Returning to university as a mature student

Returning to full-time student life was the last thing on my mind two years ago. I was in my mid-thirties, I had completed my terminal degree in 2016, and I was (and still am) enjoying my research career as a biologist.

I was a new homeowner and I had just gotten engaged to my partner of 12 years. The last time I had been to Europe was in 2009. I did not look or feel like a good candidate for an international academic adventure.

But here I am, a transplant from a town of 10,000 people in rural Maine, US, living in International Hall in Bloomsbury, London. This summer, I am finishing my MSc in behavioural science at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

I became interested in pursuing a year of full-time study in behavioural science for two main reasons. First, as an applied researcher in biological sciences, I found myself encountering the “loading dock problem” – my results seemed to sit there waiting for someone to pick them up, never reaching the intended non-expert audiences. I came to LSE to study how individuals and communities adopt scientific research findings and what my role as a professional scientist could look like in this process.

Second, I developed an interest in collaborating with interdisciplinary teams of researchers. I hoped to learn science-based best practices for effective facilitation, organisation and management of teams in this setting.

My goals have been fulfilled well beyond my expectations at LSE. But I also have encountered challenges and learned unanticipated lessons from my experience, and I would like to share some advice with other mature students considering returning to university.

Take advantage of opportunities for both formal and informal learning

There is an adjustment period when you return to the classroom as a mature student. While I am in a career path that involves significant writing, stepping back into the cycle of reading, assignments and a full course load was a shock.

Even as you find yourself surrounded by new intellectual opportunities at every turn, it’s smart not to overload yourself with commitments as you readjust to student life.

I took core classes and electives and a few non-credit courses, keeping an eye on the assignment load, timetables and the mix of individual and group projects.

Most universities also have many opportunities to attend lectures, join language conversation groups, and engage in other types of informal learning. Make sure that you allocate time for a variety of activities that serve your professional and personal goals and find a balance between focusing on your initial objectives while remaining open to new possibilities.

Let your experience inform your dissertation

Whether it is called a dissertation, thesis or capstone project, most postgraduate programmes involve independent research. This is an especially interesting opportunity for mature students, because our previous professional experience or goals towards a career transition can inform our research topics.

For my dissertation, I learned techniques in experimental economics and psychology to analyse drivers of individuals’ willingness to pay for tick-borne disease control on public land – a topic that is directly related to my prior experience in biological sciences.

Developing a research question and designing a study is challenging for all master’s students, but can be one of the most intellectually meaningful and gratifying parts of the programme. I recommend developing and working on your project early in the spring term to maximise chances for feedback from your professors and classmates.

Explore different social opportunities

Perhaps the greatest personal challenge I encountered as a mature student was a sense of loneliness and isolation. My spouse was 3,000 miles away, I was used to living in a small and close-knit town, and I felt slightly out of step with student life, at times even a bit wistful and envious of my classmates fresh out of their undergraduate studies.

But one of my most astonishing moments at LSE occurred during pre-term orientation in my new department. As my classmates and I introduced ourselves, I realised that I had never been in such an international room before in my life – the 60 of us hail from more than 30 countries.

We also came from many different educational and professional backgrounds with different career aspirations and motivations, and I wasn’t the only mature student.

The best education has been interacting with this exceptional group of people. I also joined several groups on Meetup.com to get to know other people in London beyond the LSE community. This was a nice way to meet long-time Londoners and learn about the city.

Use your student ID and make the city your home

As a mature student, you might be accustomed to a certain kind of lifestyle and a comfortable income, and all that goes out the window once you return to full-time student life.

But don’t forget that having a student ID can get you great discounts on transport, shopping and cultural experiences in almost any major city. I put together a list of things I wanted to do in London (which only continued to grow), and I was mindful of taking advantage of on-the-day rush theatre tickets, free museum entry and open garden days throughout the year.

I lived in the University of London student halls, and the fifth floor of the building was mostly postgraduate mature students attending LSE, UCL, SOAS and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

This was another little community for me, as well as being good value for money and was the easiest option in terms of searching for accommodation pre-arrival. Coming from a small town with three traffic lights on the main street, I did not expect a city of 9 million people to feel like home within nine months, but it does.