From Work to University - Keele University

Making the leap from Work to University

New peers

A mature student is a learner who is 21 or over when they begin their studies. Therefore a mature student may be just a couple of years older than the average age of a first year (18/19) or may be many years older. If you're coming to University as a mature student, sometimes it can seem that other new students have very different priorities and different ways off approaching life. If you live off-campus, it can be harder to engage with 'student' life or it may seem that everything on campus is geared towards 18 year-olds. A great way to meet new friends is through joining a KUSU student society or the Keele VE Scheme (volunteering.kusu@keele.ac.uk) as getting to 'know new people can become part of the process of learning something new.' Groups such as these are great ways to make friends and boost your CV.

If you are feeling extremely isolated, you should speak to your Personal Tutor, your Resident Tutor if you live on campus, contact one of the Chaplains or University Counsellors or the Independent Advice Unit in the Students' Union. Sharing your feelings and worries with a sympathetic listener can really help you to manage the transition.

New skills

Mature students often worry that they will not have the skills that younger entrants who have come straight from school will, such as recent experience of writing essays or sitting examinations. Yes, you may be rusty in these matters but younger students also lack many of the skills necessary for successful study such as taking responsibility for studying, independent learning, time management and genuine motivation. So all students, younger and older, have new skills to develop. Having returned to studies after a break, usually means that you will be more focused as you have chosen to be here rather than falling straight off the A-Level conveyor-belt. Your life skills as a mature student are some of the best transferable skills going, so never underestimate these. The first semester may be a steep learning curve in terms of developing new skills or refreshing existing ones, but please persevere!

If there are any particular issues affecting mature students that you think the LawSchoolshould be aware of, please contact your personal tutor. There should also be a Mature Students’ Representative on the Staff-Student Liaison Committee who can raise representation issues at School meetings or staff-student liaison committee meetings. If there isn't one, why not volunteer! Lara McMurtry is the staff contact for the SSLC so ask her about this.

Financial worries

Many students find budgeting a problem, as they have irregular payments to meet regular costs i.e. they receive payments in three instalments, but have to pay weekly and monthly costs. But for students who have come straight from work and are therefore used to a monthly or weekly income, money management can be more difficult. There are lots of sources of help and advice at Keele, and on Keele specific websites. The Independent Advice Unit at Keele is one of the best sources of help if you have financial worries and is licensed to provide debt counselling. IAU staff are trained to advise on a wide range of topics, including financial matters such as debt, fees, grants and loans - please see http://www.kusu.net/iau

There is also a Student Financial Support Office at Keele. The Student Financial Support Office can offer advice on sources of student funding and general budgeting advice around expenditure such as tuition fees and accommodation, and managing income from sources like grants, loans, part-time work, social security payments and banks. They also give information about the bursaries and scholarships available to some students and administer a small emergency loan fund. The Financial Support Office is based in 42 The Covert (near to the Leisure Centre) and is open Monday to Friday 09:00 - 17:00. Call 01782 734087 for an appointment.

You can find information on the national support available to students for the Academic Year 2012/13 here