Spaces that honour experience, balance, and belonging

Walking into university as a 40-year-old PhD student isn’t always what people imagine. Alongside research deadlines, I’m also a parent, juggling family life, responsibilities, and the constant balancing act that comes with it. While university can be exciting, it can also feel surprisingly isolating when you don’t quite fit the “typical student” mould.

There are moments where you can feel caught between worlds. Sometimes you’re older than your lecturers, yet there’s an assumption that you already know how everything works. At other times, you’re trying to remember how to structure an essay while feeling like you’re being treated as though you’ve just left school. These contradictions can be frustrating—and they highlight why mature students often need something different from their university experience.

That’s exactly why mature student events matter.

For me, becoming a mature student advocate came from a simple need: connection. I wanted a space where I could talk honestly about the realities of being a mature student like the responsibilities, the pressures, and yes, occasionally just have a moan with people who truly get it. A space where you don’t have to explain yourself to be understood.

Alongside a brilliant team of other mature students, we’ve been working to build that space at UWE. We’ve organised coffee mornings, workshops, and relaxed “cake and natter” afternoons—events designed not around loud nights out or late timings, but around genuine connection and accessibility. These are spaces where conversations flow easily, support is shared, and people feel seen.

What’s become clear is just how important these moments are. Mature students often bring a wealth of experience, but that doesn’t mean the journey is easy. Having a network with people who understand the juggle of study, work, family, and everything in between can make all the difference. It can turn isolation into belonging.

We’re also excited to be expanding that sense of community. Our next event is a collaboration with mature students from Bristol University: a spring walk around the Bristol University grounds, bringing together students from both universities. It’s another chance to meet, talk, and realise you’re not doing this alone.

If you’re a mature student and any of this resonates, I’d really encourage you to get involved. These spaces exist for you—to support you, to amplify your voice, and to remind you that you belong here just as much as anyone else.

Natalie Bennett, BA, MA, MRes (she/her)

If you’d like more information about upcoming events, or simply want to connect with another mature student, you can reach out at: natalie5.bennett@live.uwe.ac.uk

University isn’t one-size-fits-all and it shouldn’t be. By creating spaces for mature students, we’re not just building networks; we’re building a community where everyone has the chance to feel heard, understood, and supported.

By Natalie Bennett, PHD Researcher

BSA Families and Relationships study group

Mature Student Advocate for the Widening Participation Team