Choosing to come back to education and entering the classroom as one of the more senior members of the student body can be a daunting prospect.
But with the sport industry now evolving the way it is, there’s always a benefit to employers to hire individuals with both life experience and a solid educational background.
Matt Barber is just one of a number of mature students excelling at UCFB. The BA (Hons) Football Business & Finance student has enjoyed every moment of his UCFB Wembley experience so far – from lecture theatres overlooking the famous Wembley Stadium turf to making new friends and hearing from some of UCFB’s elite Executive Guest Speakers.
A recipient of the Philip Wilson Scholarship, which is open to new students aged 21 and over, Matt told UCFB he got a feel for the institution and how it wanted to help students by visiting a UCFB Open Day before he joined.
He said: “I’m studying at Wembley Stadium, it’s a once in a lifetime experience. I’m just so comfortable here now; you have a view of the pitch during your lecture – it’s truly picturesque and it takes a few months for that to feel like the norm, for sure.”
Matt added: “I chose to come to UCFB because it was different, and the job opportunities that surround my course could give me the option to work abroad in the US or Germany. As one of our guest speakers Alex McLeish said when he was here: ‘Don’t waste a minute.’”
Advising new and current students looking at applying for a scholarship, Matt said: “If you’re thinking about applying for a scholarship, be real, put yourself out there and be unique.”
He added: “At the end of the day, it’s what you make of it and the opportunities that are given to you.”
