NUIM Staff
Information on Mature Students
Most teaching staff in Maynooth will have mature students in their class. Generally mature students, having gone through the specific mature student application and selection procedures to get here, do as well as (or in many cases, better than) their school-leaving classmates. Before mature students arrive, we spend time helping them to make the transition, providing them with insight into the specific requirements of third level study. We stress the importance of being academically and practically prepared so that they can make the commitment to a three or four year course. However in some cases staff might come across mature students who are struggling with their studies particularly due to ‘mature student issues'. Some typical problems that they face include:
- Juggling the demands of college and home: for many, the general demands from home are still very real and can impact at times on students' course requirements;
- illnesses of students' children, partners and elderly parents - sometimes the student is still considered the main carer;
- Financial issues: a huge problem for mature students;
- Adjusting to life as a student - taking notes, reading academic books, academic writing, meeting deadlines, using computers. Obviously can be a problem for all students but for those out of formal education for some time it can be exaggerated;
- Computers - The increase in the adoption of technology in teaching, e.g. web-based learning environments (Moodle) and plagiarism prevention software (Turnitin), are having an impact on the way that students learn, communicate with teaching staff, access materials and information, and submit assignments. While such developments open the doors for more flexible systems, it can be quite daunting for those students who are used to more traditional ways of learning;
- Feelings of being not ‘up to the job' academically;
- Some mature students may not have come through the mature student entry route, ie they were offered a place based on Leaving Cert results from previous years. Therefore they may not have had the opportunity (through interview, for example) to find out about supports, etc.
