• Skip to content
  • Skip to footer
  • Accessibility options
University of Brighton
  • About us
  • Business and
    employers
  • Alumni and
    supporters
  • For
    students
  • For
    staff
  • Accessibility
    options
Open menu
Home
Home
  • Close
  • Study here
    • Courses and subjects
    • Find a course
    • A-Z course list
    • Explore our subjects
    • Academic departments
    • Visiting the university
    • Explore: get to know us
    • Upcoming events
    • Virtual tours
    • Chat to our students and staff
    • Open days
    • Applicant days
    • Order a prospectus
    • Ask a question
    • Studying here
    • Accommodation and locations
    • Applying
    • Undergraduate
    • Postgraduate
    • Transferring from another university
    • The Student Contract
    • Clearing
    • International students
    • Fees and finance
    • Advice and help
    • Advice for students
    • Advice for parents and carers
    • Advice for schools and teachers
    • Managing your application
    • Undergraduate
    • Postgraduate
    • Apprenticeships
  • Research
    • Research and knowledge exchange
    • Research and knowledge exchange organisation
    • The Global Challenges
    • Centres of Research Excellence (COREs)
    • Research Excellence Groups (REGs)
    • Our research database
    • Information for business
    • Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP)
    • Postgraduate research degrees
    • PhD research disciplines and programmes
    • PhD funding opportunities and studentships
    • How to apply for your PhD
    • Research environment
    • Investing in research careers
    • Strategic plan
    • Research concordat
    • News, events, publications and films
    • Featured research and knowledge exchange projects
    • Research and knowledge exchange news
    • Inaugural lectures
    • Research and knowledge exchange publications and films
    • Academic staff search
  • About us
  • Business and employers
  • Alumni, supporters and giving
  • Current students
  • Staff
  • Accessibility
Search our site
Mature students
Studying here
  • Find a course
  • Subject areas
  • Choose Brighton
  • Applying to Brighton
  • Fees and finance
  • Visit us
  • Applying to Brighton
    • Applying to Brighton
    • Undergraduate
    • Postgraduate
    • Advice for students
    • Advice for parents and carers
    • Schools and colleges
    • Student contract
    • Ask a question
    • Sign up for updates
  • Advice for students
    • Advice for students
    • Covid vaccine mandate – information for students on health courses
    • Estranged students
    • Students from Outreach schools
    • Students with BTEC qualifications
    • Access students
    • Transferring from another university
    • Part-time students
    • Mature students
    • Students with children
    • Care leavers
    • I am a student from the EU
    • Advice for students applying to uni in 2023
    • Students with disabilities
    • Students with autistic spectrum conditions
    • Students with mental health issues
    • Students with dyslexia or specific learning difficulties
  • Mature students

Advice for mature students

We value the diversity of work and life experience that mature students bring to the university community.

At the same time, we recognise that as a mature student you are more likely to have to balance family and work commitments alongside your studies.

From the structure of our courses to how we evaluate applications from mature students, we are committed to helping you gain the qualifications you need and make the most of your time at university.

What is a 'mature' student?

'Mature' means that you are over 21 when you start your course. Around 30 per cent of undergraduates who enrol at Brighton each year are mature students.

What are my options if I don't have A-level qualifications?

Not having A-level qualifications should not stop you from considering studying for a university qualification.

We welcome applications from students with qualifications and experience beyond A-levels, for example a BTEC Diploma, professional qualification or an Open University foundation course.

Relevant work experience can also be regarded as equivalent to formal qualifications in some cases.

Your previous study and/or experience could mean that you can gain exemptions for some elements of your university course while you are here. For example, you could progress straight to year two of a degree course. Or you may gain exemptions for specific modules.

If you do not have O-level or GCSE qualifications we may in some cases require you to take a GCSE equivalency test, or advise you to take an Access course that is relevant to the degree you wish to study.

Ask us about your qualifications or experience

What are Access courses and who are they for?

The Access to Higher Education Diploma prepares you for university-level study. It is designed for mature students who have the ability to study at degree level but lack the necessary formal qualifications or have been out of education for some years.

Access courses typically include a number of academic subjects relevant to your intended degree course plus a compulsory core element including numeracy, literacy, IT and communication skills.

Access Diplomas are a recognised route into many of our courses here at Brighton.

Most Access courses can be completed full-time in one year or part-time over two or more years.

See typical Access qualifications for entry to our courses

Find an Access to Higher Education course in your area

What academic support is available to mature students?

If you have taken a break from academic study you may be concerned about your study or time management skills, or how to make the most of library and computing resources.

If so, 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.

To help you make the most out of your time at the University of Brighton, you will be assigned a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) at the beginning of your degree to help you develop skills to achieve your goals, such as guiding you through assessment feedback from all of your modules.

You will also have access to our online resources and advice on developing and improving the skills you will need for your course.

Balancing life, work and your studies

Study part-time

You can study many postgraduate courses on a part-time basis. We have a number undergraduate courses which are taught on a part-time basis. Some courses are also available on a distance learning basis.

Take breaks from study

To make it easier to study for postgraduate qualifications while you work or take care of family, many of our postgraduate masters courses offer intermediate awards like the postgraduate certificate (PGCert) and postgraduate diploma (PGDip). 

You can complete a PGCert or PGDip and then take a break from studying, returning at a later date to study for a masters.

Flexible postgraduate study options

Find out how you can study individual course modules or take breaks from your studies.

Working while you study

For most full-time undergraduate courses we don't recommend that students work more than 12 to 15 hours a week during the term. However, some courses are more time-intensive than others.

Courses where you spend a lot of time on placement, such as nursing or teaching, will require more time. Even if you only have 12 hours of teaching a week on your course, you will still be expected to do a lot of independent study, group work and assignments. As a rough guide, for every hour of face-to-face teaching on an academic course, there will be at least two to three hours of other study-related activities.

Speak to course tutors and current students when you come to one of our open days and find out what is realistic for your course.

Already working full-time?

We offer a number of courses that are designed for people already working full-time. They often include work-based learning modules, with lectures and tutorials all on one day of the week, in the evenings or on Saturdays.

You can use the course finder to identify courses with part-time study options.

Extra support if you have children

You could be eligible for extra support with childcare or general study costs if you have children and are studying at university full-time.

Find out more about support for student parents

Back to top
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn icon

Contact us

University of Brighton
Mithras House
Lewes Road
Brighton
BN2 4AT

Main switchboard 01273 600900

Course enquiries

Sign up for updates

University contacts

Report a problem with this page

Quick links Quick links

  • Courses
  • Open days
  • Order a prospectus
  • Academic departments
  • Academic staff
  • Professional services departments
  • Jobs
  • Privacy and cookie policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Libraries
  • Term dates
  • Maps
  • Graduation
  • Site information
  • Online shop
  • COVID-19

Information for Information for

  • Current students
  • International students
  • Media/press
  • Careers advisers/teachers
  • Parents/carers
  • Business/employers
  • Alumni/supporters
  • Suppliers
  • Local residents