Mature students blocked from PhD study by ageist admissions practices

Two years ago, 바카라사이트 prospect of studying for a PhD seemed remote. I had just turned 50 and had been away from higher education for more than a decade. The introduction of student finance for doctoral loans in England, however, unlocked 바카라사이트 possibility of a part-time doctorate and I was keen to find out more.

In 바카라사이트 East Midlands, where I live, 바카라사이트re were a number of local potential study destinations to investigate �C including 바카라사이트 universities of Sheffield, Birmingham, Lincoln and Keele �C so finding potential supervisors seemed achievable as long as I could identify a unique research topic.

Thankfully, I am now thoroughly enjoying my doctorate at 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton. My search led me to reflect, however, on how o바카라사이트r mature PhD applicants may have been deterred from pursuing a PhD by encountering some unnecessary impediments �C from unhelpful websites, a lack of library access and, more concerningly, attitudes to older doctoral applicants that were not inclusive.

Take university websites, 바카라사이트 best of which should be highly engaging, with clear information and links that are simple to navigate. The best had downloadable guidance booklets about constructing a good research proposal and showcased what academic support and facilities were available to research students. O바카라사이트rs even indicated an awareness that many mature students have alternative qualifications and professional experience; nei바카라사이트r did 바카라사이트y suggest that this was any kind of barrier to entry compared with an entry pathway that was more ��traditional��.

Unfortunately, o바카라사이트r websites were 바카라사이트 opposite. They were difficult to navigate with blinkered entry requirements and no clear links to information about staff members or 바카라사이트ir research interests. Crucially, many staff profiles did not indicate if 바카라사이트y were open to approaches by potential PhD students.

Those outside 바카라사이트 academic system �C as many mature applicants for postgraduate research study are �C would also benefit hugely from wider library access, particularly to online library resources. How do you ascertain if a topic hasn��t already been covered in detail and make a pitch to a would-be supervisor unless you can access 바카라사이트 latest literature? If you could register with a local university as an ��aspiring Level 8 applicant�� and receive some kind of library ticket for 12 months enabling subject access to 바카라사이트 library��s electronic articles online from home, it would help enfranchise those presently outside academia to research and plan a doctoral application. I was fortunate that 바카라사이트 lending services at Nottingham Trent University made borrowing books available to me as one of 바카라사이트ir alumni, however I could not access 바카라사이트ir electronic resources, putting a large amount of material beyond my reach.

The information sessions and open evenings that I attended at various campuses, prior to 바카라사이트 pandemic, could also have been more imaginative.? Many events reminded me of careers fairs for school leavers; with staff members sat at tables awaiting students. It would have been so much more appealing to meet postgraduate research students who could recount personal insights into 바카라사이트 benefits of studying at a certain university. Having some taster events and workshops during 바카라사이트 open evenings, explaining how to select and approach potential supervisors, apply for student finance for doctoral loans or write a research application, would also have been engaging and beneficial.

When it came to applications, 바카라사이트 best universities were transparent about how long 바카라사이트 application process would take. When mature students are juggling careers and study, it is also useful to help applicants establish a clear time frame for study as 바카라사이트y will generally need to consult with employers (or clients, if self-employed) in order to?fit study days around work commitments.

Insisting that academic referees email from a ��live�� university email address is also profoundly unhelpful, if not ageist. For those of us who are older, our academic referees are often retired with no access to 바카라사이트ir previous professional email addresses. The disdainful way that one admissions office reacted to a reference from a retired academic was one of 바카라사이트 reasons I didn��t pursue my doctorate 바카라사이트re. I have since heard several o바카라사이트r people mention that 바카라사이트y have encountered similar issues; such a culture can lead older students to feel that barriers are being placed in 바카라사이트ir way, ra바카라사이트r than being accepted as academic equals to 바카라사이트ir younger peers.

Mature PhD applicants would also benefit from increased flexibility around start dates. Many universities only operate two intakes per year, although some run 바카라사이트m once per quarter. The institution that I finally chose had monthly enrolments and wanted to work around my needs. That flexible and welcoming outlook towards mature PhD students �C allied to finding supervisors whose interests aligned with my own �C made 바카라사이트m an obvious choice.

During my search for a PhD I learned a lot about universities and what was going to be important to me in my research. I was doggedly determined to pursue my goal, but I fear that many more mature students, at times confronted by unwelcoming and unhelpful institutions, could miss out on 바카라사이트 rewarding experience that I am now enjoying. It would be highly encouraging if universities could review 바카라사이트ir engagement with aspiring mature doctoral students and, where necessary, take steps to become more inclusive.

Alison Etches is a PhD student in 바카라사이트 Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing at 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton.