Mature Students 2020 University Applicants

OP

Hi, that's really nice to know, I suppose I'd just really be hoping to make a good friendship circle as I will be hours away from my hometown ☺️

Reply 3

childcarestudent

1

Hi, I'm 30 and currently putting together my application for 2020. I'm hoping for my local uni (essex) so I can stay at home and study. I'm excited, nervous but hope I can get somewhere! Good luck!

Reply 4

OP

@childcarestudent
That's so exciting got my fingers crossed you get Essex! I have applied to that uni as one of my 5 actually ☺️ Good Luck to you too! x

Reply 5

OP

Original post by OrianeM

Hello ! I was wondering what qualifications do you have and what is necessary for a mature student ?
I can't find two websites saying the same thing. Is it compulsory to re-sit A-levels?

Hi

I have done an access course, if you find an access course provided by a college on the subject you're interested in studying, this can grant you entry! Make sure you have checked with the unis you're applying to that the course you want to study accepts an access course before you start- most do now though, I've been offered all russell group uni places

Reply 6

Original post by Tashaistoast

Hi

I have done an access course, if you find an access course provided by a college on the subject you're interested in studying, this can grant you entry! Make sure you have checked with the unis you're applying to that the course you want to study accepts an access course before you start- most do now though, I've been offered all russell group uni places

Thank you for your answer !
And do you think it is better to do an access course rather than sitting A-levels or doing a foundation course? (I'm a bit lost between all the options!)

Reply 7

Deekal

6

Hey all,

I’m 32 and I’ve applied for MA programmes in UK. I’m an international applicant. I’m hoping I get through my top choices. SciencesPo, University of Edinburgh and Kings College London. I’m not an A student, mostly between 62% to 75 in my undergraduate and diploma studies. Fingers crossed.

Reply 8

Original post by Deekal

Hey all,

I’m 32 and I’ve applied for MA programmes in UK. I’m an international applicant. I’m hoping I get through my top choices. SciencesPo, University of Edinburgh and Kings College London. I’m not an A student, mostly between 62% to 75 in my undergraduate and diploma studies. Fingers

Sciences Po? Are you French ?

Reply 9

Deekal

6

I speak French and I’m married to a French national. He’s stays with me in India and wants us to move to Paris or around UK. So I decided to apply for my Masters, so the employment opportunités open up. I’m a Journalist in India. I hope my work experience makes up for my lack of A grades.

Reply 10

username4938244

11

I'm 33 now, mature student too, will be 34 when I start university in 2020, I cannot wait!!! I'm currently doing an access course too

Reply 11

Will you take A-Levels at the end of your access course ?
Where are you applying ?

Original post by Faithgirl

I'm 33 now, mature student too, will be 34 when I start university in 2020, I cannot wait!!! I'm currently doing an access course too

Reply 12

username4938244

11

Original post by OrianeM

Will you take A-Levels at the end of your access course ?
Where are you applying ?

Nope I won't be taking A-level, that's the whole point of the access course, I'm from Manchester but applying to GCU, UHI, teeside, Bristol and Dundee

Reply 13

Original post by Tashaistoast

I'm currently a 24 year old who has applied to uni and got my first invite to an interview! I will have just turned 25 when I will (hopefully) start in 2020. Does anyone have any advice for a mature student starting uni and about roughly how many people similar to my age group attend uni?

Hi there @Tashaistoast

I returned to education as a mature student a bit older than you and tell most people I was VERY nervous about it, but honestly? Age doesn't matter at university. You will find a wide range of ages and I found I things in common with many different folk. As @Kiraz says, no one will treat you any differently.

This sounds like a really obvious thing to say, but just be yourself. I went into my class knowing I’d probably be the oldest there and was right. I was just myself and let people accept me for who I am.

I know Freshers and socialising can be seen as a big part of first year and I’ve seen posts from people like me who aren’t big drinkers. I can honestly say, it never affected me making friends or getting along with people. I always had an open invitation for nights out and no one ever thought any different because I’d have a soft drink instead of an alcoholic drink.

Pretty much like life in general, you’ll find people you get along with and people you don’t, so you’ll naturally end up chatting to people with similar interests. Age really doesn’t matter at university. I’ve got friends from my undergraduate course who I still regularly meet up with and chat with daily. It’s also not unusual for your friend circle to change over the length of the course. The friends I keep in touch with are not the friends I had in my first year, and several I wasn’t even on the same course with, I met them through different university activities, such as the societies I joined and the jobs on campus I did.

Fi :horse:

Reply 14

Original post by OrianeM

Will you take A-Levels at the end of your access course ?
Where are you applying ?

Hi there @OrianeM

As @Faithgirl says, Access to HE courses are designed to enable people without the traditional style of qualifications (A-Levels/BTECs) to gain entry to university. They last a single academic year and are available in colleges or online.

Fi :horse:

Reply 15

@Liverpool Hope University

Thank you for the answer !
And do universities think it's better to do an access course or take A-Levels in the relevant subjects or do a Foundation Course ?

Reply 16

Original post by OrianeM

@Liverpool Hope University

Thank you for the answer !
And do universities think it's better to do an access course or take A-Levels in the relevant subjects or do a Foundation Course ?

Most universities will accept either an Access course or A-Levels, there is no specific "better" way. If you have the UCAS points to do a Foundation Year/Course, then that is another option, that similar to Access only takes a single academic year.

A-Levels are 2 years in length and mature students will generally find it difficult to find funding for them, whereas there is an Advanced Learner Loan many people will be eligible for to pay for the Access course (as long as the course is not an online course). The Access course is designed for mature students which is why most will take this instead, and universities are aware of this.

Fi :horse:

Reply 17

OP

Original post by Liverpool Hope University

Hi there @Tashaistoast

I returned to education as a mature student a bit older than you and tell most people I was VERY nervous about it, but honestly? Age doesn't matter at university. You will find a wide range of ages and I found I things in common with many different folk. As @Kiraz says, no one will treat you any differently.

This sounds like a really obvious thing to say, but just be yourself. I went into my class knowing I’d probably be the oldest there and was right. I was just myself and let people accept me for who I am.

I know Freshers and socialising can be seen as a big part of first year and I’ve seen posts from people like me who aren’t big drinkers. I can honestly say, it never affected me making friends or getting along with people. I always had an open invitation for nights out and no one ever thought any different because I’d have a soft drink instead of an alcoholic drink.

Pretty much like life in general, you’ll find people you get along with and people you don’t, so you’ll naturally end up chatting to people with similar interests. Age really doesn’t matter at university. I’ve got friends from my undergraduate course who I still regularly meet up with and chat with daily. It’s also not unusual for your friend circle to change over the length of the course. The friends I keep in touch with are not the friends I had in my first year, and several I wasn’t even on the same course with, I met them through different university activities, such as the societies I joined and the jobs on campus I did.

Fi :horse:

Thank you so much for taking the time to write that response, it's so nice to hear from someone close to my age who was in the same position and still had an enjoyable time!!

Reply 18