UCAS - UCAS mature students: case studies

'I decided to combine my existing design skills with my new passion for plants and gardens.'

Name: Shirley M

Age: 51

Studying: FdSc Horticulture, Garden and Landscape Design at Warwickshire College

Qualifications: BA (Hons) Graphic Design

I left school at 18, after completing A levels. Art was my main preoccupation at that time.

Over the 20 years or so I have lived in Leamington Spa, I have regularly studied at Warwickshire College at their night school or on part-time courses to supplement my computer literacy skills, foreign languages or on leisure courses. When I became interested in horticulture, I was able to study my RHS General Certificate in Horticulture with them, which prepared me for the foundation degree.

I became interested in horticulture and garden design and decided to combine my existing design skills with my new passion for plants and gardens. I previously worked in graphic design and was a book illustrator for years, before computer graphic design started to take over the industry. I have always been passionate about plants and decided to combine this interest with my design skills to study garden design. I now work part-time for a garden design and landscape company and I am setting up my own garden design business.

Of course it does put financial pressure on you when you have to pay the fees and give up some of your working hours to study. I continued to work as many hours as I could to keep an income, albeit small. At least by completing the course part-time it enables you to work as well.

You need to be certain you can commit the time needed. It is not just the days at college, but the study time at home every week, and time for work experience, which may not be paid. Be prepared for these things.