Well I applied directly to a uni for a sports science degree and was accepted three days later.

My question, has anyone gone to uni at a later stage in life as a "mature student"?

How did they fund it?

I've supported myself for about 3 years now so because I live on my own and on a low income, I think I'm entitled to a grant as well as a student loan, but is there any other financial help I can get?

Is it worth giving up my career to persue my ideal career?

Now with PM's enabled!

ORIGINAL: 1MR

Well I applied directly to a uni for a sports science degree and was accepted three days later.
My question, has anyone gone to uni at a later stage in life as a "mature student"?
How did they fund it?
I've supported myself for about 3 years now so because I live on my own and on a low income, I think I'm entitled to a grant as well as a student loan, but is there any other financial help I can get?

Is it worth giving up my career to persue my ideal career?

I start a Bachelor of Music in September at the ripe old age of 36.

Mature students are there because they want to be- they are usually turning down good money jobs to go back to school and are almost instantly taken more seriously than younger applicants.
To give some perspective on that- I had to play an audition piece which I wrote in 1989, a couple of years before some of the other applicants were born.

You can get a student loan for tuition fees and/or maintenance at around 5% a year.
I won't take a loan unless I have to so I'm funding the course fees myself (Around £3k a year).

I think it is definitley worth giving up your career for your ideal career. No point staying in something you don't like. There will probably be a fair few mature students on your course so i dont think that will be a problem at all.

Bench - 140kg
Squat - 180kg
Deadlift - 190kg
My Journal

congratulations mate! i begin a nutrition degree in septmeber and i am 21. i cant wait have spoken to lots of people in their 20's beginning courses. there is much more now it seems than a few years ago.

epithin-e cycle log

Are you sure sports science is what you want to do?

Not to be negative but with one exception everyone I know who has done sports science (and I know quite a few) are doing either crappy jobs or jobs which have nothing to do with sports science. Its a tough old industry to get into.

But saying that good luck!!

"Expect your plan to take twice as long and to cost twice as much."
Richard Farleigh

ORIGINAL: 1MR
Is it worth giving up my career to persue my ideal career?

is what you do at the moment a career, or a job to pay the bills?

I would go for it. What have you got to lose except for money?

Even if you finish and don't do anything related to your degree, you will still have a degree and have enhanced 'career' prospects.

Well done.
You will probably be entitled to some sort of hardship funds.
The best thing to do is approach the Registry at your University to ascertain what funding you will be entitled
to.
Although make sure you come out with a first class in sports science.Keep yourself at the top of the list for
graduate positions.
In first and second year, coursework will be quite light so you should be able to work at least 25 hours a week part time.
This is what i did to fund myself as a mature student. I went back to uni at 22 and do not regret it. I now have my ideal job.

And I strongly advise you to get summer placements in the industry every year in the summer. This will help no end when it comes to
seeking a graduate position.

ORIGINAL: 1MR

My question, has anyone gone to uni at a later stage in life as a "mature student"?

I did - although some will question the "mature" bit

It was hard work getting back into the swing of things. It was also hard suddenly not earning although I did adjust. I worked the doors for the duration, this gave me dosh and meant i didn't go out as much but was out - if you see what I mean.

I will be returning to studey events management in september at the ripe old age of 22

I did fluff my first 3 years of uni though which im not impressed with myself about!!

ORIGINAL: irishbeast

Are you sure sports science is what you want to do?

Not to be negative but with one exception everyone I know who has done sports science (and I know quite a few) are doing either crappy jobs or jobs which have nothing to do with sports science. Its a tough old industry to get into.

But saying that good luck!!

This is what I was going to say.

One lad (granted hes not the brightest) is effectively just a janitor.

What job you wanting to go into with that degree mate? Ive got a sports science degree and im having some serious difficulty finding a decent job which doesnt require a masters, further qualifications or years experience with athletes.

Annobolic Innovations Stoked Log
Sponsered By - http://www.bodybuildingwarehouse.co.uk/

I'd seriously think about the career you want to do and how this degree will get you there, i've just about finished my MSc and i'm 28 there's nothing wrong with going back into education when you're older, i found i worked harder my life skills were invaluable at times too.

However when doing my 2nd undergrad course in my 3rd year i realised i didnt want to go into the profession i'd done the course for anymore, even though my course was quite broad (similar to yours) the jobs were limited, a broad subject area is not a good option imo, so personally if you know what job/career you want to do then do the course that gets you into that directly, not one that sits you on the fringes.

