Mature student at Cambridge

Hi everyone,

Just wondered if anyone has any experience or knowledge about applying to Cambridge as a mature student. It wouldn't be for a couple of years, maybe 2022 (I didn't want to go straight after 6th form), in which time I would've hopefully completed an Access to HE diploma most likely in a mixture of history, politics, languages (the 'open' option at OU) simply so I will have some recent studying experience and I also quite enjoy studying anyway. I have good A Level grades and a good mix of extra curricular eg sports, volunteering etc.

In short, do you think its worthwhile applying etc and any other tips or advice are welcome please :smile:

PS it would be to study Education.

Reply 1

Paralove

They'll be much more interested in what you're doing outside of your course/in your free time that is academic and related to your subject rather than non relevant stuff like sport or volunteering. It's not that it shouldn't be included in your personal statement, just that it should be minimal (80+% should be academic focused) and they won't make decisions based on the non relevant stuff.

Have a look at https://www.christs.cam.ac.uk/online-learning for some inspiration of things that could be a place to start.

Reply 2

Eliz010

Thank you! That’s very useful. Of course, I should’ve mentioned that and do have some things planned regarding relevant academic stuff etc :smile:

Reply 3

Paralove

Original post by Eliz010

Thank you! That’s very useful. Of course, I should’ve mentioned that and do have some things planned regarding relevant academic stuff etc :smile:

Welcome! I did MML but if I could do another degree I'd be straight on the Education course, it's a really interesting one.

Reply 4

Eliz010

Original post by Eliz010

Thank you! That’s very useful. Of course, I should’ve mentioned that and do have some things planned regarding relevant academic stuff etc :smile:

Sorry I forgot to ask, does anyone know if I were to contact Cambridge (or Oxford), would I have to contact each potential college individually or is there a mature student contact as a whole?

Reply 5

Paralove

Original post by Eliz010

Sorry I forgot to ask, does anyone know if I were to contact Cambridge (or Oxford), would I have to contact each potential college individually or is there a mature student contact as a whole?

What is it that you want to ask them? Mature colleges are more specialist in the sense that they are far more familiar with less common qualifications and routes, so might be a better bet.

However, as colleges can make decisions individually it's generally sensible to check their own subjects and other pages on their websites/email separately (but depends on the nature of the query as to whether you need to do that or not).

Reply 6

Eliz010

Original post by Paralove

I think I just want to ask more about the mature colleges in general. How they work, what type of differing academic routes do they see regularly and whether what subject(s) you do for an Access course matters.

You're right, mature colleges will probably be more helpful so I think I'll send an email to a few of them, thank you!

Reply 7

Eliz010

Original post by crazzzzy

Not sure if this is helpful but I'm pretty sure the youtuber IbzMo is/was a mature student at Cambridge and spoke a lot about his experience and gives a lot of tips etc on his channel, so might be a bit useful to check out his vids maybe.