LEARNING knows no age limits – that’s the message at Mary Immaculate College (MIC) this week where people of any age are invited to an information session to discover what they could do.
As higher education continues to evolve, an increasing number of mature students are finding their place in college lecture theatres.
According to Rob O’Halloran, PATH 3 project officer at MIC Student Life office, the Limerick and Thurles campuses offer “opportunities to mature learners within a friendly, relaxed environment with specialist supports to help them on what can be a transformational journey”.
“As a mature applicant, you can apply for MIC’s Level 8 undergraduate programmes or alternatively one of the college’s part-time programmes to get a taste of, or prepare for, a course of study.”
“The college wants to help prospective students choose the
right learning pathway, and attending the information session on
Wednesday April 9 (11am to 12.30pm) at MIC Limerick is the first step in the process,” he said.
Accroding to MIC, the benefits of returning to education as a mature learner are “many and varied”.
“With life experience comes a better focus and motivation to study, you are better placed to apply what you learn to practical as well as academic scenarios, and employers like to hire mature graduates due to their mix of experience and academic know-how.
“At MIC we also help mature students navigate the unique challenges including balancing family responsibilities, work commitments, and financial constraints”.
The information session will have information on MIC’s specific
programmes for mature learners including the Teacher Education Access Programme (TEAP), designed for applicants who are interested in applying to the Bachelor of Education (Primary-level) but do not meet the minimum entry requirements, and the Pre-University Programme for Mature Learners, aimed at adult learners from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds who wish to continue their education and whose educational experiences and opportunities in their earlier years may have been limited.
The session will cover a range of MIC programmes as well as detail resources – academic, financial, and other – that are available to mature students at MIC. There will also be an opportunity to speak
with current mature students.
Closing date for applications to the CAO is 1 May 2025.
