Studying a non-vocatiobal degree as a mature student

[TravellingSpoon]

Loads of threads on MN about people retraining as HCP or other vocational subjects which lends itself to a specific career path, but does anyone have experience of a non-vocational degree as a mature student (40's).

I’m not sure if creative practice counts as vocational in quite the way you mean? There’s certainly no guaranteed job or career path for any of the artists, writers, musicians I know, who have variously launched themselves into postgrad degrees after earlier, more mainstream careers, or long periods away from work. There are a few posters on this board considering this route.

Theologians are probably closer to your idea? It’s not uncommon for them to decide to take this path seriously in middle age.

I can’t immediately think of anyone I know who’s taken up, say, History, or Mathematics or Geography as a second career. Perhaps because these things are so accessible straight from school - and don’t fall victim to parental disapproval.

(Plenty of retired people take up History as enthusiastic amateurs via investigation of their family trees - quite a few end up lecturing, without any formal qualifications in the subject.)

What are you thinking of studying?

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I thought this was a really interesting question - and wish there had been more responses …