New students: Are you returning to education after a break? Does the thought of studying again fill you with trepidation as well as excitement? Are you anxious that you won’t be able to ‘keep up’ with other students?
Current students: Have you had a year abroad, in industry as a sandwich placement, or interrupted study on your degree? Are you worried that you have forgotten how it feels to be a student?
You are not alone! Students who are returning to study after time away sometimes feel that their academic skills are ‘rusty’, and worry about whether they will be able to remember how to undertake academic study, or write assignments. However, research shows that students who return to study after a break from education are often found to be more motivated, self-determined, focussed, and hard-working (Hunter-Johnson, 2017; Kasworm, 2018). Our experience has also shown that given the right encouragement and access to support, all students have the potential to achieve, regardless of their age or stage in life.
Did you know?
… that Edge Hill University has a high percentage of students who have not come directly from school or college? The most recently available statistics show that in the 2024/2025 academic year:
- More than a third (34.7%) of our students were over 25
- More than a quarter (26%) were over 30
Recent research has also suggested that globally it is the over-50 age group that is the fastest growing demographic of adult learners (Heretick and Tanguma, 2020). While higher education does not have an upper age limit, the chances are that there will be several people on your course who are returning to education after a significant break.
Already an Edge Hill student?
Breaks in study can happen at any time, for a range of reasons, and for different lengths of time. You may have been studying abroad for a semester, working in industry for a year, had a period of interrupted study due to caring responsibilities, or just feel like the summer break was a long time! Whatever your experience, we’re here to support you back into study.
Returning to Learning has been developed by UniSkills to offer a safe space for students re-entering education at Edge Hill to reconnect with learning and share their experiences with others in the same boat. We also welcome anyone who has previously been in the same position, and can offer peer support or tips for ways to ease back into an educational setting.
Returning to Learning Ethos
Our aim is to create a community of positive support to help develop the confidence of returning students, enabling them to believe that they can achieve, and be academically successful.
To ensure that we can offer our students the best experience, we draw upon research, our experience and academic skills knowledge, as well as students’ own ideas about what they need, to best support their transition back into education.
Returning to Learning runs on alternate weeks throughout each term, in Willow Room, Catalyst. Check out the Returning to Learning tab on our UniSkills workshops page for this term’s dates. Drop in any time between 1-3pm for a cuppa and a chat (tea, coffee and biscuits are provided!). You can book a place online or simply drop in on the day!
Whether you are totally new to university, are in your final year, or are returning to postgraduate study, why not come along and share your experiences? Each session is facilitated by an Academic Skills Advisor, and will offer you the opportunity to:
- Meet other Returning to Learning students
- Share any concerns about returning to academic study at university
- Learn how others in this situation have adapted to Higher Education
- Suggest tips for effective learning
- Develop your academic resilience
We are always happy to answer questions, share our knowledge about studying at Edge Hill University, or just have a chat! J
References
HERETICK, D. M. L. and TANGUMA, J., 2020. Anxiety and Attitudes Toward Statistics and Research Among Younger and Older Nontraditional Adult Learners. The Journal of Continuing Higher Education. 69 (2), pp. 87-99.
HUNTER-JOHNSON, Y., 2017. Demystifying Educational Resilience: Barriers of Bahamian Nontraditional Adult Learners in Higher Education. The Journal of Continuing Higher Education. 65 (3), pp. 175-186.
KASWORM, C. E., 2018. Adult Students: A Confusing World in Undergraduate Higher Education. The Journal of Continuing Higher Education. 66 (2), pp. 77-87.
