Supporting mature students

A mature student is someone who has started their undergraduate degree at the age of 21 or over, or their postgraduate degree at the age of 25 or over.

Issues affecting mature students

We know from research and from talking to the students that they can be affected by:

• time management
• balancing home and university life
• family/caring responsibilities
• returning from a break from education
• having non-traditional qualifications 
• studying part-time and locally
• disabilities
• being unable to engage in university social activities in the evening
• struggling to meet other mature students
• not completing their studies (.pdf)

Ways to support mature students

• Consider tailored social activities for mature students during the daytime, for example, coffee mornings, mature student lunches.
• Let mature students know that their past life and study experiences help enrich the classroom environment and should be celebrated.
• Promote the Students’ Union Mature Students’ Network.
• Ensure academic support hours are well publicised and accessible both online and within your department; not all mature students live locally.