Are you ever to old to go to uni?

[MissMudskipper]

I'm considering going to uni but as a mature student - think closer to 40 than I like to be - are you ever too old to go?

Bit of background - married with 2 kids both primary school age. I currently work part time in a job that has nothing to do with what I'd like to do degree wise - social work. However, I have a wealth of voluntary experience working with young children which I'd hope would go in my favour. A local uni does offer alternative routes if you dont have the standard entry requirements.

I'm in a lucky position that I dont necessary need to work as my husband earns a good wage (that's not a stealth boast!! Just how it is!)

AIBU in wanting to go to uni or should I just accept I'm too old now to start thinking of a major career change? My husband is supportive however some of my friends think I'm crazy!!

Do it, you will never regret it.

With your kids at primary school, this is the best time for you to study.

It's not so easy if your kids are similar age group to the other students.

You will have the benefit of the latest study methods too.

There was a woman in my Art History module who was in her 80s. This was a full time course, not distance learning. She was fab!

There was a 58 year old on my course when I did my first degree. My brother retrained as a doctor after qualifying as a chartered accountant. He was in his late 20s, there were people in their late 40s. My cousin trained as a solicitor in her 50s after being a SAHM for years and years. Just do it as the saying goes

Not too old to go but anyone not watching home and away aged 12 in 1986 is too old to say uni. Cringe!

I'm sorting out my application for next year. I'm 51. I've never done a degree, managed to mess up my A levels.

I also have a 55 year old friend, who is also looking into doing a degree. We're looking at the same uni, just not the same course.

Never too late.

Never too old.

I am enrolling for OU next year, and hope to do a PGCE and qualify as a teacher 2025/26. I am 42. As long as I qualify before I am 50 I will have at least 17 years to work as a teacher. You can achieve an awful lot in 17 years. And by the time I reach 67 who knows what the retirement age will be.

I took maths and English GCSE last year with an aim to help my dyspraxic son with his exams - I already had o-levels from 30 plus years ago.

I loved it, I wasn't the oldest, passed with flying colours. My poor son failed his maths, again, and was not impressed with how well did (7 + 8).

I will definatley go back to education again soon. What it did show me was just how important good teachers are. My maths teacher was inspirational but my English teacher was an embarrassment to our education system.

Sorry to make you cringe @onioncrumble I'm clearly still "down with the kids"

Education isn't just for the young and learning is something that we all experience every day in new ways. You are absolutely NOT too old to return to education!

Good luck with the applications @MulticolourMophead and @Frouby

Go for it! When I did my degree there 3 mature students on my course, one lady around 45 with young children who did it because she enjoyed the subject, another lady 39 or 40 with two young children who wanted to start a career and not be a SAHM anymore, and a man probably 38-39 who wanted a change in career. In those days I don’t think they had to pay fees ( 20 odd years ago ), I can’t remember.

I've worked in HE for 20 years OP. In 2012 I had a PhD student who was 87. Never too old

Do it! UCAS deadline I think is December so get your application in and you can start in September. I'm in my 30's at uni and there's a great woman 15 years older than me and most if the students on my course are mature students.

My friends think I am mad to be doing a law degree at 45, but it was that or just take a few years off from my existing career.
I also think I am mad sometimes when I have to sit and write essays.
Think I am the oldest on the course but it's not an issue. I am in a cohort of students who have existing degrees already so are all "mature" (at least over 21)
Go for it. Only strange thing is that it matters far less to me whether I end up with good marks, I mean I want them but it makes no odds to my existing career. So there is that side of motivating yourself to do all the work.

I'm 44 and started a medical degree in September. There's absolutely no reason why you shouldn't.

I'm 45 and started my first degree in September. I thought about it for years but this year I applied and got accepted, I love it and there are quite a few mature students at my campus, lots in their 30s.

I didn't have the standard requirements either but had an meeting with the tutor then completed a report to make sure I would be able to meet the standard. There are definitely other ways of getting a place so go for it, talking to the tutors and admissions team at an open day is a good start. Good luck.

The richest person I know went to uni in their mid 40s. All their riches came after that.

I’m contemplating nursing as a career change. I’d qualify just before turning 39 and thought that might be too old but this thread has given me hope

When it comes to learning, there is no such thing as 'too old'. Go for it OP!

I’m in my 2nd year of a BSc and will be 38 when I graduate, best thing I ever did, really enjoying my course and actually because I’m closer in age to some of our lecturers than other students and so have a good relationship with them, I’ve been given some fantastic placement opportunities and been able to start networking in the field I’m aiming for a career in already.

Hiya. I'm 36, qualified last Sept with Postgraduate Diploma in Soc Work. Now working with children and families in a local authority.

I did an education degree first as had originally wanted to be a teacher however in my first year changed my mind and volunteered in a variety of social care environments, alongside my degree to get relevant experience. I also had two primary school aged children too, when completing both degrees.

It's hard work studying with children but it's 100% worth it. Good Luck @MissMudskipper, you'll be great :)

I hope not! I'm in my early 30s and hoping to go in September 2020.

I think you should go for it as it seems you have the support, the time and the motivation to go for it.

I'd say half of my course is over 30. Oldest is 65. You're never too old.