Mature Students

Mature Students

Starting university as a mature student can often be even more daunting than arriving straight from school.  The combination of feeling different to everyone else and the pressure of trying to fit in a degree, socialising, time with your family and, quite often, your career can seem like an impossible task.

Nationally, 52% of people in higher education are mature students so you’ll be in good company when you arrive at university.  In Durham, the proportion isn’t quite that high but, since most mature students are placed in St Cuthbert’s Society, we have a thriving mature community.  The Mature Students’ representative is here to make sure that there are suitable events going on throughout the year and as a point of contact within the college if you need any information or just fancy a chat.

University, Family and Work

In a survey issued to mature students in 2006, one of the most prevalent concerns related to workload. Nearly every 2006 mature student who answered the questionnaire said they were worried about the workload of their course, and how to balance this with their family life and social life.

There are many students within St Cuthbert’s who work and study, not all of them mature students.  It can be very hectic at times, particularly around hand-in dates, but with careful planning and prioritizing things can go smoothly.  Here are some tips on how to plan your time when you arrive to get the most out of your first term:

• Pick up your timetable as soon as possible

Your timetable will be available online as soon as you register in the first week of term.  Some departments also have paper copies you can pick up at reception.  Either type it up or copy it into a diary so that you have a clear indication of when you are free during the week.

• Let your employer know when you are in university

The more information you give them, the more confident they will feel about your commitment to them.

• Try to organise the same shifts each week

By getting a routine down at the start of the year you will soon find that you can designate certain days to work and get on with being a student in the others.  Trying to organise a different timetable every week can be stressful.

• Make sure to allocate enough time for studying

Whether you have a heavy or light lecture load you should be working 30-40 hours per week towards studying and reading if you are a full-time student and 15-20 if you are on a part-time course.

The survey also revealed that many students felt that they could not attend social events because they had young children.  We will be organising several events during the year which are family-friendly so you can ditch the babysitter and bring the kids along.  These are often attended by the staff and their families, as well as students, so they have fantastic atmospheres.

We will also be organising a variety of other events from dinners and balls to trips to the theatre and galleries.  These will be announced well in advance so that you can organise any child care you may need.