Finding belonging at any age: a mature student’s experience

Class of 2026 graduate, Charles Lyon, retired from work at the age of sixty-six to return to academia and spend time studying an area of interest. From here, he started his Lincoln Bishop journey. 

Having previously studied a degree in Biological Sciences, Charles saw his second degree as an opportunity to develop his general historical knowledge. 

Originally from Gainsborough in Lincolnshire and hoping to commute for his studies, Charlies chose Lincoln Bishop for its ideal location, course subject options and close-knit campus with small class sizes. 

After originally considering Archaeology, Charles was happy to have eventually chosen our BA (Hons) Archaeology and History joint honours degree which carefully connects the two topics, providing him with a “broader understanding of both subjects”.

Charles said: “When I applied to Lincoln Bishop to study Archaeology and History in 2023, I must admit to having second thoughts as a 66-year-old fitting into student life. 

“I need not have worried. The small groups made it easy for everyone to get to know each other from the start and we were a diverse mix which made it more interesting for everyone.”

Following a recently awarded accolade of 10^th in the UK for Student Satisfaction in Archaeology*, Charlies described his lecturers as “friendly, informative and interested”, and recommends the course for its organisation, feedback and the readily available support from academics. 

Outside of his studies, Charles joined the Lincoln Archaeology Group (LAG) who meet in our on-campus Archaeology Lab and regularly engaged with community and group activities. 

Despite being a mature student, when asked what he liked most about studying at Lincoln Bishop, Charles commended the helpful and welcoming nature of the campus and our staff across all departments. 

Charles continued: “The University’s friendly atmosphere cannot be overstated. The guidance and availability that I saw from the tutors is one of the main attractions of the University; without doubt contributing to Lincoln Bishop being the UK's top university for student satisfaction**.

After Charles’ graduation in July 2026 and a milestone birthday next year, he is hoping to continue his academic work and involvement with projects through the LAG. 

Ready to explore a new subject? Discover Archaeology and History at Lincoln Bishop here.

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*National Student Survey 2026 

**Complete University Guide 2027