Mature Student Profile

Lee Duff, Year 3
MChem: Chemistry

Joining the university was a big step for me in my life and it has turned out to be a very positive experience, which I would strongly recommend to mature students like myself.

"Before university I was out of education for 10 years working full-time at a local DIY store with no sense of direction. So, I decided to enrol onto evening classes to see if I could achieve my A levels with the intention of progressing to university to study for a chemistry degree.

"After attending an Open Day at the Chemistry Department I began to feel quite worried about whether I could cope with a full-time course and whether or not I would be able to fit into a student environment. In particular, I was very nervous about going into the laboratories as I had very little practical experience and I was beginning to think that maybe university was not for me. However, since joining the Department, I have found the atmosphere to be friendly and welcoming and have been pleasantly surprised at how comfortable I have become with university life. I no longer feel I am on my own as there is always help on hand to talk over any worries or concerns.

"Working in the labs has turned out to be the most enjoyable part of the course for me, where the feeling is relaxed and you can work at your own pace with no pressure. There are also postgraduates and academic staff constantly available to provide help and guidance with the more difficult aspects of the work; this has helped greatly towards building my confidence.