Tertiary studies - mature age students

Tertiary students include those studying at university or TAFE. Returning to study or starting tertiary study as a mature age student can be challenging. However, most mature age students enjoy the learning experience and do equally as well as other students.

Mature age students are usually highly motivated and keen to do well. This is great, although sometimes it can mean putting too much pressure on themselves to succeed. Try to keep things in perspective. Study hard and effectively, but balance this with time for yourself, family and friends.

If at any time you feel that you’re not coping, remember that tertiary institutions offer support services such as counselling.

Mature age students have different past experiences

Mature age students come from a variety of backgrounds and have a wide range of experiences. Some mature age students may have:

• taken a break for a year or two after finishing secondary school, before starting tertiary studies
• returned to postgraduate study after a break of some years
• been away from any kind of formal learning environment since they left school, which might be 20 years ago or more.

Study aims of mature age students

The study goals of mature age students vary. For example, you may have returned to study to:

• obtain a qualification
• upgrade a current qualification
• update your skills
• change career direction
• further an interest.

Mixing with younger students

Some mature age students feel uncomfortable with younger students in their classes, while other mature age students love this experience. Try not to compare yourself to others – it’s simply not helpful. As the semester passes you may find the class dynamics change and people mix more with others, regardless of their age.

Transitioning to university for mature age students

There are many things you can do to help with the transition and adjustment to tertiary studies. Suggestions include:

• Find out about on-campus services. For example, some tertiary institutions have onsite childcare facilities. The student services department, your student diary or your institution’s website will have this information.
• Find out about financial support. Visit your local Centrelink office to learn about services you may be eligible for, such as government childcare allowance, Youth Allowance or Austudy. Scholarships may also be available, so ask at your institution or check their website.
• Try to arrange your class timetable so that it suits your existing commitments as much as possible. For example, some institutions offer evening classes, weekend courses or online subjects.
• If possible, do some tasks during breaks between classes. Some tertiary institutions have banks, medical clinics, pharmacies and other shops.
• Check your priorities. There may be some tasks or commitments you will not have time for or will need to do less often while you’re a student. Perhaps someone else can take care of some tasks for you or maybe certain things will just have to move down on your priority list.
• Take short courses to learn about new technology if necessary. New technologies can seem confronting. However, student life will be much easier if you can use computers and the internet. If you are not comfortable with new technologies that you have been recommended to use, look into taking a short course.
• Check out the information technology (IT) support available at your institution. Most institutions provide a range of free software you can download directly for your use as a student.
• Take a library tour to learn how to best make use of this facility. Libraries also run workshops and provide guides on topics like referencing and searching databases.
• If your tertiary institution has a student mentoring program, consider linking up with a mentor. They can often provide valuable support and information, and help you connect with many areas of university life.
• Talk to your lecturers and tutors about any concerns, particularly if you feel you are not coping with the workload. You may be able to apply for an extension of time if you are struggling to meet a deadline.
• Submit a ‘special consideration’ application if you’ve been seriously ill or have experienced some sort of crisis during the semester – for example, death of an immediate family member, medical problems (either yourself or your immediate family), personal or family crisis. Contact your student administration, lecturer or counselling service.
• Use your time effectively and be organised. This will help you arrange your study around commitments to family, work and class time. Time-management skills are essential to keeping up with your studies.

Build an on-campus network

Friends on campus provide support, social interaction and collaboration on difficult assignments and exam preparation. Mature age students often don’t spend much time on campus because of work and family commitments, and generally have fewer opportunities to make new friends. However, you will find there are enormous benefits in establishing a network on your campus.

Suggestions include:

• Try to attend orientation activities and at least a few on-campus social events, especially those related to your course.
• Use services for older students. Many tertiary institutions have a ‘mature age lounge’ for socialising or mature age student associations that you can join.
• Don’t wait for friendships to evolve naturally. Actively seek out other mature age students and discuss the practicalities of forming a support network for each other.
• Find a study buddy or group.

Coping with family friction as a mature age student

When one partner decides to take up tertiary study, it can sometimes cause problems within a family. It’s possible that your partner or your children may not be entirely happy with the time you spend on study. Your friends might find it difficult too.

