Information for adult learners

You've already got the experience. Now get the qualification. You've managed people, solved real problems, dealt with pressure that doesn't come up in textbooks. That's not a disadvantage at university – it's a head start.

AUT has more adult learners than most people realise. Some are retraining into health, education, law and other fields. Others are upskilling through postgraduate study to go further in the career they're already in. Mature students tend to do well here. And we're set up to make sure of it.

Why adult learners thrive at university

What it's really like to be a mature student: what our students say

Gemma Clydesdale

Master of Health Science in Advanced Nursing Practice

“I think it’s always difficult returning to study after being in the workplace, but I’ve never felt so much support within a university. I’ve never felt like any question was too dumb, and always felt supported. The lecturers are super understanding when you have other commitments and can’t attend lectures. They’ve made the whole process seem very achievable, despite having a busy lifestyle.”

Amberleigh-Brooke Faumuina Pouterata Pountney

Samoa, Ngāpuhi
Bachelor of Arts in New Zealand Sign Language – English Interpreting

“I was so nervous about returning to study and attempting to restart my career completely over again in something totally different to what I knew. From Orientation week, even before classes officially started, I found my people and formed what I believe to be lifelong friendships.”

Jiang Caihong (Daisy Jiang)

Bachelor of Design in Fashion Design

“My biggest challenges have been to blend into student and academic life again, as well as balancing family and study time. AUT has helped me through this by offering a well-organised introduction to each study stage and continuous advice from department staff. AUT was probably the first time I felt very confident about my potential in fashion design.”

Hannah Felise-Clarke

Postgraduate Diploma in Health Science
Bachelor of Health Science

“On my first day of orientation at AUT I was absolutely petrified and so scared that I’d be the oldest student in the room. I couldn’t shake the feeling that everyone else was far ahead of me. But then they held a session with a cohort of mature adult student advisors, and that changed everything. I listened in awe as successful mature graduates, some even older than me, shared their journeys. Looking around, I realised I wasn’t alone.”

Sonya Sanginiti

Master of Health Practice

“I chose AUT because of the ability to specialise in child health and to structure the programme around what courses were most relevant to me. Writing an essay was a skill I had to relearn, as well as using online databases and references. I found the AUT library guides excellent for navigating through this and had a few online sessions with an AUT librarian, which was very helpful. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed studying again.”

Sauniuni Seleni

Bachelor of Laws

“From a mature student point of view, AUT is welcoming to adult students who want to pursue a different area of profession. AUT has a very community and whānau-oriented approach. You can connect directly with your lecturers, journey together with other like-minded students and share knowledge with each other without being judged.”

Davide Lovison

Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing)

“Completing a bachelor’s degree in my early 40’s while working has to be one of my biggest achievements. What I enjoyed most about my time at AUT were the lectures in very modern buildings, the guest speakers with real-life experience and the takeaway coffees outside the library to help me get through those long days.”

Taania Williams

Ngāti Porōu, Rongowhakaata, Rereahu, Tainui, Te Atiawa, Taranaki
Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching)

“With the support of my whānau, I found the courage to put my dreams into reality and achieved my goal to become the first in my family to gain a degree. Having a university close to my home in South Auckland was a huge advantage. I could commit my efforts into successfully graduating, and balancing home and children with my studies.”

Kelepi Liava'a

Bachelor of Business in Human Resource Management and Employment Relations with a minor in Marketing
Diploma in Business

“When I left high school, I worked full-time in retail and my favourite part was being able to help customers. I like that in my studies I could use my experience from my work in retail to relate to concepts and theories in my degree.”

Ariel Shuyin Ma

Bachelor of Laws

“I had been working as a registered legal executive before I decided to study law. At AUT, students are in different stages of their life, and there are many people doing their second bachelor’s degree to change careers or to learn out of interest. Their unique experiences add more insights and help you understand topics in a more practical way.”