3 Tips for Studying in Later Life

Going back to school is a common ambition, but it’s one that not many of us follow through with. There are many reasons we hesitate and talk ourselves out of chasing this particular dream. Studying as an adult can be expensive, time-consuming, and demands a lot of us in amongst our already busy lives.

3 Tips for Studying in Later Life
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Not to mention it requires a huge sacrifice of our time, our money and sometimes even requires us to put the rest of our lives temporarily on hold.

That said, there are many rewards to going back to school – it can be the key to your next career move, a way of developing your existing talents or even just an opportunity to learn things you otherwise wouldn’t!

If you’re thinking of taking the leap back into education later in life, here are just three top tips that will help you on your journey.

1. Save in advance

Keeping a handle on the purse strings is crucial as university can be financially demanding due to expenses like equipment, course texts, commutes and more.

Get the ball rolling by cutting costs wherever you can – get rid of those subscriptions you don’t use and start shopping around for cheaper options where possible.

Once you start your course, remember the saving never stops, so keeping finding ways to cut costs and save. You don’t have to cut out all your little treats either – keep your ear to the ground for vouchers and discount codes by signing up to mailing lists from stores and brands and keeping tabs on sites like Wowcher.

2. Consider your options

Most of us picture the university experience as red brick campuses, trips to the library and student union visits. But there are plenty of ways to study that make it more accessible for those with busy lifestyles, caring or family commitments and other day-to-day obstacles.

Institutions such as ARU Distance Learning offer courses that take place entirely online and at your pace, enabling you to continue working whilst studying. They offer part-time and full-time options to help you balance your learning alongside your career and many of their courses can be integrated with your work life to give you hands-on experience along the way.

Studying remote also teaches you a number of soft skills which are highly valued in the workplace, such as organisation, independence, time management and digital literacy.

3. Make a schedule

What takes up the most time in your week? Whether it’s your job, your kids, or any other life responsibilities, plan your study time around those unavoidable duties and ensure those hours are protected. Time management is a valuable skill that will benefit your studies and stand you in good stead for your career too.

Don’t forget to factor in your social life, too – every student needs time to kick back and relax and it shouldn’t be left to the young ones to have all the fun! Whether it’s meeting with friends or getting to know your course mates, give yourself time to relax and have fun.

Got any tips for mature students? Share your wisdom with us in the comments below!