After years away from education, mature student Lara wasn't sure she'd fit in at university. A foundation year gave her the confidence to study for a degree and pursue a career she’d always wanted.
Just go for it. You can
absolutely make it work.
Take a look at the profiles of other students who started their journey with a foundation year at the University of Hull.
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Name
Lara Acaster
Foundation Year
2025 - 2026
Degree
Psychology with Criminology (with a Foundation Year)
I decided to start with a foundation year because I had spent many years out of education. As an older student, it was daunting. I kept asking myself: 'Could I really go back? Was I smart enough?'
For years, life got in the way with raising children and working. But as my children grew older, I realised I had a lot of working years ahead of me and I wanted to spend them doing something I truly love.
The foundation year gave me the passport and the confidence I needed. I had the option to go straight into year one because of an access course I did at college, but university scared me. I was worried I'd be surrounded by teenagers and feel like an old lady studying, but it wasn’t like that at all.
It's been lovely. I’ve made new friends, and the staff are incredibly supportive. I was assigned a personal supervisor, Debbie, who has been great.
When life gets overwhelming, it’s so easy to reach out to the team for reassurance and ask if I am on the right path. I originally thought university would be an isolating journey because I didn't come here for the social life. It has been quite the opposite.
Having those life experiences and professional skills has given me a bit of an advantage. I already had IT skills, like using Excel and strong communication skills.
The biggest transferable skill has been time management. As a mature student, you must juggle constantly. You're managing school runs, part-time work to pay the bills, and full-time study.
I previously had a whole life but university was a fresh beginning for the rest of my life.
Lara's story: returning to study
2 mins
I had a mixed bag of reactions. My immediate network, including my two teenagers, was incredibly supportive. My kids even told me that going back to university was inspiring.
I got a few comments from others asking how I would fit it all in at my age. But I didn’t let it stop me. I researched the financial side and the student loan options, attended open days, and gathered all the information I needed. If you truly want to do something, you will find a way to make it fit.
It was the Open Day. I attended an evening session and a Saturday daytime session. Just speaking to the staff convinced me because they explained exactly how it would work and made the process feel much less scary.
The campus is beautiful. I looked at other universities in the area, but Hull won hands down because it's so green, which is something you really appreciate as an older student.
In my spare time, I’m a yoga instructor and wellness coach. I wanted to share that with other students and the younger generation was incredibly receptive to it. I joined the Allam Sport Centre and started volunteering to run a Wellbeing Wednesday yoga class.
As a bonus, I got a free breakfast from Canham Turner, which I highly recommend. It was a brilliant way to make more friends and share my skills with the younger generation.
I previously had a whole life, but university was a fresh beginning for the rest of my life.
My key achievements have been mastering the practicalities of academia. I have learned how to meet strict deadlines, understand the referencing system, read for research again and write structured academic papers.
Gaining the tools to write an academic paper has done wonders for my confidence. I've learned the layout of the university and I truly feel like a student now.
This degree is my pathway to the career I’ve always wanted. It provides the academic knowledge and accreditation that will open doors, allow me to earn the salary I want and hopefully travel.
I’d love to see more of the world and this degree is my passport to doing that.
Currently, I’m split between two exciting routes. My lecturers are guiding me toward clinical psychology but I am also highly interested in forensic psychology. Combined with criminology, that path would allow me to work within the criminal justice system or alongside policing and investigative teams.
I have another year to explore both options and I'm excited to see where it leads.
Just go for it. You can absolutely make it work. There is plenty of financial support available. You might have to make a few temporary sacrifices. Maybe you can't work as many hours, go on as many holidays, or upgrade your car right now, but the long-term payoff is massive.
It is only four years of your life. My first year passed in the blink of an eye. Before I know it, I’ll be standing on that stage graduating, crying my eyes out, and wondering why I didn't do this sooner. If you have doubts, throw them away. It is much easier than you think.
