Where has the summer gone? I finished the last academic year in late April and I thought I had many months to do lots of things I never get around to during the semester. However, the months seem to have disappeared and I have been back at University for several weeks now. This year I started History of Art at Level One. My intention had always been to study History of Art as an undergraduate and for the last five years I have taken a weekly History of Art class through the University's Department of Adult and Continuing Education known as DACE. These classes have given me a good grounding for the course and have been most enjoyable as visual art is my passion.

There are about 190 students in the class and one of the largest lecture theatres on campus is used. I find the lectures riveting and the 50 minutes pass very quickly. With the advent of new technology, the images are projected onto a very large screen by Powerpoint so fine details can be studied as the lecture progresses. There are usually about 50 images at every lecture and they can be printed out using 'Moodle', the University site for each subject to access for downloads and to interact. These will be useful for reference to study for essays and exams.

The tutorial groups are limited to 12 and my group is held in Hepburn House on University Gardens, a fine former Victorian townhouse on campus with excellent stained glass and wood panelling. It is a lovely place to study in and the tutor brings the art alive in her presentations and discussions. This semester, it is a study of Renaissance Art, a huge subject but fascinating. I have enjoyed analysing sculpture with the links to the Classical World. One thing to be said of this subject is that the books I have purchased will make excellent coffee table books when I have finished my course!

I have also signed up for Easy French Conversation cCasses two lunchtimes per week with no assignments or exams. These classes run until next Spring and are also open to the public. Last year, I enjoyed Theatre Studies Level 2 so much and the Practical Antigone Project that I have also started attending acting classes at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow. These night classes are great fun and it is an opportunity to play like a child and leave the real world behind. At the end of the 9 weeks, everyone in the class will present a monologue.

I am back at the Mature Students' Association and we now have over 100 members with lots of new faces. Our efforts at the Freshers' Fair running the MSA stall certainly paid off in attracting new members. I am now into my fourth year at Glasgow University and I have seen many students come and go. I continue as I am part time and want to stay as long as possible studying my hobbies. Some graduates have now come back to do other subjects as they enjoyed their time as mature students so much. It must be therapy for the elderly.

How time is passing! I have just finished the second semester for the Academic year. This semester has been very different to previous years' as I have had a practical theatrical production to work on for Theatre Studies level 2. At the start of the semester my seminar group was given a task to complete a thirty minute production as an update on Sophocles' Antigone with a modernist/postmodernist slant. The semester was to cover modernism to postmodernism in the theatre at the lectures. With a seminar group of 20, this was a daunting task as we all needed to have an input to achieve personal marks as part of the overall assessment for the semester.

The overall experience was great as the young students welcomed me and ensured I was fully integrated into the group. However, there were some low points when I felt too marginal in the production. This was entirely my fault as I chose parts with few speaking lines to avoid embarrassing senior moments when I forget the lines! I was amazed at the talent of many members of the group from stage lighting design to music and singing. I can't sing but I did manage a decent scream at the end of the piece. I have never been on stage acting and I was fascinated by the experience of how the audience is not seen with the lighting and there is a feeling of acting for yourself on stage. The production went well on the day and we were awarded an A overall for it. It is an experience I have come away from with memories of how lovely my peer group were and how some of them are destined for good careers.

I was fascinated by the Theatre Studies Level 2b as there was a strong dance component and dance is my passion, having spent the last 40 years watching and participating in it. I was particularly impressed by a postmodern dancer, Liz Aggiss, and I would recommend seeing some of her stuff if you have the chance. The essay was to be submitted by 28 April and this was fortunate as it meant I could attend my niece's wedding in Atlanta on 1 May. I finished my course work exceptionally early while my fellow mature students were still slaving away over hot books.

The Mature Students Association goes from strength to strength and the University have now put us on to a firmer financial footing through the SRC and given us the opportunity to upgrade the computers and select furniture for the chillout room at 62 Oakfield Avenue. Our new President, Gordy, is a computer whizz so knows the ropes on selecting computers. The main task now is to attract new members in the next academic year by having a stall at Freshers Week and taking part in Freshers Tours of the University along with attracting the students completing the Access course. It is with sadness we will say goodbye to many of our members who graduate this year but do come back and visit!

I have now completed three years in the Theatre, Film and TV Studies Department and in September, I move on to History of Art Level 1. I noticed in the Avenue magazine from the University, the History of Art Department has been awarded the top History of Art Department in the UK so I have high expectations. I am looking forward to the summer although I should be in the University regularly to use the gym at the Stevenson Building.

Remember, if you are interested in studying at the University of Glasgow part time, contact the adviser of Studies in the Faculty before August to discuss subject options and enrolment. Fees may be waived in certain circumstances. Spring 2009

Diary of a Mature Student

Autumn 2008

What a summer! Michelle, the president of the Mature Students Association, got married. She had a real 'knees up' reception after a lovely wedding in the University Chapel. Previously, we had a great hen night with me dressed up as a Medieval Lady courtesy of Stephanie, who dressed us all up for the event. It was my first hen night and one to remember after the pub crawl in Byres Road.

I am now fully immersed in my third year of study at Glasgow University although it is not too time consuming having only one subject in Theatre Studies. The strange thing is that this subject has actually enhanced my visits to the theatre whereas the Film and TV Studies nearly destroyed my enjoyment of film and I am still analytical when I see films. Everything on stage is contrived and I know this at the theatre so there is a different attitude to it whereas film tries to imitate real life. This is an over simplification but you know what I mean!

This year I have been studying Moliere amongst others and it has given me a whole new perspective into his writing. I just love the plays and the understanding of the salon culture at the time. After being educated in the history of the theatre, I have been immersed in the academic readings and I will miss it after this year. The academic staffs in Theatre Studies is so enthusiastic, it rubs off on the students and the students at the tutorials get really involved in discussions about the playwrights.

I have been ticking over History of Art at DACE in preparation for starting level one next year. Under the tutelage of the wonderful Martin Baillie I feel I have a good grounding for the degree course. Martin is the longest serving lecturer at the University and although he is in his mid eighties a wonderful example of how we should be in later years. He has a vast knowledge and manages to remember it to convey to students.

I have also taken the Spanish Language conversation class at lunchtimes available to staff and students at the University. There are only five in the class, four young men and me! Most of us are struggling but the tutor carries on encouraging us. My mind seems to go blank when I have to construct a sentenc e although I can understand the reading fairly well. Language and age don't seem to sit comfortably together but I am determined to struggle on and hope that the penny or eurocent will drop at some point!

The Mature Students Association goes from strength to strength with nearly 120 members and some very nice new members who keep me in touch with younger people. University is certainly a stressful time for students who are full time but being part time takes away a lot of stress and leaves time to go into subjects in more depth. It is only a few weeks time to the MSA Christmas party. It was a great success last year with a Santa and presents. We have one member over seventy years old who has never studied in her life before and is an inspiration to us all.

Meanwhile, I fully participate in University life and have made full use of the excellent gym facilities at the Stevenson Building conveniently across the road from the Mature Students Association in Oakfield Avenue. The semesters have changed this year and the autumn semester finishes on 21 December so I have an exam on 17 December. It means I can have a relaxing Christmas break with no exams in January. The downside is that I have less time to study so I must get on with it now. I know I left the Ibsen play somewhere........,