Where International Relations and Security Studies can take you

Hello, my name is Richard. 😊

I studied BA (Hons) International Relations and Security Studies at the University of Bradford as a mature student. In this blog, I'll share the details of the journey that led me to university later in life, and how I then moved into my current career.

I am employed as the secretary of the UK and Ireland Mayors for Peace chapter and Nuclear Free Local Authorities through Manchester City Council.

Deciding to attend university
I graduated in August with a first-class honours degree in International Relations and Security Studies. I then began my employment in November 2021.

I enrolled to study at Bradford aged 51 after some persuasion from my partner. I was unable to complete a degree earlier in life as I had been a carer for almost 20 years. One motivation was my desire to be the first person in my immediate family to graduate from university!

Why I chose Bradford
As a peace activist of several years in Oldham, I looked to enrol on a degree with the Peace Studies department at Bradford. It has a reputation as the leading international academic institution in this field.

Life as a mature student
As an adult learner, I was determined to grab this opportunity with both hands, and I studied hard to achieve a first-class honours degree. As I was considerably older than my undergraduate classmates, I was awarded the affectionate moniker of ‘uncle’.

In addition to becoming fully immersed in lectures and self-study, I served as president of the University Peace Society for a year. However, the highlight of my time as an undergraduate was being given the chance to attend a university in Brisbane, Australia for six months. I successfully completed three modules of an Australian degree with distinctions.

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I was also able to make many friends amongst peace activists ‘down under’. I also visited Canberra, Sydney, the Blue Mountains, and the Sunshine and Gold Coasts.

Moving from student life to employment

The timing of my current employment was fortunate. The post – a two-part, full-time role – was advertised in September 2021, immediately following my graduation.

I promote the views of local authorities which are opposed to nuclear weapons and civil nuclear power. We instead seek a renewable energy future for the British Isles and a peaceful, nuclear weapon-free world. As the world’s first declared nuclear-free city, Manchester is the host to the secretariats of both organisations. It's also a vice-presidential city of Mayors for Peace.

The most amazing thing I have done is to work in Hiroshima with the Mayors for Peace Secretariat and visit Nagasaki.

Advice for mature students
My advice to any older person considering university is to go for it. For the first few weeks it will be terrifying, but you soon get into the swing of things and adapt to academic life. Your lecturers, library staff, and more experienced student mentors are there to help you settle in and provide support. Studying is hard work, but it is also personally very rewarding.