Anyone gone back to uni later in life — no GCSEs, kids, tired of low-paid jobs?

[Natali386]

Just wondering if anyone here has actually gone back to uni after years out of education?

I’ve been chatting to loads of women lately - mums, career changers, people in their 30s/40s/50s who feel like they’ve missed their chance, especially if they left school early or don’t have GCSEs.

But I’ve also seen it’s 100% possible to get into uni without qualifications - even studying online, part-time, around kids.

Has anyone done it? What course did you pick? How did you find the process?

Genuinely curious because I think a lot of us feel stuck in low-paid jobs and don’t realise we’ve still got options.

Would love to hear your stories 💛

Unless you live in London, it's probably not worth it for a career move. Most grads outside London go into low paid and low skilled jobs these days.

https://ifs.org.uk/news/increasing-concentration-high-skilled-jobs-london-means-graduates-elsewhere-cannot-fully

It might be interesting to do anyway! But it's not a passport to higher earnings, particularly, these days.

I did OU

then worked as a teacher.

i really enjoyed teaching.

Allow me to introduce you to MN’s very own Mature Study and Retraining board, @Natali386. Hundreds and hundreds of threads:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

I know our local university does alternative schemes for university entry for those without qualifications if they have significant life experience in a similar role.
Then of course OU.

I would sort of agree with Lundier though. A lot of graduates I know are in low paid jobs outside of the cities.

I mean there's things like teaching and nursing but I think you would need GCSEs for that even with a degree.

If I had my time again I'd learn a trade! Those are the people making money near me.

A friend did a degree in her 30s. In Geography I think. Now works for a mapping company and loves it. Before that she'd left school at 16, and was working as a secretary, and bored stiff.

Another acquaintance re-trained as a teacher in her early 40s, and was a Headteacher by her early 50s.

I’m 43, in my 2nd year of Open Uni, studying Psychology. No qualifications needed. I am doing it part time and enjoying it. Part time it’s very doable, being a single parent and working part time I would never manage to do it full time. I have also made a group of lovely friends in my cluster group on WhatsApp, so much so that we have kept the group going after moving on to different modules. It is never too late. Hope this helps.

Just to add, my friend in her early 40s quit teaching and went to Uni to become a paramedic. She is now a paramedic trainer.

Lots of health professionals train later in life. I would go to it isn’t an easy path but doable. Access to higher education courses, maths and English GCSE, A levels are available at local college and routes to University to do the following.

Paramedic, nurse, midwife, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, biomedical science. Social work, teaching. Environmental Health

I'd love to do go back to studying. Looking for a new purpose!

Take a look at the Mature Students board, @MrPrehistoric - link posted above.

Yes. I did an access course last year at uni. Am in my 1st year of a nursing degree. I'm 45 and have 3 young children. Half my year are 30/40/50s and the other half are school leavers. I love it.

I agree with posters above that it is really only worth going back to study something vocational that will qualify you for a specific job. Health related options are good and some come with bursaries.

I did. I did an access course which helped massively for being prepared for uni.
I finished a masters age 50. Think it depends on what course you do.

Having a degree can help you move your the ladder in a lot of places.

My mum went to uni in her 50s. She had to do an interview and got in with no qualifications.

my DF and DH both did degrees via the Open University - they didn’t need qualifications for that

Not that I am being a negative Nancy. But please be careful and take consideration before going ahead.
I did an Access course in the late 2000s and started my actual degree aged 28. I was 31 when I graduated. I got a 2:2. I realised I couldn't really compete against 21 year old graduates with 2:1s and 1sts (as well as A levels). I have struggled with dead end poorly paid retail jobs, now I am a cleaner at the council.
In short, returning to education did not make any positive impact in my employability. Sorry.

I wouldn’t do a degree in your position. I’d do an accountancy apprenticeship or some sort of access into work scheme into a big 4 accountancy/consulting function. Or cyber security.

I took the access course route to uni, started my access program when my youngest started primary school. That took one year full time (more like 30h per week plus study in the evenings).
Got into a good uni to study occupational therapy. Completed the degree, worked as an OT for 18months and then applied for trainee cognitive behavioural therapist position. Was successful at interview, completed further year of postgrad training and now am qualified and a team lead in the NHS. So in less than 10years I went from at home mum to postgrad qualified team lead.
It’s the best decision I could have made. Good luck with your future!

Aside from having to pay back debit when you hit a certain level it pays to go short term.

No council tax, grants guaranteed income extra bursaries ..all for 16 hours.
plus student discounts on everything and it’s very fun.

I did an access course as I didnt even have A levels. However I was qualified in another profession (Librarianship). I didnt even have O level maths but I blagged it and no one ever asked to see a certificate. I did a 1st degree in psychology and then went on to do a masters and doctorate in Human Computer Interaction. Not bad for a working class kid with 5 O levels.

I went to uni when I was 30 and my children were both at school. It was hard work being a full time student and a full time mum but I loved it. I was training to be a teacher and eventually moved in HE and thoroughly enjoyed my career. And I went on to do an MA and a Doctorate. Have you considered training as a plumber? They are always in demand and well paid as are train drivers - £83k plus overtime. You don’t necessarily need a degree.

I did OU in my twenties after having my DC very young. It worked well for me, it got me in the door with a company when I was studying, I worked my way up, job hopped once I graduated. I know have other, more relevant, qualifications to my industry but I wouldn't have got here without it.

Good on you. You are right to advice caution though, a degree in social science or another gateway degree is not going to have the same career prospects as a vocational one.

Not me but I know a good few yes. All worked out positively