considering going to uni at 29

I’ve started working as a freelance field surveyor for an environmental consultancy. Specifically bats which will last for the next 4/5 months with the potential to add in other species as I progress. I’m lucky in the sense that the lead senior ecologist is a friend.

Back ground: After sixth form I wanted to go into veterinary but my grades would never have allowed it so I took a gap year and then tried a Science in society type degree. I struggled and failed to find any enthusiasm with this course so dropped out within a matter of weeks. I have since had two children and a long string of part time and self employed jobs but no goal.

I love the work I’m doing right now and have started considering making it a full time career. Now looking at enrolling for a part time ecology and conservation undergraduate degree. The requirements state A levels at BBB with a contextual requirement of BCC.

I have A in Psychology, C in biology and D in chemistry.
I do also have B in AS science in society and an A in AS mathematics. All Gcse’s achieved were A grade.

I have reached out to a couple of universities for their insight but have yet to hear back.

My question, really, is two parts:

Would returning as a mature student and doing part time be as overwhelming as I think it will be?

If I need better A level grades, how would I even go about this?

Thank you, to anyone who gave up their time to read this.

Reply 1

MillieeM2

Could you pay to do it privately? But you could try to do an intensive A level for 1 year or you could try an access to higher education course

Reply 2

five-day-tea

Possibly. I’m still trying to get answers as to what would be considered as the best bridge so to speak. Ideally I’d like to do a foundation year but I believe that would have to be full time.

Reply 3

RosiePosieRosi

Original post

by five-day-tea

I’ve started working as a freelance field surveyor for an environmental consultancy. Specifically bats which will last for the next 4/5 months with the potential to add in other species as I progress. I’m lucky in the sense that the lead senior ecologist is a friend.
Back ground: After sixth form I wanted to go into veterinary but my grades would never have allowed it so I took a gap year and then tried a Science in society type degree. I struggled and failed to find any enthusiasm with this course so dropped out within a matter of weeks. I have since had two children and a long string of part time and self employed jobs but no goal.
I love the work I’m doing right now and have started considering making it a full time career. Now looking at enrolling for a part time ecology and conservation undergraduate degree. The requirements state A levels at BBB with a contextual requirement of BCC.
I have A in Psychology, C in biology and D in chemistry.
I do also have B in AS science in society and an A in AS mathematics. All Gcse’s achieved were A grade.
I have reached out to a couple of universities for their insight but have yet to hear back.
My question, really, is two parts:
Would returning as a mature student and doing part time be as overwhelming as I think it will be?
If I need better A level grades, how would I even go about this?
Thank you, to anyone who gave up their time to read this.

What did you end up doing in the end? Singed a fellow mature student looking to go do the same

Reply 4

Thinking*Aloud

Hi Rosie,

My niece does similar work to the OP of this thread. She did a zoology degree and then got her bat & newt licences separately (not cheap!). I don't know if an applied ecology degree would mean that you could circumvent the need to do these training courses because the requisite handling experience and theory is built in, it's worth checking because it will save you thousands.

Reply 5

Psych_Loz

Original post

by five-day-tea

I’ve started working as a freelance field surveyor for an environmental consultancy. Specifically bats which will last for the next 4/5 months with the potential to add in other species as I progress. I’m lucky in the sense that the lead senior ecologist is a friend.
Back ground: After sixth form I wanted to go into veterinary but my grades would never have allowed it so I took a gap year and then tried a Science in society type degree. I struggled and failed to find any enthusiasm with this course so dropped out within a matter of weeks. I have since had two children and a long string of part time and self employed jobs but no goal.
I love the work I’m doing right now and have started considering making it a full time career. Now looking at enrolling for a part time ecology and conservation undergraduate degree. The requirements state A levels at BBB with a contextual requirement of BCC.
I have A in Psychology, C in biology and D in chemistry.
I do also have B in AS science in society and an A in AS mathematics. All Gcse’s achieved were A grade.
I have reached out to a couple of universities for their insight but have yet to hear back.
My question, really, is two parts:
Would returning as a mature student and doing part time be as overwhelming as I think it will be?
If I need better A level grades, how would I even go about this?
Thank you, to anyone who gave up their time to read this.

I also missed out on uni at the usual age and decided on a career change in my thirties.

The first step for me was to sign up for a related "Access Course" at a college. This was intensive and gave me the grades I needed to apply for uni within a year.

I then started uni aged 33 and obtained my BSc at a first class level. It's entirely doable if you're motivated and willing to work hard.

There's often more mature students at uni than you'd expect, and I found that they always had interesting life experience viewpoints to add to group debates.

If you really want to study for a degree, go for it!