Going to university when you’re older means that you are approaching it differently

Why did you decide to study at the University of Sheffield?

Studying a university degree had always been a part of my plan, however I knew I wanted to take a few years out of education first. It then became complicated when I moved from Canada back to the UK as my qualifications did not match up with the UK system and I needed to be a resident in the country for a few years before I was eligible for funding and financial support. So, I ended up waiting a little longer than I anticipated. 

I ended up choosing to study at Sheffield because of the foundation year available. My Canadian qualifications restricted my options but Sheffield was very accommodating. It also happens to be a really lovely city where I already had a few friends living. 

What interested you in the BA Sociology?

My mum is a sociologist and my dad is a politics professor so I’ve always been around social science. Initially I wanted to study music and music theory but I found the courses on offer didn’t align with the kind of university experience I was looking for. I started looking at other subjects and I found that sociology incorporated a lot of my interests in other subjects like history and the arts. 

How are you finding the course so far?

I like it, it’s really interesting! I enjoy that in the second and third year there are a lot of optional modules to choose from, giving you a bit more control over what you want to study. Sociology is such a broad subject so most of the first year focuses on theory. Once you’re in second and third year you’re able to apply what you’ve learnt to subjects you have a particular interest in.

I did a module called Sociology of the Body which I really enjoyed. We explored all the different ways of looking at the body and I ended up writing an essay about beauty standards and how whiteness and standards of femininity are entrenched in the beauty system. I did really well on that essay, likely because I had so much fun researching and writing it. 

At the moment I am working towards my dissertation. I’ve chosen to research how gender has impacted the distinction between fine art and craft. I’m having a really good time doing all the reading for it.

How did you find the transition back into education?

For me it was really interesting because I was actually home schooled for most of my upbringing. Home schooling was very flexible and I was able to focus on a lot of the areas that I was really interested in. Going to university has not felt like such a large transition because I was already used to independent study and following my own interests. In second and third year assignments and essay questions are very broad so I have to find my own topics to focus on. Luckily, this is something I am already used to doing!

I also worked as a manager in hospitality before coming to university. I went from working 40 plus hours a week in a very busy restaurant to managing my own time. The transition, in that sense, was quite nice for me. Having already learnt how to live and take care of myself, I didn’t face a lot of the challenges 18 year old undergraduates face when going to university.

Do you know what you might want to do when you graduate?

I’ve been working as a social enterprise in South Yorkshire for the past year and a half. I actually got the job through a university funded internship that I did over the summer. They liked me and the work I did so they decided to keep me on. I’ve been lucky in being able to support them in a lot of different areas. I’ve helped in fundraising, impact management, workshop development and all sorts of other things. I’ve learnt that I really enjoy fundraising, systems management and project management. After university I’d like to secure a role in something organisational.

I would also like to work in a sector that aligns with my personal values so I’m mainly looking at public sector or third sector type work. 

How have you found balancing work and study?

I work two days a week and I make sure I have strict boundaries. My university timetable worked out well because I don’t have any lectures or seminars on Wednesdays and Thursdays. They are my official work days. I also have a work laptop and phone so I make sure they remain off every other day of the week.

I do have to do a bit of university work on weekends to make sure I keep on top of everything. However, I enjoy going to a cafe on a Sunday for a couple of hours so it makes studying a nice activity. 

You also worked as a mature students officer, can you tell us a bit about that?

I was an officer from 2022-23. Everything was still building up after COVID so I focused on running events and community building for mature students. It’s quite a hard job because a lot of mature students have all their social networks outside of university. They also have lots of commitments, whether it be work or a family, so finding time in everyone's schedules can be a little difficult. I organised casual meet ups in the student union’s cafe and some weeks it would be quiet but other times lots of people would turn up.   

I also had the opportunity to work with the widening participation team. They focus on making university accessible. I was involved in different projects to help provide information about the student experience.

What advice would you give a mature student looking to study Sociology at the University of Sheffield? 

Don’t set your expectations really high for a typical university experience. Going to university when you’re older means that you are approaching it differently. A lot of the people on my course are seven years younger than me and so while we get on well in seminars, we don’t necessarily socialise outside of the classroom that much. 

I think enjoying the subject matter and throwing yourself into the academic side is really important. Then, you can find social fulfilment in more creative ways whether they’re within or outside the university. Sometimes having a social group outside of the university can be helpful and provide a better work/life/study balance. 

Remember, you’re not doing university wrong, you're just having a different experience.