Is there a specific Mature Study & Retraining board?

[Edmontine]

I know there have been mature student threads. But I feel I’ve read countless, tentative Am I too old to - threads, with each OP believing they’re the first person ever to consider a degree or postgrad at 30 / 40 / 50 onwards - and almost talking themselves out of the idea before they’ve even posted.

It would be helpful to have a dedicated space - with a note at the top assuring people that they’re not freaks and would be welcomed by places of learning.

(If such a board already exists and I’ve failed to find it, consider me suitably embarrassed.)

Hi everyone, has anyone had to do a aptitude test as part of the university’s selection process? I have to complete one next week, I’m crapping myself!

Is this a general entrance exam or specific to your subject?

(I had both for undergrad a million years ago. More recently I had to submit relevant pieces of work with my application.)

Do you know what to expect?

Ah it is shame we can't have a board. This thread is great, but in the 4 years I spent studying up to now I have regularly looked for support threads on MN and found an odd one, which fizzled out and disappeared. I am sure it wasn't through lack of interest, more lack of being able to find it for new people looking for the same.

I too am delighted to see my fellow mature students stories of success. I am now two weeks into my first job as a Radiographer, after graduating with a first and am loving starting my new career despite being older than most of the department staff . I have felt very welcome and don't regret becoming a very mature student one bit!

Good luck to those of you just starting out, and returning to your new academic years.

I passed my degree aged 39. I’m51 and halfway through my Masters. Both are job related.

I’m a late bloomer.

@Edmontine I’ve just been sent through an example test to try out before the official one. I’m going to give it a go later when the kids are in bed.

I am nervous as it has been a long time since I’ve done a test of any sort, due to my background and undergrad being in the creative industry. This subject I’m applying for is quite the opposite.

Good luck to everyone who has been successful in securing their place! Fingers crossed I will be able to join you.

Can you get hold of any more sample tests - maybe from a different source?

If you posted your subject there may be someone here who could advise. Or at least encourage!

Brilliant idea!

Ok everyone I need some insight...
I have secured a place at ulster university to study environmental health woop!
However I got an email yesterday from the open university when I wasn't sure of what path I wanted to go down I filled in an application for a carers scholarship. I've only gone and been awarded it! So they would fund a full degree for me up to bsc level.
It would mean no student debt, but also no financial support in terms of maintenance grants. What would you do? I'm so happy to have been given the opportunity just unsure what's the best way to proceed.

Interesting.
Open university you could do part time and still work and be at home so would you need a maintenance loan?

And does it do the course you want?
Would Ulster mean moving?
I suppose would you want a proper university experience? Live in halls, mix with students, etc. Or as a nature student with existing commitments was it always attend lectures, come home, fit study around family life?

I had no real commitments but never really did any student campus stuff as too old (bar attending interesting talks) .

What distinguishes one from the other?

Would you be going ‘away’ to Ulster or living at home? (Assuming continuing caring responsibilities?) Which do you need or prefer?

If it’s your first degree - it would perhaps be a shame to miss out on the ‘away’ experience, and the day to day interaction with students and tutors, but you know your life best.

Unless the loan system is different in NI I’m not sure ‘student debt’ (in terms of tuition fees) deserves a place in your considerations.

Which course is better? (Are they both full time?) What have you been imagining as your ideal student experience?

Congratulations either way, though!

This would be a great addition to MN

I had no real commitments but never really did any student campus stuff as too old (bar attending interesting talks).

I had zero interest in getting drunk with people half my age during my MA. But the degree itself involved a lot of working with other students, which also meant an enormous amount of time meeting and discussing and figuring things out. I probably learnt more from this aspect of the course than from the formal tuition. So it’s absolutely not something I would be willing to forgo - even if an online equivalent was objectively just as good.

Moving away isn't an option. I've 4 kids one with special needs so either way I was staying at home.
I dont currently work due to health, my money would stay the same as it is now if I studied at OU, for Ulster I would get a rather hefty non repayable maintenance grant so would be a bit better of financially, however in the long run when I'm back in work I will be paying back due to tuition fees.
Mainly I wanted to study a degree that ignites my passion for better circumstances for individuals. My background is supporting long term unemployed back into work.

