I completed an Msc in Medical Microbiology at UCL in 1990. After that I left the field to travel the world. I got married and later divorced, not working while I was married. I haven't had a job for years and am scared to death to apply for jobs in my field of study. I miss science and would very much like to do a PhD. Is it far-fetched to think I could get on a PhD with my out of date Degree? Please help! Thank you all.

Hi, if you've been out of touch with academia (for a long period) and want to get back to it (this is your case) some/most departments are happy to let you enroll into some postgraduate degrees (Diploma, MPhil, Msc, etc) and see how well you do. If you are successful, it may be possible to transfer to PhD (after a few months). The best thing to do is to consider a university, a supervisor and get in touch with them, directly.
Give it a shot !

Hi Cali. Thank you for taking the time to reply to my message. Your suggestion sounds like good advice. I will give it a shot. Take care.

Hi Angie. Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. My situation is so similar to yours that it is almost uncanny. I also want to get back into the sciences again. So far I have not been successful in either the job or PhD route. Seems like there are so many other younger and more qualified people...but I'm going to keep trying. Best of luck to you.

Just discovered this site. I am exactly in the same postion. Left work for a while due to family reasons and now just can't seem to get back into it. Isolation is a major problem as is time. Ever thought of establishing a support group where like minded people can meet face to face for support?

Hi Angie,
Keep trying. I know a guy who started his PhD at age 60 - completed it 3 years later. Another person I know is starting a part-time doctorate at Oxford soon - he's 49. He got in there by doing a part-time Masters first.