A growing number of professionals over 40 are returning to university to retrain for new careers, driven by economic uncertainty and a search for more meaningful work. One former magazine editor, who retrained as a psychotherapist at age 42, described the experience as a relief despite the financial strain, with MA courses costing upwards of £10,000 a year.
According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, more than 244,000 mature students were enrolled in UK universities in 2022, with numbers of those aged 30 and over starting degrees rising annually, particularly in healthcare, education and business. Many are juggling jobs, families and caring responsibilities while taking on significant debt.
The former editor, who had a successful career at Elle magazine and as an author, decided to retrain after a difficult year in which her book proposal failed to sell, freelance work dried up due to AI and global economic uncertainty, and she was rejected for a barista role. She described the experience as dispiriting, but found purpose in studying psychotherapy.
While AI poses a threat to many professions, including therapy, the trainee psychotherapist believes the human element of therapy cannot be replicated by bots. Her cohort, ranging from early thirties to mid-sixties, includes former lawyers, teachers, fashion professionals and journalists, all seeking a more resilient future.
The trend reflects a broader shift among mid-life professionals who are stepping sideways or backwards in their careers to pursue longer-term security, often in fields like healthcare and education. Despite the challenges, many find support and camaraderie among fellow mature students.
