`I have come further than I ever expected and I am still astonished that I have been through university and survived." These are the words of mature student Kay Mitchell, who recently graduated from NUI Maynooth with an MA in English.
Mitchell's experience of returning to learning as a mature student is fairly typical. Most mature students say they feel extremely apprehensive and worried about being unable to cope to begin with, but that these fears gradually subside as they settle down and their self-confidence grows. Being a mature student is neither easier nor harder than being a youthful one. It's just different. Doubts about being able to understand lectures, write essays and make friends are common to all students, but matures tend to be more frank about their fears.
It might be tougher starting off as a mature student, but the good news is that once mature students find their feet they make excellent and successful students. They tend to be focused and committed to their course and usually handle essay deadlines and exam stress better than younger students. Potential mature students thinking about taking the plunge later this year may be interested in a series of three short pamphlets produced by the adult education organisation, AONTAS. The three are called Applying to College or University as a Mature Student, Getting a Qualification: issues and choices and Qualification: certificates, diplomas and degrees.
The pamphlet on qualifications is particularly useful, as it outlines the different types of qualifications available and where they fit in the overall qualifications hierarchy. It also explains the jargon that goes with the territory - validation, accreditation, credit accumulation and so on. At the back there is a useful list of all the main third-level institutions in Ireland and a list of all the main Irish accrediting bodies.
The Getting a Qualification publication is a helpful read; its aim is to put potential mature students on the right track from the beginning. It goes into why it's important for people to clarify their expectations before they start a course and it recommends building a progression route with a long-term goal and to draw up a series of steps to get there. For example, it's a good idea to choose a course which has follow-on potential. AONTAS can be contacted by telephone on (01) 475 4121 or if you have access to the Internet check out their website (www.aontas.com) for general information, publications which you can download and a page on most frequently asked questions.
Another invaluable booklet is the Guide for Mature Students produced by the Department of Education and Science. This guide is aimed at those interested in entry to full-time third-level courses. It gives very useful general information about applying for a college place, getting grants and other funding, and then it goes through each of the third-level colleges and gives details about entry requirements and procedures. There are also contact numbers for each of the colleges and a useful index of courses by subject matter. Copies of the guide are available from either the Communications Unit of the Department of Education and Science in Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, telephone (01) 889 2162, or from the Curriculum Development Unit, Sundrive Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, telephone (01) 453 5487. There is no charge for this booklet. Those with access to the Internet can, of course, get most of the information required from any college's individual web-sites. Another useful website address is nightcourses.com
If your schedule or location does not allow you to attend formally organised courses distance learning may be something to think about. The essence of distance learning is that you do it at a time that suits you. It can be a lonely way to learn and it requires sustained motivation, but with good support from the college concerned it can work very well. The Open University is probably the best-known distance education provider. But there is an Irish National Distance Education Centre (NDEC) based at Dublin City University. Its choice of programmes is more restricted, but both BA and BSc qualifications are on offer. Both courses are modular in structure and there are no formal entry requirements for adults over 23 years of age. For more information contact the NDEC by telephone (01) 700 5481, by fax (01) 700 5494 or e-mail ndec@dcu.ie
At any one time the Open University has about 10,000 students worldwide going through its courses. The OU offers around 300 undergraduate and postgraduate courses on a wide range of subjects from literature and languages to social science, IT, education, business, management and law. For course details contact the OU at Holbrook House, Holles Street, Dublin 2, telephone (01) 678 5399, or go to www.ope.ac.uk
Those with a specific interest in studying for a business-based degree programme may be interested in the three-year BA in management run by the Irish Management Institute. To qualify for place on the course potential students must be over 25 years of age with a minimum of seven years work experience. The course is run between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday evenings and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays over three academic years. For information contact the programme director, John Mangan, at (01) 207 8574 or email john.mangan@imi.ie Another degree programme aimed specifically at mature students is the modular BA at University College Dublin.
The programme started 10 years ago and since then over 600 students have graduated and a further 650 are on their way. Those in a hurry can go "fast track", which means graduating within four years. This is a heavy commitment and involves attending lectures four nights a week. Those in less of a hurry can do the course at their own pace. UCD endeavours to keep the programme "open entry" which means that those without the Leaving Cert or matriculation can apply on grounds of maturity provided they are over 23. Application for the course is through the CAO and the closing date is February 1st. For information about the course phone (01) 706 8241.
Another useful publication to cast your eye over is the booklet produced by the National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA) called What You'll Need To Enter A Course As An Adult Learner. The NCEA approves a number of different courses in institutes of technology and other colleges around the State and it allows mature students to complete courses in their own time on a modular basis and to accumulate credits towards NCEA awards. Of particular interest to mature students is its foundation certificate, which is designed to equip older students with the skills required for third-level study. The NCEA is based at 26 Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1, telephone (01) 855 6526. The website address is www.ncea.ie
