Starting a degree at 35

[Gem8701]

Hi,

I not sure if this is the right place to post?

Ok so i work in admin at the moment, I have pretty much just had office jobs, I did do a HR course L3 a few years ago but then found it hard to gain any experience in this sector.

I am now at the point where I want to better myself and get a better job, as I have no GCSE'S I am thinking of doing a course/degree with the Open University but I feel a bit old?

Has anyone started at this age and its been a success?

Any advice appreciated.

Gemma

I'm doing a second 'first degree' with the OU.

If you are not sure what you want I'd start by looking at the free courses.

You might like th e'Open degree' where you study things you are interested in.

@sashh what are you doing?

But you had a plan this morning

Just focus on English and maths gcse in the short term.

OP I just checked our local college and University and they

1. don't require GCSEs to be accepted onto the Access course as you study the Functional Skills alongside the Access Courses (they do Computing, Nursing / Social Sciences and Education)

2. Local Universities accept applicants with Functional Skills and a relevant Access into HE qualification (and no GCSEs)

Good luck 😊

I did a BSc psychology degree with the OU and I don’t have GCSEs. It’s the only way you can do a degree without needing prior qualifications. I enjoyed doing it but it hasn’t led to me being able to better my career at all unless I do further post grad study which I can’t afford. I wish I had chosen a different subject which could have taken me down a more specific path such as doing primary teaching

You might be able to do an access course through a local college or uni to bypass the gcse/a level stage.

I studied law in my 40s and there were older than me there. Age shouldn’t be a barrier but you may not get the student lifestyle you’d have had at 18

What about doing something like mental health nursing if you're interested in psychology? If you take this route you could do an access course first- but you may still need maths and English and science gcses so I'd check first. Also, 35 is still young to start a career where experience is important - like mental health work, teaching, social work; they like older students.

Mental health nursing is a degree, by the way, but one where you will be able to get a job afterwards; you could always choose to take further qualifications after if you enjoy it. Psychology is very popular and it's hard to get a career just from the psychology degree.

@Gem8701

Maths. I know I'm wierd.

I looked into doing an access course but these are all full time and I'm currently working full time and don't want to leave my job, I want to study along side x

Ok, so get your English and Maths GCSEs via evening classes and sign up for FutureLearn unlimited to try out loads of courses which might interest you. When you know what you really want to study, someone can advise you.

You posted this…

Ok-I am going to book an interview with the local college to see if i can get on evening course to do the GCSE'S

Are you still going to do that? It seems like the best idea now-you could probably start in September if you ring now. It will give you the basic qualifications to springboard into other courses and give you an insight into how you enjoy studying as well.

@Shinyandnew1 yes i have interview and assessment next week at local college for the English & Maths GCSE

great! Keep us updated!

In case it’s of interest to later posters who may have missed the link above, here’s the Mature Study and Retraining board (under the Education topic).