 11:29

I'm thinking I'll do a(nother) MSc when I finish my current course, I'll be 38-39. Probably will be mostly or wholly virtual though, the way things are going!

I did a FT masters when I was 26 and I was probably one of the youngest on the course. Everything outside a traditional, FTvundergraduate degree is likely to be a wide mix and age range by default anyway.

Shamoo · 30/12/2020 11:30

Hi @Boredbear, my masters was is international law (I am a lawyer but chose topics I was interested in, it wasn't about career progression as such).

Whilst there were lots of students younger than me, it was fine and I made lots of friends (now in fact married to somebody I met on the course). It took me a couple of months to feel like I had made proper friends, I don't think its necessarily as straight forward as starting at uni as an 18 year old when everyone is in a very similar position. But the friendships I made were brilliant, and I think I had a better time on my masters than I did as an undergrad. Nobody cared about my age at all.

SilverOtter · 30/12/2020 11:31

Yes, I did BSc Psychology in my 30's. Started medical school at the age of 40Smile

TheThingWithFeathers · 30/12/2020 11:34

@Boredbear Unfortunately I don't think part time study is an option for me, I'd be retraining in a healthcare profession so all the courses seem to be full time with regular placements. I'm sure there's a way to do it, just need to give it some more thought!

zafferana · 30/12/2020 11:35

I always loved physical geography and was really interested in the environment, but I was weak at maths/science at school, so took an arts route after GCSEs (and then ended up in finance Hmm). It really wasn't until I was older, more confident and had nothing to lose that I discovered the OU, realised I didn't need certain A levels to do a degree course with them and thought 'Fuck it!'. So here I am, four years into a six year PT degree course and it's going well.

Studying in my 40s is TOTALLY different to the first time around. Now I'm not distracted by late nights, partying, boyfriend/friend/flatmate dramas, etc. I'm focused, organised and committed and getting decent marks as a result.

On that subject @TheThingWithFeathers take a look at the OU. All their courses are designed to be done alongside careers/caring responsibilities. Most students are PT, which requires 16-20 hours study per week, and the vast majority are working and/or raising families as well. There are a few very disciplined individuals who manage FT study + job + family. I don't know how they do it, but all power to them!

SenorFrog · 30/12/2020 11:42

I haven't but I did my full undergrad degree in the US. It's perfectly normal for older students to go back to uni, even as pensioners, over there. We had 18 year olds and grey haired old ladies and everything between in our classes. I always thought that was fabulous and learnt so much by having that broad spectrum of experiences to learn alongside.

Hellokittymania · 30/12/2020 11:48

I’m still trying to do some undergraduate studies, and I’m in my late 30s. I have tried before, and had a really hard time, but I just keep trying. I did take Arabic this year through a university in the US, I love languages, and they were able to adapt to my learning needs. I have a disability, and additional learning needs on top of it… But I have to say it was the best educational experience I’ve ever had, even though it meant staying up until 2 AM, and being in class until 12:30 AM on Sundays… At least at least I could order McDonald’s Mc flurry‘s and Ethan during class… That’s always a positive doing school on zoom. And I’m trying to continue with Arabic in the UK at a university here.

QuestionableMouse · 30/12/2020 11:56

I went back to education in my early thirties and I've loved ever minute of it. I wasn't the oldest on the course by a long shot and we all got on really well. Now doing a MA and hopefully a PhD in the future.