Starting university in your 50s

[tazzzzzzz]

Has anyone started a university course in their 50's? I used to work in finance, changed to social care in my mid 40s. Completed HNC Social services and have now been offered a year 2 university place. Will I feel too old at uni?

I work as a home carer and enjoy it but would like to open up other opportunities.

My husband did a full-time degree in his 70s, though it was online only. My mother also did one in her 70s (in person).

She was the oldest person on the course by some way, but she still enjoyed it.

Neither did their degrees for work purposes though!

Fifthtimelucky that is very good to hear. I don't even know if doing it will lead to job opportunities, I would be proud of myself if I could complete a degree.

Well done to your husband and mum for doing degrees in their 70s.

There are many different ages at uni now, so no you won't feel old. My friends mum went back to uni at 50 to study nursing and she loved it. There were a couple of people in her class who were in their 40s and 50s at the time. Enjoy it 🙂

I did an degree in my 50s by distance. I'm in my early 60s now, and doing a PhD. I am older than any of the other PhD students, but they have all been really kind and welcoming. I hope it's never too late!

I personally wouldn’t spend the money unless I expected it to springboard a career change, but I’m sure many people do it for the fun, I think just figure out your motive so you aren’t disappointed?

I did an undergrad in my late 40s, two masters in my 50s and am doing a PhD in my 60s!

I'm 47 and starting an OU undergrad degree part-time, so I'll be studying Level 2 when I turn 50. It'll be a second undergrad degree for me and I enrolled because the SLC rules for funding STEM ELQ degrees are changing and it would be my last chance to get a loan for it. I don't have any great ambitions to have a full career change (it would need a doctorate and is v competitive) but I think I'll enjoy it and be proud of achieving it.

Masters in my fifties. Distinction. New professional opportunities.

(After a previous professional career in a completely different subject.)

You're never too old to learn. I attended my OU graduation ceremony last year and a 90 year old lady was there to collect her degree. She got a standing ovation!

Some courses naturally lend themselves to people changing careers, social worker/social care type courses usually have older students so if it’s something like that you’ll not be the only more mature student.

I'm 53 and doing hnd Computer Science. I hope to carry on to do a degree after that.
I was worried about feeling out of place, but there are plenty of mature students and it has been a fantastic experience for me. My classes and some exams are online.

I began an undergraduate degree in my mid 40s then went straight into a masters and doctorate, all at the same uni. Not bad considering I didn't even do A levels! I had something to prove to myself. When you are older your uni experience is different. Don't expect to he hanging out 1ith 18-20 year olds because for them it would be like hanging out wit their mum. I tended to hang out with the lecturers and the postgrads while I was still an undergraduate. That's what happens when you are older and you have two decades of work in a management job behind you. This was back in the 1980s/90s when there were still grants so I graduated with no debt. My years at uni were the happiest years of my life. I tutor postgrads now and it helps me t connect with those years.

I'll be starting the 3rd year of my degree this September (4th year at uni overall). I'm 46. The other students are the same age as my son but its really no big deal. I keep myself to myself and wouldn't dream of trying to hamg out with them as I already have a life beyond uni.

I'm sure you'll enjoy it, good luck!

Absolutely go for it! Some friends who have done this in their 50s did it more for self fulfillment and classed the loans as income rather than to pursue a career, so never to pay back. Others have secured good jobs as the degree enhanced their opportunity to progress and earning more.

In our 50s now we still have at least another 17 years to work...

Yes I did a Master’s in my 50s. In music, which directly led to the job I then did for the next 8 years. I got a distinction too. I would say go for it!

Hi, I'm 50 and about to start a 4-year healthcare degree at uni next week. On a bit of a rollercoaster of feelings about it - sometimes I'm positive and very grateful I get the chance, and other times I'm very worried about the amount of work involved, the effect on my family and wondering whether I've actually just lost the plot! I love hearing all these positive stories about (very) mature students, and would love to know how you get on OP. Wishing us both luck!

You surely can’t imagine the effect on your family would be improved by your spending the rest of your life miserable and unfulfilled?

Hi @tazzzzzzz I am in my mid fifties and half way through a post grad diploma in social work with the option to do a dissertation at the end and finish with a masters. It’s fully funded with a (basic) bursary.
Honestly - I’m absolutely loving it, it’s hard work and my family have not seen as much of me as they usually do. But I’m finally ‘me’ again - I’ve got around 15 years of working left and I was dreading spending it working in a job that just didn’t fulfil me.
So I would say go for Social Work - there are a couple of programs around that fund you so you won’t leave with any debt.
If you’ve already started uni then hopefully you’re loving it!
Feel free to DM me if you want to find out any more about the route I am on

I’ve just finished a masters degree at 48. There were loads of people in their 50s on my course (part time so most of us were working too). Ages ranged from new graduates to people approaching retirement - it was great and the mix of ages brought different experiences and perspectives!

Lots of people have already said age isn't a barrier, and I agree. On your other question, whether the degree will lead to a job: pull 5 adverts for the jobs you'd want afterwards and check whether they require the degree, prefer it, or don't mention it. If most require it, year 2 entry is a real head start. If they don't, your HNC plus your care experience might already get you there.

It's also worth working out the full cost (fees, time and any lost hours) against the pay difference, so you know how long it takes to pay back. Happy to share the worksheet I use for that.