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.)

thank you, I will!

I did not begin my first degree until my mid 40s (1980s) but I was fortunate in that there were still LEA student grants then, and I got an extra lump for having worked. I went on to do a masters and a doctorate but the funding was a whole different ball game and very political. It was very much depending upon you having not only a 1st but a sexy research topic. I was fortunate to get a studentship from the uni at which I took my first degree then went on to win government funding from ESRC. I would not discourage anyone from beginning a highr degree as a mature student but a Ph.d. is a long slog and most students take 4/5 years.

Hello and thanks for the inspiration! I've being going to/will try to/would really love to restart a career for about five years. What a wonderful thread this is and perfectly timed for me because I'm absolutely going to do it somehow. Will be applying in Jan for September intake. I have numerous hurdles to overcome, as do all of you I see, mostly the financial as I did a degree and then Masters in humanities types of things approximately 8000 years ago.

The Masters I want to do now is in Psychotherapy, which brings together the advocacy work I did post-degrees with clients who had experienced severe trauma and the volunteering work I've done in a family therapy project. I'm partially deaf so working with one person at a time - or one person speaking at a time - removes a lot of barriers than many other occupations have.

I understand that I'm not eligible for any type of funding or loan as this is a second Masters though in a different area and leading to employment. The area of study in my last course has moved on dramatically so the subject itself is of little help professionally. Something is burning in me to apply but without a grant or loan I cannot study. I could not realistically pay back a career development loan at the rate it would require. I'm a single parent and newly providing 24hr care for my sister who has learning difficulties, which I want to do. I am arranging services for her that will allow me to work/study but I don't expect to be high earning (ever!) within a short period and making repayments. I'm likely to be part-time for the rest of my working life.

Now late 40s I'm blessed with not easily being pacified and quite determined not to have to sacrifice any more of my own ambitions. If any of you have information about funding in these circs I'd really appreciate hearing them.

I started my HE journey with an access course and I promise those starting one now that you will be far more prepared than young undergrads and if you can do this you you can do anything.Good luck to all.

I am early 30's and mid PhD, this would be good.

Hi all, can I ask your advice. A few years ago I did a media degree, and currently work as a media advisor.

I am starting a masters next year and was wondering if I might be making a mistake staying in the same field (considering the relatively low future earning potential).

What would you study if you were in my shoes and looking to potentially make a change?

Obviously I'm skilled at English, have strong people skills etc. Just looking for ideas I can investigate.

How did you get to the point of starting a masters next year in the same field, if you’re not optimistic about the potential for improving your earning power? Were you following professional advice, or did you apply because you love the subject for its own sake?

On the other hand, what would be the reason for postgraduate study in a different subject if there isn’t something you particularly want to do? Where do you want the MA to take you?

Aaaaaah I got in! I didn’t think I would due to the aptitude tests, but I start next week! I’m shitting it!

That’s amazing news - congratulations!

(Though I’m curious about your rapid timescale / turnaround.)

@Edmontine

How did you get to the point of starting a masters next year in the same field, if you’re not optimistic about the potential for improving your earning power? Were you following professional advice, or did you apply because you love the subject for its own sake?

On the other hand, what would be the reason for postgraduate study in a different subject if there isn’t something you particularly want to do? Where do you want the MA to take you?

I do like what I do, and loved my undergraduate media course so am excited to study more.

However, I increasingly feel (having recently gotten more into investing etc) it's more important to look at ways to increase my future earning potential.

@Edmontine it’s a PgCert, I applied for it in August and start next week!

That must be terrifying! Will you be commuting from home - surely no time to arrange student accommodation?

(I recall I discovered the existence of my course in February (years ago), applied in March - two hours before the deadline - and started in September. Even that seemed uncomfortably hasty.)

The course will mainly be based online, plus luckily I only live 20 minute commute from the University.

Cross referencing this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/academics_corner/4348816-Re-training-VERY-late-in-life?msgid=110790426

as so relevant!

I decided to take redundancy in mid July....Found my course which was a perfect fit a few days later, so was thinking of next year, had an interview in August and starting next week!

Bit of a whirl wind to be honest! But it felt like it was meant to be.... I've wanted to go into this field for many years and this is a spring board into new career....

@ChocolateCauldron congrats! What subject are you studying?

Very annoying - still stumbling over threads where posters confidently assert that potential postgraduates only have access to charity or career development loan finance.

If we had a board, the link to this page:

www.gov.uk/funding-for-postgraduate-study

could have been at the top of the holding page for all the threads …

[quote Feckauras]@ChocolateCauldron congrats! What subject are you studying?[/quote]
Psychology. I'm doing a campus tour in the morning for mature students and I'm so nervous!

Comfortable footwear; breathable clothes in light layers; and carry as little as possible. Be prepared for the tour to last twice as long as seems reasonable; and for everyone else to ask things that they could easily have researched in the last few weeks. However exhausted or impatient you may be by that point, try to concentrate when they’re explaining the obscure rituals pertaining to their concrete and online libraries. (Thus avoiding any instance of actual crying when you need access and info in a hurry and don’t know what you’re doing …)

It’ll be grand!

@EdmontinaDonsAutumnalHues Thank you! I'm feeling a bit nervy, imposter syndrome, and I haven't even started yet!

🍀🍀🍀

(For everyone starting out this term.)

@EdmontinedonsAutumnalHues
If there were a board, say, this link about bursaries for people in Wales could also be pinned.
gov.wales/student-finance/postgraduate-and-doctoral-students

Thanks for that, BestIsWest - it’s so important. I hadn’t even realised there is a separate system in Wales.

We have a teen in the family starting university this term. Aside from recalling my own experiences I’ve found myself wondering how all the beginners and new starters on this thread are getting on.

I have a question related to something I think we touched on earlier.

Over the Summer, I have for the first time ever acquired a dedicated mentor - through an obscure process at the heart of my occupation / industry. Don’t know how it will work out yet, but I’ve been wondering whether my previous career might have developed differently if there’d been someone tasked with taking a specific interest in my progress.

What’s your experience been? Do any of you have anything like a mentor to spur you on and be your ally? Is it easier or harder to access this sort of support in mature life?

Phew, I found the thread again after it fell off my list. How's everyone getting on?

I'm three weeks into my postgrad and finding it very hard going. There are lots of coinciding circumstances (very busy work period plus moving house) but the fact of lectures at home is a huge challenge, the dc and dh can't get their heads round default parent me being in the house but not available for every food request or stubbed toe . And it's far to easy to Google something utterly irrelevant with zoom in parallel.

I would love to have had a mentor, would love one now in fact. I’ve done a fair bit of mentoring myself - in fact I have two young women mentees at the moment and it’s been hugely enjoyable.

I’m approaching retirement in 2 years time but would really like some guidance on where to go next and think a mentor would be so useful.
I have an idea for combining my skills with a hobby and it would be great to have someone to talk things over with. There’s one aspect of my job that I really love, a skill that I don’t want to lose and it would be amazing to be able to use it in a voluntary capacity.