True I had very little group work to do -so we did organise study groups before exams and do them over zoom but that was quite efficient.

I was lucky, in years 1 I was on campus and made friends/study buddies so could use them in year 2 for online stuff.

I don't know if upcoming masters Is in person or online yet, hopefully not too much annoying travel for 1 hour of tutorials a day -nicer if they get stacked all together if possible! But of course they don't do it that way (bar more professional providers like university of law who does courses for employers and therefore is much more "client" focused and actively said they try and minimise your in person days to avoid unnecessary travel

Similarly I enjoy interacting with people face to face. I can however also study happily online. At the moment I'm also doing a lovely 4 advice and guidance which is all about working in a advice centre. I'm really enjoying this as well. Open uni no matter if you study full time or not is classed as part time. Ulster is full time but I think our actual learning time is 12 hours a week.

Ulster.

Assuming the course has a decent reputation. If the entire profession swears by the OU degree then that would be persuasive.

It occurs to me that Ulster would provide access to concrete libraries and study areas that you’d have to find for yourself if you take the OU course. Would this not be a help?

@Edmontine

Ulster.

Assuming the course has a decent reputation. If the entire profession swears by the OU degree then that would be persuasive.

It occurs to me that Ulster would provide access to concrete libraries and study areas that you’d have to find for yourself if you take the OU course. Would this not be a help?

The course at ulster has an excellent reputation and excellent student feedback so I am more swaying towards that. I just didn't want to appear ungrateful at being offered a scholarship and then declining it.

As I did my second degree for fun I am wondering would I have accepted a full scholarship to avoid the fees - so I would save £18500.

Assuming same course (law in my case) I still don't know. Yes I'd save £18k but I wanted to get the best one I could, even if it didn't actually matter as not applying for jobs off it. I probably would still have picked my course and paid for it BUT I had the savings sat there to cover it all. If I didn't I'd have gone for the much cheaper option.

I did this and contribute to these threads. Might do another one do a new board would be good!

Hi everyone,
Are Open University courses (well, qualifications really) seen “as good as” attending an actual university in a building, going to lectures etc, and the qualification you would get from that? I know that some universities are more prestigious and hold more weight than others, but from a job candidate POV, do recruiters ever look at OU courses like “oh, it’s only an OU qualification” (I’m not trying to be dismissive about them btw I just genuinely have no idea - I would like to retrain and start studying and an OU course would be the best for me but if I have to put the time and money into it to only find out that people don’t class then as seriously, then it might make me think different). Thank you in advance for any responses.

I think in a lot of ways OU is seen as the harder option as you are normally working along side. I can't speak for other professions but in finance they held a lot of weight. My previous background was recruitment. Normally candidates would have work experience/transferable skills which boosted their chances in bring short listed for interview

I concur with the above, the accredited engineering courses are held in good esteem. Lots of big names BAE, Babcock, CAF, Kier, GE, Airbus etc.. all students I’ve studied alongside have then gone on to get jobs in these places.

If it’s accredited then it meets the required standard.

Thank you for the advice.
Now (and most importantly!) I need to figure out what it is I’d like to study I already did a course ages ago when I left school but it was absolutely not the right course for me and I didn’t finish it.

Do you have any particular talents you’ve never had the chance to develop?

Would you rather work with ideas and concepts, or with tangible things or people?

Indoors or outdoors? (I have no idea if the OU offers degrees in Horticulture, Landscape Gardening or Bee Keeping.) How about Interior Design or Weaving?)

Consider - do you want to focus on the past, present or future? Art History? Assyriology? Crypto-currencies, Urban Planning? AI, Interplanetary Exploration?

@beefcurry I'd go with ulster - the repayments later on will be tiny unless you'll be a high earner, I worked in the charity sector for a while after I graduated and think I only ever paid around £7 a month back lol. Ulster also has really good library access which I'd recommend. Which campus is it on? Good luck with whatever you decide 😊