The number of mature students entering higher education has risen significantly since the 1980s, as successive governments have sought to widen participation to a diverse group of students (National Audit Office, 2002). Whilst in the past it was possible to describe a typical university student, today the student body is much more diverse in terms of both age and social background. The government’s widening participation initiative, driven by the Dearing Report (Dearing, 1997), has developed an agenda for lifelong learning in which all ages are encouraged to see education not as a one-off experience when young, but as a continuing process.
Mature students are part of this agenda of education as lifelong learning.Mature students, however, are not a homogenous group, and there are different definitions of the term. For purposes of this essay, a mature student will be defined as a student aged 21 or over in the academic year they enter the institution (Higher Education Statistics Agency, 2004).Whether it is advantageous to study as a mature student, rather than coming into higher education as a school leaver, depends on a number of factors, including life experience, past educational experience, finances and support networks. This essay will consider the impact of these and other factors on studying as a mature student, and assess the advantages and disadvantages.
One of the main advantages which mature students bring to their studies is their life experience, which is, by definition, wider than their younger colleagues at university. Previous work experience, or experience of raising a family, can provide a good foundation and valuable transferable skills, such as time management, for doing a degree (Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, 2005).Another possible advantage of studying as a mature student is a sounder financial footing, if savings have been accumulated through work. However, many mature students give up well paying jobs to enter higher education, and may still have the burdens of mortgages and families to support, on a lesser income. This has to be compared with younger students who generally have few savings, but who also have fewer responsibilities and can seek part-time employment to support their studies (Davies et al, 2002).Perhaps the most important advantage that mature students have over younger students is their level of motivation.
Precisely because they have often struggled to get to university, and have given up things to do so, they usually are highly motivated to succeed in their studies (Britton & Baxter, 1999).The factors described above can be significant advantages, but these have to be set against the possible disadvantages of studying as a mature student, which are hinted at above and discussed below. These include past educational experience, financial problems, lack of support and ageism.Past educational experience, if it was negative, can lead to a lack of confidence in one’s ability to succeed in an academic context. In addition, a long gap between school and higher education may make it more difficult for a mature student to become proficient in academic writing.
This may be compounded if support from family and community is not forthcoming, particularly if there is no tradition of higher education in that family or community (Baxter & Britton, 2001).Financial issues, as discussed above, can also be a source of stress if income is severely reduced as a result of study. This can lead to relationship problems if the partner feels s/he has to take on sole responsibility for the financial commitments of the couple or family (Baxter & Britton, 2001).One other factor which may affect mature students, particularly when they are seeking employment after completion of their studies, is ageism. Whilst this is now a form of discrimination, with legal remedies, it is nevertheless widespread and difficult to prove, but can put the mature student at a disadvantage in the competition for work (Employers Forum on Age, 1998).
Clearly this can have a negative effect on motivation.In conclusion, it has been argued that studying as a mature student has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantages include life experience, transferable skills, financial stability, and motivation, whilst the disadvantages include past educational experience, financial problems, lack of support and ageism. Since mature students are not a homogenous group, there will be significant differences among them, which make it difficult to generalize.
However, the balance of evidence discussed above suggests that there are significant advantages to studying as a mature student, which outweigh the possible disadvantages.
