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Which university favours mature students a little more-Oxford or Cambridge?

Hi,

I am a mature student and thinking to apply to either one of the two universities above...I emailed Oxford Uni and have been told that the course I am doing at the moment as an Access to Law (at Birkbeck, UOL) is accepted for entry into their Law degrees and they in fact had quite a few students entering Oxford with that qualification...

I haven't heard anything from Cambridge yet, but somehow I feel like they are even harder to please :smile:

What do you guys think?

I am going to take my chances...If they refuse me, what the heck, at least I know I have tried :smile:

Reply 1

silk192

14

it doesnt matter.....they cant refuse you because of your age...

Reply 2

lalalee-anne

It says on your profile that you're at essex university atm?

I know of more mature people who have got into cambridge than oxford but that may be because of other factors...

x

Reply 3

eve_22

OP

18

lalalee-anne

It says on your profile that you're at essex university atm?

I know of more mature people who have got into cambridge that oxford but that may be because of other factors...

x

I was gonna go to Essex, as I got a plc there through clearing, but at the end I decided to do an Access course and aim higher...

P.S. thanks for reminding me I have to change my profile lol :smile:

Reply 4

Snore

Cambridge say in their prospectus that they don't like taking people currently at other universities 'on a matter of principle, unless under exceptional circumstances' and you can obtain a 'particularly strong' reference from your tutor.

Reply 5

eve_22

OP

18

Snore

Cambridge say in their prospectus that they don't like taking people currently at other universities 'on a matter of principle, unless under exceptional circumstances' and you can obtain a 'particularly strong' reference from your tutor.

I am not at university, I am on an Access course...I didnt star at Essex, so it doesnt apply to me...Thanks anw :smile:

My experience of Cambridge as a mature student, is that they were extremely welcoming. I know other mature students that have gone up as undergrads and grad students returning to academia and I never heard any problems. Talking to Fellows, they seemed very positive about what mature students bring the the courses and environment. There may be slight differences from department to department, so it is worth asking, but Colleges don't seem to think it is a big thing and I had no problem fitting in to the student community.

Reply 7

lalalee-anne

eve_22

I was gonna go to Essex, as I got a plc there through clearing, but at the end I decided to do an Access course and aim higher...

P.S. thanks for reminding me I have to change my profile lol :smile:

ahh right, sorry! I was thinking that it might be a bit hard juggling two degrees at different uni's at the same time :wink:

Yes aim high, it's the best thing to do!

Good Luck :biggrin:

x

Reply 8

eve_22

OP

18

threeportdrift

My experience of Cambridge as a mature student, is that they were extremely welcoming. I know other mature students that have gone up as undergrads and grad students returning to academia and I never heard any problems. Talking to Fellows, they seemed very positive about what mature students bring the the courses and environment. There may be slight differences from department to department, so it is worth asking, but Colleges don't seem to think it is a big thing and I had no problem fitting in to the student community.

Thank you for sharing your experience...On the league tables Cambridge stands higher then Oxford, so that's why I though that they would be much harder to please...I will have to wait for their reply on the admission of the course I am doing now and make my decision...

What qualifications you had when you applied and what offer did they give you?
Btw, does anyone know if both Cambridge and Oxford place high emphasis on LNAT?

I applied for a Masters degree with qualifications which were a long way below the standard course requirements. What they considered was what my professional qualities were likely to mean with respect to being successful in an academic environment. I don't suppose there is any significant difference between the general approach of Oxford or Cambridge, individual decision-makers may vary, but you can't account for that. More important is the reputation of your current educational establishment or employer - which in your case I have heard is held in high regard around Cambridge.

Reply 10

Karin99

As far as I know, as a mature student you are allowed to apply to both Oxford and Cambridge - if you want to. Maybe you should think about doing that, and hope that you get into either one :smile:

Karin99

As far as I know, as a mature student you are allowed to apply to both Oxford and Cambridge - if you want to. Maybe you should think about doing that, and hope that you get into either one :smile:

You can apply to both for post graduate studies, but you can only apply to one for undergraduate studies. Classification as a mature student only applies to undergrad studies.

Reply 12

eve_22

OP

18

threeportdrift

I applied for a Masters degree with qualifications which were a long way below the standard course requirements. What they considered was what my professional qualities were likely to mean with respect to being successful in an academic environment. I don't suppose there is any significant difference between the general approach of Oxford or Cambridge, individual decision-makers may vary, but you can't account for that. More important is the reputation of your current educational establishment or employer - which in your case I have heard is held in high regard around Cambridge.

Well as for the reputation of Birkbeck, I know it is quite good-its part of University of London and have quite a few good academics...As for my work, I have been employed by one of London's most respected night clubs as a manager...I really dont know whether that's going to be relevant to my application...

I have done one work experience week at solicitor firm and am currently applying to volunteer for Citizens Advice Bureau and Central London Law Centre...

So basically I have equivalent of 9 GCSE's and no A levels, but am doing an Access course which is 120CATS points and it says on Oxford admissions website that it's equivalent to A levels...

Hopefully I will be allright :smile:

Reply 13

Derek_the_Sheep

8

eve_22

Btw, does anyone know if both Cambridge and Oxford place high emphasis on LNAT?

Cambridge has dropped it! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7595909.stm

DtS

Reply 14

eve_22

OP

18

Derek_the_Sheep

Cambridge has dropped it! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7595909.stm

DtS

yes, but we still have to do it for 2009 entry... :s-smilie:

Reply 15

Derek_the_Sheep

8

eve_22

yes, but we still have to do it for 2009 entry... :s-smilie:

So you do. But actually, given they'll be trying to judge you against applicants with a more usual set of qualifications, that may not be a bad thing for you (assuming you do OK in it, of course).

DtS

Reply 16

*pitseleh*

20

Karin99

As far as I know, as a mature student you are allowed to apply to both Oxford and Cambridge - if you want to. Maybe you should think about doing that, and hope that you get into either one :smile:

Alas, no. Only for post-grad. :smile:

Reply 17

Amiera121

Hi. I have the same problem as yourself. I finished my Access course in July 2008 and i decided to take a year out as i had a change of mind on what i wanted to study and didn'twant to choose something i wasn't passionate about or interested in.
I have started my application for 2009 but i am very stressed out with whether i should apply for Oxford or Cambridge. I have had so many negative replies from people saying because i didn't do A-levels and don't have AAA i won't stand a chance..Its quite heart breaking as it's hard enough dealing with the pressure of doing the ucas application.

I am thinking of applying to Oxford, Balliol college for Ancient History. Can anyone advice me if they have a reputation for taking mature students?