By AAT Comment Members Returning to education later in life – top tips from those who have been there and aced it 29 Jul 2026 Returning to education can be daunting. It can also be incredibly rewarding. Here’s how two former AAT students got through it. Whatever your reasons for returning to education after spending years in the workplace – whether it’s to learn new skills, land a new role, get a promotion or spark that grey matter back into action – it’s not a decision to be taken lightly. Returning to education can be a significant financial commitment, but it is also, at times, a physical, emotional and mental slog. However, going back to college and retraining, whether through classes, distance learning or a combination of the two, can be hugely rewarding and satisfying. It may allow you to kick-start or reinvent your career. We spoke to two former AAT students who have used returning to education as a springboard for success. “Sometimes you ask: ‘Why am I doing this to myself?’” Miranda Buchanan completed the Foundation Certificate in Accounting at 33. She is now a Senior Practitioner at Thames Reach. I was made redundant from my role as a project administrator for a charity just as I was coming back from maternity leave. The timing wasn’t great, but it did mean I got to spend more time with my baby and, once my daughter was eight months old, I was able to use the redundancy money to enrol at a training provider. It was challenging, especially juggling studying with the demands of having a young baby. I often used to only start studying at 11pm when everyone had gone to bed, and then work through to 5am. And then the baby would wake up at 9am. But my view was that I wasn’t getting any sleep, anyway! My partner and my family were also amazing, which made a real difference. You do have moments when you ask: “Why am I doing this to myself?” But I’ve always enjoyed learning new skills. I also enjoyed the fact I was dusting off the academic part of my brain. You just have to accept it is going to be hard work. There were times when I thought: “Can I be bothered?” When you feel like giving up, remember why you’re doing it and what you want to get from it. But you have to make sure you don’t burn out. You have to pace yourself. I used to take a break every couple of hours for a cup of tea (or sometimes a G&T). If you feel you’re struggling, taking a break can really help. Miranda’s top tips Do your research and make sure you know what you’re getting into. Going back to college worked out pretty well for me, and I really enjoyed it, but it isn’t easy. Make sure you choose a good provider. Mine was lovely and gave me a lot of support, even though it was all distance learning. Being AAT-registered is a good sign to look out for. I would often send something off at 5am and have had a response by the time I got up. “You’re doing it to make a difference to your life” David Mollard is a self-employed bookkeeper and went searching for change at 56 when his role was made redundant. I spent 20 years working in the agriculture sector – primarily contracts around crisps supply – until I was made redundant. It did come as a bit of a shock and the next 18 months were rough. My wife also became ill and so I had to spend a few years as her carer. Fortunately, she improved and my caring responsibilities eased off. Then I found I was a bit bored. I initially did a City & Guilds Level 1 bookkeeping and accountancy course through North Yorkshire County Council’s adult learning services. I then progressed to AAT’s Foundation Certificate in Accounting and Advanced Diploma in Accounting, and then I did the Professional Diploma in Accounting. Most of the learning was via night or evening classes, and with people of all ages. So, it felt very different to a school scenario. It was just a question of knuckling down and making the commitment. It had been many, many years since I had done exams at school and so that was a bit of a learning curve – it’s all done on a computer these days! The motivation, however, was pretty straightforward – you are doing it to make a difference to your life. Because I wanted to do it, it didn’t feel like a chore. David’s top tips Be disciplined. You have to make yourself sit down and do it. It’s much like working from home. You need to knuckle down psychologically and make the time, and put yourself into study mode. Be clear what you want from the process. You want an outcome that justifies the investment in both time and money that you have put in. That will also help to give you the motivation to carry on. Further reading Do you have a squiggly career? See what skills you’ve picked up on the way Career planning: Explore what you want from your ideal role Top tips from an accountant who swapped teaching for a career in finance AAT Comment offers news and opinion on the world of business and finance from the Association of Accounting Technicians.