1. Transition from College
THE NEXT STEP:
Making a Successful
Transition from College
to University as a
Mature Student
Callum Maguire
Head of Outreach and Community Engagement

3. www.qmu.ac.uk THE NEXT STEP: Making a Successful Transition
Choosing the university and course that’s right for you
Involving family and friends in the university experience
Being positive about your status as a mature student

4. Being a mature student is like being any other student, but with more studying and better food
One reason mature students work so hard is because they feel like intellectual impostors just waiting to be found out
(Guardian 2008)

5. www.qmu.ac.uk THE NEXT STEP: Making a Successful Transition
Academic Skills
locate and use information
make connections and analyse – cognitive skills
work with other students and academic staff
communicate effectively about a subject
become an independent learner
Skills for employment
communicate well - written and verbal
solve problems
strong interpersonal skills
work well alone and in a team
acquire new knowledge
be flexible

6. www.qmu.ac.uk THE NEXT STEP: Making a Successful Transition
Cultural differences
At college there is more direct teaching, smaller classes
and more use of continuous assessment.
Possible skills gap
At university there are practical skills such as taking lecture notes, conceptual notions of critical thought, more emphasis on private study, thought and research, more analytical and discursive essays/a different style of report writing.
Support mechanisms
It is less likely that someone will notice if you are not coping at university. It is also less likely that you will be offered help. However, all the support you need is
available – you just have to ask for it!

7. www.qmu.ac.uk THE NEXT STEP: Making a Successful Transition
Be prepared to work hard, but be realistic about what you can achieve initially and give yourself a chance to settle in
Prioritise and Organise – plan ahead and don’t put things off
Don’t worry if you can’t do all the extracurricular activities other students do
Keep sight of your objective
Ask for advice and support
Look after your health – try not to worry too much and try to keep things in perspective