Suggestions for coping with family friction, if it occurs, include:

• Make sure each family member knows why study is important to you. Resentment and arguments can arise if your family doesn’t understand your decision to return to study. Discuss their concerns, fears and misgivings openly to encourage communication.
• Ask them to respect your at-home study times and avoid interrupting you. It may help to hang a ‘Study in progress’ sign on your door at these times, as a reminder.
• Consider scheduling study time at your local or university library so that some of your study time is separated from the home environment.
• Share your study timetable with your family. Include the details of it in a new or updated family timetable – then each of you can see what the other is doing on any given day. It may help you all to feel included in one another’s lives.
• Ask your family for support. Tell them how best to support you -– for example, you might need quiet time alone or you may be tired and would like to be taken out for dinner.
• Write up a new housework roster and involve each family member in the process. Let them know that you won’t be able to do as much around the house now that you are studying.
• Be assertive with friends until they get used to your student role. This may take months rather than weeks.

Share your time between study, family and friends

It’s easy to get engaged with your studies and lose sight of your family or close friends when you have several deadlines, or around exam time. Make sure to put aside time for the important people in your life.

Suggestions include:

• Don’t rely on spontaneity. Schedule regular time with your family. Plan something special for when exams are over. Arrange a proper catch-up with friends during term breaks.
• Plan for family time and write appointments into your weekly timetable to help you enjoy yourself without guilt.
• Consider setting your own deadlines for assignments a few days earlier than the actual deadlines. A week or so of breathing space allows for the interruption of unexpected events, such as family illness.

Be kind to yourself as a mature age student

Mature age students usually take the decision to return to study very seriously and have high expectations of their performance. Unrealistic goals can lead to frustration, despair and dropping out.

Suggestions include:

• Expect to go through a rocky transition period. You have made sacrifices to return to study and campus life presents many challenges. Allow yourself a few months to settle in.
• Don’t worry if it seems like you are the only one who answers questions or discusses things in class – this is something mature age students often experience. It’s your education. Keep talking and learning.
• Explore the campus. Deliberately get lost. You are less likely to feel daunted and out of place if you know your way around.
• Be patient. Your academic skills will be a little rusty if you haven’t studied for some time, and you may need to learn new ways of studying. Don’t be demoralised – regard it as a time when you are ‘learning about learning’. Do the best you can – practise will soon improve your skills. Use learning support services at your tertiary institution.
• Have realistic academic expectations. Some mature age students hope for a high grade for every piece of work and feel very upset if the grade they receive is not as high as they wanted or expected. Try to remember that you are at university to learn, which means it’s unlikely you will do really well all the time. Ask the person who marked your assignment for as much feedback as possible, so you do as well as you can the next time.
• Remember your long-term goals and remind yourself frequently of the good reasons behind your decision to take up study. Stress can make you question your commitment to study. It may help to write a list that you can refer back to.
• Give yourself little rewards along the way. Congratulate yourself and celebrate every achievement, such as handing in an assignment on time or successfully balancing work, study and home for another week. Involve those close to you in celebrating your successes.

Suggestions for partners of mature age students

A mature age student’s partner and family are affected by their decision to return to study. Suggestions for partners include:

• Accept that your partner has less time to devote to home life. They need time on campus, private study time, time to complete course assignments and time for social interaction with fellow students.
• Expect to do a little more around the house during study terms than you used to, especially around exams. Your partner has less time to commit to household chores.
• Keep the lines of communication open. Negotiate family problems together. Stress and conflict at home will make it harder for your partner to cope. Consider seeking support from a counsellor or trusted friend or family member.
• Work out a schedule to ensure that each week includes time for family and time together as a couple. Students do get breaks between terms – look forward to them.
• Write up a weekly budget if there has been a drop in household income. Returning to study may mean quitting an existing job or reducing working hours to part-time.
• Try to keep in mind the benefits of further study for your partner. These benefits may include their happiness, their future employment prospects and the possibility of increased income for the household.

Where to get help

• Counselling service at your university or TAFE institute
• Course advisers, learning skills advisers
• Lecturers and tutors
• Other student support services
• Centrelink Tel. 132 490