ORIGINAL: Melonccfc

I will be returning to studey events management in september at the ripe old age of 22

I did fluff my first 3 years of uni though which im not impressed with myself about!!

not to put a dampner on your course mate but i did the HND, i'd worked in the industry running my own business for a couple of years and still kind of do to fund uni and it was a degree in part planning, very basic business knowledge and not many people out of the 80 or so that took the course have landed a job of worth in the industry. jobs in the events industry are not that hard to get, you just have to work hard to progress quickly.

i know someone that did P.R. and he's a manager at top events company now, lot of stress but he loves it. What uni will you be doing it at?

ORIGINAL: irishbeast

Are you sure sports science is what you want to do?

Not to be negative but with one exception everyone I know who has done sports science (and I know quite a few) are doing either crappy jobs or jobs which have nothing to do with sports science. Its a tough old industry to get into.

But saying that good luck!!

While i agree with this i think if you want to go into the industry you pretty much need a masters or PhD. I'm looking at various post-grad course because unfortunately a SS degree at undergrad doesn't carry much weight, since those working within the field have numerous other qualifications on top of it.

What uni did you get accepted into 1MR?

Journal

200kg Deadlift

i had two groups of friends in college, my mates on sports and science and my engineering class.

none of the sport and science gang have anything what so ever to do with sports and science and had to take other qualifications to get different jobs lol.

Bulking for Mr Titan 2009 - My Journal

ORIGINAL: irishbeast

Are you sure sports science is what you want to do?

Not to be negative but with one exception everyone I know who has done sports science (and I know quite a few) are doing either crappy jobs or jobs which have nothing to do with sports science. Its a tough old industry to get into.

But saying that good luck!!

x2

I know someone who has done a degree in SS at nottingham comeback down to northants and doesnt have/cant get a job with it.

Think logically, who is going to give you a well paid job based on having a degree in sport science, what role could you fill and at what company?

If you never expect anything from anyone you will never be disappointed.

ORIGINAL: irishbeast
Are you sure sports science is what you want to do?

Not to be negative but with one exception everyone I know who has done sports science (and I know quite a few) are doing either crappy jobs or jobs which have nothing to do with sports science. Its a tough old industry to get into.

But saying that good luck!!

Yeah, my reason being that it balances biology, chemistry and physics so I can post-grad specialise in whichever field I feel best for me. Thats my theory on it anyway!

is what you do at the moment a career, or a job to pay the bills?

A job to pay bills really, but there is a basic career-path associated, mostly management roles. I work in utility so its not an industry thats going to go away, and many opportunities to transfer between different companies within the group (overhead power lines, rail, etc).

What job you wanting to go into with that degree mate? Ive got a sports science degree and im having some serious difficulty finding a decent job which doesnt require a masters, further qualifications or years experience with athletes.

Hoping to post-grad in dietetics or maybe copy my old man and do a PGCE and teach physics.

Well done.
You will probably be entitled to some sort of hardship funds.
The best thing to do is approach the Registry at your University to ascertain what funding you will be entitled
to.
Although make sure you come out with a first class in sports science.Keep yourself at the top of the list for
graduate positions.
In first and second year, coursework will be quite light so you should be able to work at least 25 hours a week part time.
This is what i did to fund myself as a mature student. I went back to uni at 22 and do not regret it. I now have my ideal job.

Good advice ta.

What uni did you get accepted into 1MR?

University of Cumbria (highly rated for sports science)



I believe the first year of the course is somewhat transferable, IE switch to a similar but different course in the second year?

Now with PM's enabled!

i dropped out of a sports science degree in Lancaster a few years back and have just started uni again last sept aged 22.. am 23 now and goin into my second yr this sep- studying Quantity surveying.. and unfortunately, the above comments about Sports science not bein ideal for jobs in the future is correct.. most of my mates if not all who have now graduated with their sprts science degrees have jobs nowt t do wi sports!!
some are bar managers, one is a manager of a security company.. one is coaching his local rugby team!!
none of them earning any more than say 15k a yr unfortunately!!
but good luck mate
and yeah u r entitled to a maintenance grant as well as the loan.. i'm not as i was only self dependant for 2 yrs!! gutted!!! i tried for the hardhsip fund at the end of the year after havin lost of trouble with my landlord etc.. long story short i had to move into a flat which is 55o a month and live on my own whilst at uni... and they still said no to my application!!

My Youtube Vids

The MRM Way

Starting to regret choosing it now......!!

Now with PM's enabled!

If you're going for a PGCE post-grad then it's fine - quite a few people are planning to do this on my course.

Not sure about dietetics mind you.

Journal

200kg Deadlift