At 68, most people are settling into retirement – not planning a career change and studying for the first time in 50 years.
But Joseph Kim retired so he could pursue a new career path, starting with a university undergraduate degree.
The former motor mechanic, who arrived in Sydney from South Korea in 1989, is studying industrial design at UTS, one of about 8600 students aged over 60 studying in Australia's universities.
He is determined to find a job after he has graduated and wants to design mobility products for the elderly.
"I will know what older people need much more than younger people," Mr Kim said.
The most recent figures for mature aged students compiled by the federal Department of Education show 168,170 students are aged between 30 and 39, 85,380 between 40 and 49, and more than 34,000 between 50 and 59.
Mr Kim, who ran his own car repair shop, completed a design diploma at UTS Insearch, a pathway college giving students alternate entry into UTS, and has now started an integrated design degree at the university.
But he said his journey had not been easy and he struggled to fit into university life.
"I had a triple handicap when I first started," he said. "There were difficulties with the language barrier because English is my second language, I was digitally handicapped because computers were new to me, and I left school 50 years ago so I was very worried about slipping behind."
"The other mature aged students are all 21 years old ... I think I’m over-matured."
But he said the support he received from teachers helped give him the confidence to keep going.
"I attended 100 per cent of my classes and I did my very best to be a good student in every class," Mr Kim said.
"The teachers also gave me confidence to do well. They didn’t just give me feedback, they gave me encouragement. They would say 'you can do it ... we will help you', so I never gave up."
