“It is never too late” is a statement I use for myself and to advise people in life. It is never too late go to university, and you're never too old.
As a mature student, I initially had anxiety about going to university. I thought I would be the oldest amongst my colleagues - but that wasn't the case, we have a different range of age groups in my class.
UCLan has made my higher education journey smooth sailing. Here are four things that has made UCLan stand out for me as a mature student:
1. Job opportunities
As a mature student, finances are my top priority. When I started, I immediately asked about part-time job opportunities and it was quite straightforward. I booked an appointment with the careers team where they showed me how to find the jobs available. Within one week, I secured a job.
2. Affordable rent
If you like to budget like me, you will know rent can be a huge expense. It usually takes more than 50% of your salary. Living here is the opposite, accommodation is quite affordable. You could get a room for as low as £400 a month or lower with bills included.
This was a huge relief for me as I could save money whilst studying. The university is also located in the middle of the city which means it is surrounded by restaurants, retail shops and other places to find work to help with your finances.
3. Timetable structures
Before you begin your academic year, the timetable will be available so you can plan ahead and fit your studies around other commitments. For postgraduate courses, there are more self-study days in the week which means you might just be required to be in university twice a week. This also helps you ease into the university world as you have enough time to catch up with lectures.
4. Transport options
As a mature student I have a few responsibilities which mean I can't be too far away from my family.
Thankfully, UCLan has convenient transport links to major cities like London, Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool. This has made studying here much more convenient for me as if I need to rush home, I know I could easily get there quickly.
