A short guide to becoming a mature student at Falmouth (from a mature student!)

This article was written by Sustainable Festival Management BA(Hons) student Sam.

If you’re wondering whether Falmouth University welcomes mature students, or whether there are many of us studying here, the answer to both is yes!  

As a mature student myself (I’m 25), I’m aware that it can be a daunting prospect entering university when a large proportion of students have recently finished school or college. But, I have also found that there are some huge advantages to this and a surprising number of students here have jumped into studying later than the masses! In this blog, I’ll share some of my own experiences and offer some advice if you’re thinking of starting at university as a mature student. 

The many advantages of being a ‘mature’ student 

I have found that waiting a few years before starting university has helped me in many ways. Starting university felt like a very intentional decision, having had more time to get to know myself and think about what I wanted. As a result, I found it easy to engage with the course content, seek external opportunities, build community and make the most of the great lifestyle here in Falmouth. Not to mention, having a bit more experience with time management and ‘responsibility’ in general has helped me keep on top of things! 

Having more experience interacting with people is also a huge benefit. I decided to travel when I left college and spent a few years working in various jobs. That extra experience in the real world and spending time with many kinds of people meant that I found it easy to slot into the community here in Falmouth, both inside and outside the university. 

Falmouth is a highly creative and exciting place, and the student body is really diverse – no matter what your interests, there are probably groups of people around who share those interests. That extra time you’ve spent getting to know yourself and figuring out which kinds of people you enjoy being around comes in really handy at university with its wealth of social opportunity. There’s also plenty of opportunity to be surprised and have adventures too - I didn’t know I enjoyed bee-keeping until my friend persuaded me to come to a Bee Society event! 

When you arrive, jump in! 

During Welcome Week and the first few months of university, I’d advise getting involved in as much as possible. The Freshers Fair in Week 1 is a chance to talk to some of the 150 different societies and student groups at Falmouth. There’s also plenty going on in the local scene outside of the university, especially if you’re interested in the arts and an outdoor lifestyle. Doing this isn’t just a great way to meet likeminded people – it also helps you get your bearings and discover different aspects of the uni and the local area. 

Accommodation advice 

There are several options for accommodation when starting a degree at Falmouth – whether you want to go down a private housing route or live in student halls in your first year, there are good options for mature students. If you choose to live in halls, but are worried about living with younger students, it’s common for people in similar age groups to be placed in the same flat. I know plenty of other mature students who decided to live in halls for first year and had a great time! 

I decided to go straight into private housing when I started my degree, as I thought it would offer a bit more of a relaxed experience. If you’re feeling a similar way, I’d suggest beginning your housing search as early in the year as you can! There are plenty of forums, Facebook groups and websites for finding private accommodation around Falmouth, including the university website, but many houses often fill up around December/January time, so it’s best to get on it as early as possible.