NUI Galway

Older dogs can definitely learn new tricks at NUIG

RIGHT now there are approximately 18,000 students studying at NUIG. One in five of those has taken a non-traditional entry route. Among them are those categorised as mature students.

Mature means over the age of 23 — with no upper age limit — and, best of all, there are few barriers by way of strict entry criteria for many subjects.
Missed out getting to college first time around? Want to upskill or pursue a passion? In the ‘third age’ — post-work but loads more to offer? Then this could be the route for you.
The Mature Students Office at NUIG would never be crass enough to describe the bewildering choice of courses available as something to cater for all tastes, but I can, and that’s the impression I left with after a recent visit there to see what is on offer for today’s mature students.
GMIT also offers a broad range of opportunities for mature students, but for this article I’ve focused on what’s happening at my own alma mater.
Anyone, such as myself, who studied at UCG, as it then was, would need a compass and map to make their way around today’s greatly expanded campus.

Read the full feature in this week's edition of The Tuam Herald