We value mature students as they bring a diversity of experience to the courses which can inspire and benefit the whole university community.
Of our undergraduates, 31% are mature students – over 21 when they first apply for an undergraduate course.
We can offer you:- flexible part-time and distance study options
- acknowledgement of your skills and experience for admissions
- a supportive environment
Flexible part-time and distance study options
Many of our students have to combine work, study and other life commitments and we are continually working to improve access to our courses. Part-time options exist for many courses, with some also available on a distance learning basis. You will find details of these options with the course details in our course finder.
Acknowledgment of your skills and experience
Admissions
We welcome applications from students with qualifications and experience beyond the traditional A/AS level route. Mature students bring their own unique and varied combination of academic and life skills.
A large proportion of our students enter university with non-standard qualifications such as an accredited access course, a professional qualification or an Open University foundation course. Relevant experience can also be regarded as equivalent to formal qualifications.
More about accepted qualifications and equivalencies
Course exemptions
Some of your previous studies and experience may mean that you can gain exemptions for some elements of your university programme. This could mean, for example, that you could progress straight to year two of a degree course. Or you may gain exemptions for specific modules.
A supportive environment
If you have taken a break from academic study you may have concerns about your study or time management skills, or how to make the most of library and computing resources. You are not alone, many students have these concerns and there's no evidence that mature students have less effective study skills than school leavers.
Weekly group study support sessions covering issues like examination techniques, note taking and essay and dissertation writing run on each of our campuses during the autumn term and are open to anyone who wishes to attend.
Find out about support for student parents
