By Amanda, from Scotland, studied Religion and Literature  

I have just finished a masters in Religion and Literature at the University and I’ll be doing my graduation in McEwan Hall tomorrow, which I’m very excited about.   

I have been thinking, how did I come to do that in my fifties? Well, I’m a Baptist minister and I had been considering further study for a while. I happened to meet the person who’s now my supervisor on a random committee that we had both been invited to join. She mentioned the programme in religion and literature and I just thought, ‘this has got my name all over it’! 

So, my decision was mainly about the programme content, but also the supervisor who recommended it. I live in Fife, which is commutable from Edinburgh, so it was a perfect fit for me. I loved the masters and it was a no-brainer to stay on and finally begin my PhD. 

Funding

I did my masters part time while I was also working part time. I managed to get a scholarship that covered the fees from the University, so I would always recommend that people apply for every funding opportunity that you can.  

For the PhD, I’m mainly self-funding, but I have got some help from a charitable trust that specifically supports people who are in ministry. But there are loads of different trusts. It’s always worth researching them and seeing whether you fit into one of their categories because the chances are that you might do and so it’s worth a try.  

Being a mature student

I was a bit nervous at first because I thought I’m going to be so much older than everyone. And would they really want me cramping their style? Actually, I was amazed how open and welcoming people were.   

At New College, we often hang out in our social space, just chatting over coffee or lunch, and people are quite good about including others and introducing each other. Then there’s always some brave soul in the class who says, ‘Hey, who wants to come to this exhibition on monkeys?’ And then we all went as a group, which was so cool.  

Cost of living

I live in Fife, so I don’t pay for accommodation in Edinburgh. But I do still like to think how I am saving on my heating when I come in and study in the College - I know all the warm spots! I think you can live more cheaply if you plan for it. I make the most of subsidized eating options and any other student discounts.  

The city

I could maybe have applied to St Andrews, as it is a shorter drive away from where I live, but I wanted the city vibes again. I love the city. I’m from London originally and so I’ve loved just getting a more cosmopolitan experience, more diversity and more things to do. I was at the opera the other night and used my student discount. How brilliant is that?  

Studying at PhD level

Postgrad study at Edinburgh is certainly challenging, and I’ve studied at post grad level before. But there is a lot of support, especially for things like the masters dissertation. Your hand is held to some extent through it, although you do start to develop your own areas of interest. At PhD level, it’s even more independent, you are fully in charge of your own project. Really, you’re treated almost as colleagues, not just students, as we’re all researching together.   

What’s next?

I’ll be 57 when I finish my PhD. I’m no spring chicken, so I think for me it’s about moving into a phase of life where I can balance my interests, my passions, my experience, where I’m moving into more a sort of portfolio career - I’ll continue to do some ministry, maybe some research, a little teaching and writing. I’m quite open to enjoying the journey and just seeing where it leads.  

My final bit of advice would be to embrace the whole experience and hopefully you will fulfil your untapped potential.  

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Being a mature student at Edinburgh / Student Stories by blogadmin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0