Mature Students @ Keele

Hi all, I'm looking to apply to Keele for 2010 (HRM and International Relations). Keele looks like an amazing uni, but at the grand old age of 30 when I'll be there, I'm dreading being the only oldie on campus. Are there any mature students on your courses and how have they found it so far?

I'm also looking at renting a house off campus - I can't imagine living in halls after living on my own so long. And I have a flat full of things that I would never know what to do with. Which are the better and cheaper areas to rent in (ideally on or near a bus route) and would it be recommended I move down a month or two before the course starts to settle in and find a job?

If there are any mature students at Keele, please say hello. I am absolutely dreading the thought of starting at Keele at the moment!!! :eek3:

Reply 1

nath108

I am 22 but I would like to say hello :biggrin:

. It is really amazing to see you at Keele. Hope you will settle down easily with everyone whether there are other Mature students or not.

Reply 2

Minardi

12

Yes, I know a couple in our department. They seem to get on OK with it all.

Renting - I think Hartshill is the main student area, and quite cheap. I lived in Newcastle town centre and that was also quite cheap, and not a bad place.

Reply 3

ParadoxSocks

22

I was 22 when I started so not exactly mature but older than most and to be honest all students seem to get on with everyone regardless of being mature or not. I'm friends with a few mature students on both parts of my course and, apart from outside commitments and the lack of partying, they're exactly the same as everyone else. Generally mature students manage to find one another in the first few weeks and tend to sit together in lectures but they aren't afraid to be with normal students too :smile:

Keele's a pretty friendly place!

As Minardi mentioned, Hartshill is a really good area to be living as it's directly on the bus route and a nice mix of students, standard residental housing and shops so you won't be surrounded by a bunch of 19 year olds gone wild :wink:

It's also within walking distance of Newcastle for shops and bus routes into Hanley run straight through both sides. Silverdale would have been an option but the bus company recently stopped the buses down that area so it's best avoided until we know how that's gonna work out :smile:

Reply 4

Original?

11

Hartshill is also an absolute dive... the rent is very cheap for a reason, I lived there in my first year off campus and it's a rather depressing place to live. What's your budget? There are much nicer places to and it depends on your definition of cheap, everywhere in Stoke is cheap for what you get.

Maybe a month before, but probably no two as you may get bored. Stoke is not a particularly exciting City. That should give you time to find a part-time job of some description.

As for other mature students, there are a fair few that I've seen and on the most part they integrate rather well. I'd recommend you take part in roles such as subject representative at the Staff-Student Liaison Committee as it tends to be the more mature/study focused students who do this and you may find more like minded people.

There is also a postgraduate bar in Horwood and while I know you're not doing a postgraduate degree, I'm sure you'd be more than welcome.

Reply 5

Lara C.

3

theres a few people in both my subjects 30+, maybe even 40+. 95% of students are ~20 years old but the other 5% are over 30.

Reply 6

ParadoxSocks

22

Original?

Hartshill is also an absolute dive... the rent is very cheap for a reason, I lived there in my first year off campus and it's a rather depressing place to live. What's your budget? There are much nicer places to and it depends on your definition of cheap, everywhere in Stoke is cheap for what you get.

Maybe a month before, but probably no two as you may get bored. Stoke is not a particularly exciting City. That should give you time to find a part-time job of some description.

As for other mature students, there are a fair few that I've seen and on the most part they integrate rather well. I'd recommend you take part in roles such as subject representative at the Staff-Student Liaison Committee as it tends to be the more mature/study focused students who do this and you may find more like minded people.

There is also a postgraduate bar in Horwood and while I know you're not doing a postgraduate degree, I'm sure you'd be more than welcome.

The areas closer to Newcastle are a little more 'studenty' but there are some nicer parts such as the new housing nearer to Stoke at that general area. Hartshill is mostly terraced housing much like most of Stoke. I'd rather be in Hartshill than 90% of the rest of the area except perhaps Newcastle itself.

Reply 7

i_want_a_penguin

After the weekend I've had with my "acquaintances", I can't wait to be a mature student! (Sorry, just had to get that off my chest)

Reply 8

mooji

OP

Wow. Feeling much less anxious now - thanx guys.

Mature Students @ Keele

Related discussions

Articles for you