Universities and is not simply a description based upon age, 21 or over, but rather one which is applied to people who for one reason or another were did not go into higher education after leaving school.Every student's decision to come to university is different, none more so than a mature student. We have students who having reached a hiatus in their career and are ready for a career change. Some students are unemployed and see it as a re-training and preparation for the job market. Others have reached a stage in life which allows the time and opportunity to enter higher education for intellectual and personal satisfaction.The contribution mature students make to the learning environment is significant, with students entering the University from different backgrounds and with many life experiences to draw upon. The mature student is a valued member of the University student body, comprising over 10% of undergraduates.
Hopefully your experience as an student was positive and at some point you may decide to take another course. Whether you'd like to continue with a related subject or take up an entirely new area of study, the best place to start is by taking a look at our online prospectus.Depending on your circumstances, some financial support may be available to postgraduate students. There is also the new openlearn website which makes freely available learning resources from a selection of material, giving ythe opportunity to sample something different or gain knowledge without committment to any teaching schedule.

The achievement of formal qualifications is not the only barometer of a student’s potential. Admissions staff will assess the application taking into account skills, experience and abilities as well as commitment and motivation to study. Experience may include knowledge or practice gained from previous work or study, voluntary or community involvement or care responsibilities. Mature students are not expected to present the same entry qualifications as school leavers with the benefit of at least five years secondary education. However, mature students will normally be expected to obtain some recent qualifications after returning to study. This recent evidence of studying enables the admissions selectors to assess students' potential for degree-level studies and also shows evidence of students' appetite for further study. All applications will be dealt with on their individual merits.

Many mature students have described their university experiences as "juggling" or "plate spinning". Keeping all the balls in the air, or if one plate tumbles the others could soon follow. The mature student soon becomes adept at these skills of time management, a balance of domestic with academic life. Prioritising academic work and meeting deadlines, while managing your finances carefully, budgeting for the necessities such as books, accommodation, travel, food and socialising.We have in place at the University support services such as Academic Skills, Student Advisory Service, the Student Association, Disability Services, the Nursery, the Careers Service, the Mature Students Society and many more. Academic Skills have specific programmes designed to support students returning to study to gain all the skills they need to succeed on their chosen course.Risk Management