Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
EDUCATIONAL GERONTOLOGY, 2025 (SSCI, Scopus)
This study aims to identify the barriers and facilitators that non-traditional university students aged 35-60 in T & uuml;rkiye may encounter in terms of starting, adapting to, and sustaining their education process at university. A phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research approaches, was adopted in the study. In this context, four separate focus group interviews were conducted with 22 non-traditional university students studying at universities in different cities. Thematic analysis was carried out using the MAXQDA 24 software for data analysis. The study revealed three main themes: (1) the process of becoming a non-traditional university student, (2) academic experiences, and (3) career planning. Under the first main theme, three sub-themes were identified: decision-making process, reactions of significant others, and adaptation process. Under the second main theme, five sub-themes were identified: facilitators, barriers, advantages, disadvantages, and coping strategies for challenges. There were no sub-themes under the third main theme. The findings indicate the need to establish dedicated support units tailored to the needs of the increasingly prevalent non-traditional university students at universities, to expand student rights, and to raise societal awareness. In conclusion, strengthening institutional and societal support mechanisms, in addition to individual efforts, is crucial for the academic success of non-traditional university students.