The term ‘mature student’ refers to anyone attending university after a certain period of time away from study. This generally refers to people who are 21 or over when starting a course.
Every year thousands of mature students head to university; it is a great way to learn new skills or opt for a career change and is open to people of all ages.
Being a mature student comes with both benefits and challenges. Whilst you will have more life experiences to draw on, getting back into studying can be difficult and disruptive to the life you’re used to. Here are my top tips for studying as a mature student:
Get everyone on the same page
Talk to your family about the commitment that university is going to take, it’s great to have their support when you need to miss the Sunday Roast to work on your assignment.
Get organised
Carve time out of your week to dedicate to pre-learning. Having allocated time in your week means you’ll avoid distractions and won’t have any excuses not to get your work done.
Keep showing up
Turn up for all your seminars and lectures and treat your contact time as a job. The more sessions you attend, the better you’re going to perform in your coursework and on your exams.
Find your groove
Work out your best way to study – whether that’s early in the morning before the house is awake or late at night when the kids are in bed. Be honest with yourself about what works and don’t feel guilty at other times when you’re not working.
Utilise the library
The university library is a fantastic place to get your head down and study, there are several areas to suit your needs including quiet rooms, collaborative spaces, and thousands of books on demand! There’s also something motivating about being surrounded by other focused students!
Plan ahead
Start work on assignments and revision as early as possible, this will allow you to feel on top of work and give you plenty of time to get your assignments in early.
Make friends
Get in touch with other mature students on your course or around the university, finding people with shared experiences can be really helpful when it comes to studying and sharing notes.
All in all, becoming a mature student is a fantastic opportunity, whether you are looking to learn new skills or retrain in a different career, your time at university will be valuable for the rest of your life. If you follow the study tips, you’ll be sure to make studying at university a less stressful and more fulfilling experience and ultimately achieve a better result!