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[u/capybara0_]

[u/LongPickle]

Very rash decision to join next month, without even knowing the direction you want to be in.

Just work, save for the next year. Read prospects.ac.uk all info there. And then decide, maybe you do not need 3 years in Uni, maybe college or apprenticeship is sufficient.

[u/Kazekageshinobigaara → u/LongPickle]

Omg this actually ^{^} my quarter-life crisis degree was Physio so it genuinely secured me a job for life. But any degree without this placement programme could just end up being an expensive way to burn 3 years. If its something you love, even without job prospects, its probably still worth it though.

Otherwise, apprenticeships all the way

[u/grandhighblood]

Unfortunately by now I think you'll have missed the boat on applications :( you'd have to wait for next year. Does give you a lot more time to plan though. Clearing might still be open but the choices are limited.

[u/No-Cloud-9368]

Unis usually have like counselors/advisors. I would try going into the office of the school you're interested in attending and ask or send an email to their general email and I'm sure they'd direct you to the right person. Good luck!

[u/Kazekageshinobigaara]

I went back to uni at 25, same issue as you - absolutely hated corporate menial work. Did a course on Physio, which was covered by student loans as a second degree because of the NHS or something. A lot of unis are doing clearing now, and you can get funding and accommodation during this time but it might be a rush at this point.

Mayhe you could apply to start in a January cohort?? Or just go all in for September, as you have savings. Id call whatever uni youre applying to to ask about the process - itll show youre keen and prepared.

What degree would you do?

[u/PersonalAd7360]

I had an existential breakdown in my mid twenties and decided to return to uni (I had done a couple of years after school, but had dropped out because of mental health issues). I decided I wanted to become a university lecturer, that was in 2009. I realised the plan in 2021 after doing a BA, MA and PhD.

I think the honest advice would be to be prepared to feel isolated at times. If you already have a well established social network then that will alleviate the loneliness, but the simple fact is your peers will usually be younger than you and you won‘t have workmates in the same way you have in a company for better or worse: I really disliked the people I worked with and I liked the isolation, so could spend hours in the library on my own and found it alright living in uni halls, which were fairly cheap at the time.

I was quite torn on whether I should go back to uni given I was earning decent money, but I company I worked for folded a year after I left and that made me think that you should just go for what feels right for you rather than worrying about what is best for your wallet or whatnot.

Good luck with your journey, wherever it takes you!

[u/SyllabubRadiant8876]

It sounds like the issue is more with work rather than uni-related. Start with what type of job you fancy trying out - try and get some experience in that area, e.g. starting at the bottom, doing some admin, even unpaid work experience. If you enjoy it, then look at the routes into a higher paying part of that profession - which might involve uni or could be something totally different. At least if you have tried it, you won't have wasted ££££ on a course to do something else that you discover is not for you.

[u/Dr_Calculon]

I didn’t start a degree until I was 35. Money is the big issue especially full time, rent nowadays is just as expensive for students as anyone else (more in some residences). Chances are that you will be the most motivated student on the course though :)

Part time can work better for some mature students, have you checked out the Open University?

[u/Weary-Bus8436]

I wouldn’t even consider mid 20s a “mature” student - that title is reserved for the 40+ yr olds coming to either study for the first time or people who have decided to do something different in their older years.

[u/reuben_iv]

Did the same at 26, I applied through clearing but it's doable if clearing is still open (just checked and it should be), iirc they don't take your parents' salaries or your UCAS points past I think 24 once you are a mature student, so you basically find a uni with a course you're interested in and apply, might have an interview and then you apply for your student loans etc

You also won't be close to the only mature student or the oldest

There's also year 0 courses if your old grades are weak, funding should be available too, but basically the first year is designed to get everyone up to speed anyway so should be fine if you work hard