Mature students are heading to university
As the economy continues to decline, there has been a rise in university applications, in particular those applying who want to be mature students.
There has been a marked increase in mature applicants with the 21-24 age group showing a rise of 12.9% and an increase of 12.6% from applicants over the age of 24, according to UCAS.
From this evidence it’s clear that in the recession more and more people are turning to Higher Education to upgrade their skills and make a long term investment in their career progression.
The poll conducted on the behalf of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills surveyed 1,418 Mature Students, over the age of 21 in October 2008.
Key results showed that 74% of mature students admitted to regretting not going into Higher Education straight from school, while 17% chose to go back to Higher Education, because they believed that they had missed out on life opportunities.
16% of those polled ended up in jobs they didn't enjoy, with a third of people feeling that Higher Education was vital for the pursuit of a new career.
Denise Taylor, occupational psychologist and life coach commented: "Due to the current downturn, many people are taking time to reassessing their future career paths and how having the right education will enhance their chances of meeting their goals.
"As a result, I tend to find mature students are often much clearer on why they want to study, and can get focused on their future career goals right away. Higher Education is the key to a strong career path and should be a consideration no matter what life stage an individual is at."