Ready for a new challenge

It might feel a bit challenging returning to university later in life or perhaps taking on your first degree after time already spent in the workplace. We understand you may have other commitments around your studies like children, a partner, a job or pets!

But you won’t be alone!

Student story: 'An incredibly rewarding experience'

Sara McCracken FCIPR MBA returned to university as a mature student. She already had a successful career in PR when she decided to study for an Executive MBA. Here, she shares her top tips on balancing your studies with other commitments:

If you are returning to studying as a mature student at Ulster University, either as an under- or postgraduate, then these are my top tips to consider.

Talk to other students

Speak to others who have returned to study. They will, I’m sure, provide a realistic view of how they managed and help you figure out how to manage your time.

You can find extra time in your day

Spend hours scrolling on social media? That can stop. Need to wait for your children while football or hockey practice is on? You can do some reading then. Block out your time, delegate household chores or better still, just ignore the overflowing laundry baskets.

Discuss your studies with your family

Explain to your children or other family members what you are doing. My girls and I discussed that mummy had to do her homework, just like them.

Commit to your studies

You are doing this for you. To benefit you, advance your career, learn something new. Whatever the reason, by showing up and doing the best you can, you will succeed.

I am a mature student at Ulster University studying MSc Environmental Management on a distance learning part time basis. That sounds like a lot, but it basically means I can study while working full time and I don’t have to attend an in-person class, making the course completely flexible to my life and work commitments.

I chose this course because I needed career change. After almost 10 years of doing numerous unfulfilling jobs, I really wanted to follow my dreams of getting a job in the environmental sector, but I had no experience in the field. I needed to upskill but I also needed a course that would work around my current life commitments. I had a full-time job and a mortgage, so those things had to come first, and my studies had to fit in somewhere around all that.

I was very nervous my first two weeks, but I spoke to an e-tutor about how I was feeling who was so helpful. He helped me understand that I was not the only one feeling this way, and when I started to post questions on the online platform about assignments, I found others asking the same questions too, so I felt much less alone. After this, I quickly realised that no knowledge is assumed, and you are not expected to already know what you are being taught.

I think the fact I had so much career experience working with people that I found it easy to reach out and talk to others, plus I was already disciplined in working to deadlines which also helped. I was able to stay organised by creating a timetable in my diary where I would schedule a few hours for reading lecture notes or working on an assignment. There were days when I felt less motivated, but on those days my online Ulster friends really helped me stay motivated, and I would start to break the task down into small chunks until it was eventually complete.

Although it’s been challenging, I can honestly say it’s been the best 3 years of my life. The work stretched me mentally and helped me see that I was more capable than I initially gave myself credit for. I have managed to land my dream job as an Environmental Engineer that I am certain I could not have done without the knowledge I acquired during my course.