Information for Mature Students

Following less than exemplary A-level results and a great deal of confusion surrounding the direction I wanted my life to go in, I started working for a wine merchant in my local area, which develop into a comfortable career over a period of eight years. However, the nagging feeling that I wanted to go into higher education grew over time and eventually culminated in the decision that I really wanted to study politics. Following the completion of an Access to Higher Education course I found myself with the difficult decision of where to study. The Department of Politics at the University of Sheffield has a reputation as one of the best in the country, which was paramount in my mind. But what really convinced me to come to Sheffield was the fantastic open day that I attended. It is hard to put into words, but the University just felt completely right for me, and from that day onwards I haven’t looked back.

I chose to study International Relations & Politics because it gave me the chance to focus on the IR side of the subject, which fascinates me. The course and Department have both exceeded their reputation, which reinforces my belief that Sheffield is one of the best places to study politics in the country. Being a mature student I had the obvious concerns about whether or not I would fit in, and how would I deal with being a student. Both of these concerns went out of the window within the first twenty-four hours. Not only are politics students a fantastic and welcoming bunch of people, but the whole University has such a welcoming environment. I decided to get involved with as much extra-curricular activity as possible, and this has been a fantastic way of not only meeting people, but developing as a person. I have been elected to two committees this year, and fully expect that my second year at university will not only be hectic, but even better than the first. Coming to a Department of Politics open day was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and I would unequivocally recommend it to anyone who is thinking about studying politics.