UCAS - UCAS mature students: case studies

'It has been the best time of my life with the most amazing and inspirational people I have ever met'

Name: Penny Y

Age: 40

Studying: BA English at Loughborough University

Qualifications: GCSEs and an Access course

I went to a typically old-fashioned secondary modern school and left in 1988. The poor educational standard of my school gave me little aspiration or hope for my future academically. I had no support or guidance from teachers or from youth or careers centres of the kind available now, and none of my family were in any way academic or supportive of further education. Consequently, my results were poor and I felt that my only option was to leave school and take the YTS programme. I worked full-time for £32 per week and still had no career at the end of the two-year course.

I then worked for 12 years as a press reader for a media monitoring company. I loved the job; the hours were perfect and the pay was good. I had a beautiful flat and I could afford to pay the mortgage on my own; I was very happy. The company then started to suffer in the poor economic climate and we were all informed that the office was to shut, forcing redundancy on the staff. The job was highly specialised and I had no transferrable skills, so I felt the best option was literally to start again. I put all my belongings in storage, sold the flat, rented a room and started an Access course at my local college, whilst undertaking CLAIT and ECDL courses at the same time to update my IT skills.

The Access course restored my confidence in my ability to achieve academically as I studied biology, sociology, psychology and English at A Level standard and achieved good results consistently in all subjects. I also re-sat and passed my maths and English GCSEs. While taking the Access course, we had presentations and talks from student finance representatives and universities, which made me excited to realise going to university and attaining a degree was a real possibility.

When considering where to live while at university I felt the best way to immerse myself in the full student experience was to move into halls and embrace student life in the same way a younger student would. My concerns were chiefly whether I would fit in, how the younger students would react to me and if I would ever be able to make friends! I found by not disclosing my age it never became an issue.

I have built some amazing friendships that have been a mutually beneficial two-way exchange. As a mature student you automatically become the first point of help for younger first-year students who need advice on everything from laundry to budgeting or relationships. I have also learnt a lot from the younger students who have useful academic skills and experience.

Loughborough University has provided excellent support for me as a mature student. I have had financial help with a bursary and academic support from my liaison tutor. There is also a Mature Student Association, which offers help and advice on literally anything which may occur in an academic year, whether the problems are related to the course, the university or something personal. The university library offers regular workshops on study skills which anyone can attend. I've never felt more supported or valued in my life and so nothing has really become a major issue. Except maybe the noise levels of living in student halls for two years!

I'm currently a final year student at Loughborough University and I'm undertaking my dissertation project alongside the other coursework essays, so the workload is a challenge, and it can get quite stressful at times, particularly as I've continued to work part-time for the last two years to supplement my student loan. The best recommendation I could give to anyone is to keep talking. By talking with your peers doing the same course you realise everyone has similar anxieties and you soon develop a support network. I have found by having a mix of friends of all ages you have the understanding and support of the mature student body for the problems the younger students are yet to deal with, and the support of the younger ones who are generally full of good ideas along with boundless enthusiasm and energy, which is contagious. It has been hard work and very intense being a mature student, but it has also been the best time of my life with the most amazing and inspirational people (tutors and students) I have ever met.

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