Curiosity and thirst for knowledge do not diminish with age. Many universities therefore offer study programs for older people. But before the first lecture, you want to know: how does it actually work?
Retirement is actually a phase of well-deserved rest. But what do you do with all the time that you suddenly have available? If you are interested, you can now deal with things you have always been curious about.
And what better place to pursue these interests than at a university or college? If you are drawn to study again in old age, you have various options. What you need to know:
What is Senior Studies?
As a senior, there are various study options open to you. On the one hand, there is the normal standard degree that you can still complete in old age. Here you have to take all the regular exams and get a degree.
“But if you’ve already had an entire career behind you, you no longer need a professional qualification, but can freely follow your interests,” says Bernd Schmitt from the Academic Association of Senior Citizens in Germany (AVDS).
According to the expert, some universities have therefore introduced a separate senior course with its own structure. There are introductory events, smaller examinations and also performance records and final certificates – but it is geared differently than a regular course of study.
However, participation in teaching as a guest student is much more common. “Here you attend lectures and can put together your program according to your interests as there is no predefined structure here,” says Schmitt.
Where can I find information?
The universities usually decide for themselves which form of study they offer for older people. The AVDS offers an overview on its website (avds.de) and in its study guide. The universities themselves usually have their own coordinators for senior and guest student studies who advise on the form and process.
What speaks for daring to study in old age?
“We often see a high level of motivation among older people: They want to stay mentally fit and mobile, discover new things, continue their education and use their time wisely,” says Doris Lechner, coordinator of the guest auditor and senior citizen studies at the University of Mannheim. They would also be happy to meet and socialize with people with similar interests.
The social component is particularly important, as Jaroslaw Wasik, who heads the academy for further education and senior citizen studies at the University of Bremen, experiences: “People keep coming to us, some for more than 20 years. Friendships and social circles develop, that’s just wonderful. These people are lively, active and have lots of fresh ideas in their heads.”
For some, it is also the fulfillment of a lifelong dream that was denied to them when they were young. “Some women in particular were not previously allowed to study, but they are now fulfilling this wish.” Others were too busy in their professional life and could not study really intensively. “They are catching up now, some with impressive determination,” says Wasik. “Our record is held by one participant who attends events totaling 34 hours of instruction per week. Respect.”
Seniors and young adults learn together – does it work?
How much contact and exchange there is between the groups depends, of course, on the one hand on the students themselves. On the other hand, certain structures of the universities must also be observed. “If an event only has a limited number of places, preference is given to young students, since they are working towards a professional qualification,” says Doris Lechner.
For this reason, not all events are always open to senior citizens. Many seminars and tutorials, but also some subjects, such as medicine, are mostly reserved for regular students.
Where older and young students learn together, there are very different dynamics. “Sometimes there are certain reservations on both sides,” Lechner admits. “But if we consciously promote the exchange between old and young with cross-generational projects, it always works very well and great conversations develop.”
Are there any prerequisites for studying in old age?
Guest auditor studies are open to everyone and can also be accepted without a high school diploma. “However, a guest auditor’s course is also a course of study, so you should basically be the type for it,” says Wasik.
This results in a very heterogeneous group of senior students – although academics are in the clear majority. “It is important for them to understand that some teaching content and perspectives have changed since their own studies and to be open to it,” says Doris Lechner.
Irrespective of previous experience, Jaroslaw Wasik observed one thing in common: “Most of the time, those who are very active come here, who tend to be bored when they retire and who are used to making a social contribution.” You can look back on a successful career and cannot simply stop being active when you get old. The course offers them the opportunity to continue to express themselves.
