considering a masters in my 40s - anyone else?

[OtraCosaMariposa]

I am a very mature prospective student, if I start in September i'll be 48.

Have been thinking for a few years about going back and doing a Masters in history, part time over 2 years. My first degree is in Business and Modern Languages, in the language component I did a fair bit of history / literature / art and having spoken to the Uni I have a fair chance of getting a postgrad place.

But I have read such a lot of stuff about a Masters being such a step up from undergrad, and it's been SO long. I graduated in 1995. Many of the other students starting a masters won;t have even been born then. I have got out of the habit of academic writing, referencing, doing assignments and sitting exams.

Anyone else done similar and share experiences about how they've found things?

I did this in my 50s after years as a SAHM. I had no transcript but my undergrad was a 1st so they weren't worried about that. For references I asked a uni friend who is now an academic and an academic who I knew as a fellow governor of an FE college. To be honest they weren't too fussed as I was by no means the oldest and not everyone had a first degree in history any way.

If you are based in the SE and pm me I can tell you where I am in case you'd like a back up/second institution to apply to as I love where I am.

Taking on a Masters, especially if you have preschool or school-age children will be exhausting but so rewarding. I went to University as a mature student completing an Undergraduate Degree, then Masters and then lucky enough to be awarded funding for my PhD, which I completed in my fiftieth year. Never worked so hard but had so much fun working with other mature students and also students half my age. Just go for it.

Friend of mine in his late 30s has gone back to uni for a masters and struggled with the reference. He worked as a personal trainer so got one of his clients to do a reference and it must have worked as he got a place.

OP here with a wee name change.

Have managed to get two referees and it's actually worked out quite well - someone I volunteered with is a lecturer, albeit in a different subject at a different university. One of my clients who I write for supervises masters students' dissertations at another uni and has agreed to give me a reference too.

So all I need now is a personal statement.... 500 words max.

Submitted the application on Tuesday. Outright rejection received today. Not a "come in and we'll chat about it". Just a regret that your application has been unsuccessful.

What's the point. Far too long in the tooth to put myself through all this crap.

Oh don't give up
Can you ask for feedback

OP Pineapple/Mariposa Dont give up!.

I am the same age as you and have notions of starting my Masters this coming autumn (2020).

Hurdles are there for you to prove how much you want it....
Absolutley- ask for feedback

I’m 55 and in the second year of a masters while working full time.

Honestly you need to ask them why you weren’t successful. It won’t be the references. I wonder if they may think the jump is too big/long from your previous degree, but that’s just a “not now” problem. They may be able to suggest something you could do by way of short course to get you ready for the masters (and it will help - I found the first couple of modules hell’ish, but now am much more in the swing of it).

Honestly - ask. You definitely can do this, so you need to find out what the roadblock is. Good luck!

It was the fact that between looking at the course and getting round to applying they'd changed the criteria... it went from "a degree in history or a related subject" to a "degree in history". So outright rejection because I haven't got a degree in history!

The Uni does run another similar course which has a slightly narrower focus, it covers a lot of the same classes as the first course and still says "or any related subject" so I have emailed back asking if it's worth putting in an application for that one instead.

I just feel that the odds are stacked against me as a (very) mature student and yesterday was ready to chuck the towel in.

@PineappleDanish, so now you know why your application was rejected - nothing related to your background etc, simply that you didn't have the requisite degree. Surely that's good news?

Don't give up at this stage, keep in contact with the university who may be very helpful in pinpointing ways to help your application.

Lots of courses welcome mature students!

Back again....

Having spoken to a lot of universities over the last week or so, none will consider me for a Masters in history without at least a degree or history or joint honours in history and something else. I really wish they'd be more explicit about what they mean by "relevant degree" on websites. If you need a specific subject bloody well say so.

Anyway. I am now looking at the option of an online masters in Genealogy, part time. Online wouldn't be my chosen method of learning but the course itself is right up my street as I've looked into my own family tree and am very familiar with websites, censuses, old records and that sort of thing. I stand a much better chance of getting onto the course too. It's just the cost which is putting me off... will have to work out the finances before applying.

Back again....

Unconditional acceptance onto the part time online Masters. Delighted. Having thought about it, it will suit me a lot more in that the subject matter is more interesting, and the course generally attracts a more mature crowd than the standard classroom Masters which is mostly people who have just graduated. 2 years of study then the third year is writing up the dissertation.

Very excited and can't wait to get started in October. Next stop PhD?

Oh and meant to add the online Masters is from a "proper" uni, in fact the one I graduated from 25 years ago!

eerrmm, congratulations Pineapple, but some of us might teach at what you might consider not 'proper' universities. Care to elaborate, because it is somewhat annoying to have such thoughtless comments!

No, I mean it's an accredited online Uni masters, not one of those "universities" set up in the US which will sell you a Masters or PhD for £10k, without you having to do any work towards it!

Congratulations! Sounds like a great fit and something you'll really enjoy. I'm the same age as you and contemplating a Masters as well. Just not sure in what, as I've been away from work for almost nine years and really want to do something new but with solid career prospects. Good luck on your course!

Peace, Pineapple - I getya. (Prof, from the University of WeSelUAnyol'Fing