As a late 40s neurodivergent adult - Am I too old to return to College?

SheffieldMan1976
SheffieldMan1976 Posts: 907 Connected
edited March 17 in Education and skills

I'd like to do a part time game design course at Hillsborough or Peaks campus but they keep telling me that because I'm considerably over 25, I'm too old to qualify for the course!

I'm pretty sure this is illegal under various legislation but anyway, I'm 50 3 weeks today, am I too old to be a student again?

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Comments

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 3,290 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Some courses can be limited to certain age groups if they are funded. Would you be paying for the course?

  • SheffieldMan1976
    SheffieldMan1976 Posts: 907 Connected

    Nope.

    As you know, I'm on benefits, so by rights I should be entitled to free education anyway.

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 3,290 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    There's some good information here Disability Rights - Funding Further Education. It looks like it depends on the level/type of course as to whether you'd receive full funding. Did the college explain funding to you?

  • SheffieldMan1976
    SheffieldMan1976 Posts: 907 Connected

    Nope, it was a blanket no because even if I could get into a career as a games designer, I can't work full time. They also said the course was exclusively geared to 16 year olds straight out of school with about 5000 GCSEs to their name (slight exaggeration but you know what I mean!)

  • SwiftFox
    SwiftFox Online Community Member Posts: 877 Championing

    All I could find was free education for over 60 and free courses for if you're looking for work. Nothing else turned up.

  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 3,390 Championing
    edited March 26

    Have you considered Open University - they welcome "older" students and offer disabled discounts / grants etc……….

    The Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is a government grant to cover study support costs if you have a disability. It’s not means-tested, and there’s no age limit. Visit our Supporting students with disabilities page to find out more.

  • SheffieldMan1976
    SheffieldMan1976 Posts: 907 Connected

    Thanks but that'd be a remote online course, I'd rather do a live in-person course on Campus.