Starting Uni at 26

Hi @Anonymous👋
Hope you are well. Honestly I do not think it would be a big problem. At university there are younger people in their 20s but there are also older people in their 30s as well. When you go into your course, just talk to people and see how it goes. There are also societies too that you can get involved in. At Essex we have groups that allow mature learners to get together too so nobody is left out. You should be fine though. Last year in my course there were 3 people who were in their late 20s but I did get along with them pretty well and they all found their individual friend groups despite their age too 🙂
Essex Student Rep- Lavanya 💜

Hi there,
I know you have received some great comments here, but I just also wanted to answer this from a different uni so that you can hopefully feel even more reassured!
As everyone here has said, it really will be okay! It won't matter when you get to uni, and there will be such a wide range of people who are all of different ages, so you probably won't even notice. When I was doing my undergrad degree, we had so many people who were all different ages and everyone got on well and it was not an issue at all.
Most universities will have socials or events for mature students if you were worried about meeting some people. Or, there are sometimes groups on social media such as Facebook where you can meet some people who may be mature students too is this may reassure you.
In my experience, most people who go to uni are really open to making friends, and just want to be friends with people who are similar to them, rather than being a specific age.
I hope some of this helps,
Lucy -SHU student ambassador.

Hi! I originally went to uni at 18, but unfortunately had to leave for health reasons. I am now in a much better place health-wise and would like to go to uni again. However, I would be 26 when I start and am wondering if realistically the age gap between myself and the majority of students would prevent me from making friends? Thanks in advance!

Hi there, It’s completely understandable to wonder about the social side of returning to university after some time away, and it’s important to know that many students choose to start or return to their degree later than the traditional route and have positive experiences both socially and academically. At London South Bank University , the student community is very diverse in age, background and experience in fact, a significant proportion of LSBU students are mature learners, and many joined even later than their mid 20s. This diversity helps create an environment where age is just one of many factors that bring different perspectives into the classroom and social spaces, and you’ll likely find peers with a wide range of life experiences alongside the more traditional undergraduate age group.
LSBU also places a strong emphasis on inclusivity and wellbeing, providing services that support students’ personal and social adjustment, from the Student Life Centre and wellbeing teams to peer-assisted learning and mentoring initiatives designed to build connections and support networks. These resources are available to everyone, and can help you meet people both inside and outside of your course.
You are always welcome to explore LSBU and get a real feel for what student life is like here. We have a Southwark open day: Saturday 7th February 2026 where you can hear more about our courses and support. If you would prefer to see the campus in person you can book a tour https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/study/study-at-lsbu/open-days on a day that suits you and get a sense of the spaces you would be studying in. You can also chat to our current students https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/student-life/chat to hear honest experiences and get answers to any course questions you might have.
LSBU Admissions Ambassador

Hi! I originally went to uni at 18, but unfortunately had to leave for health reasons. I am now in a much better place health-wise and would like to go to uni again. However, I would be 26 when I start and am wondering if realistically the age gap between myself and the majority of students would prevent me from making friends? Thanks in advance!

Hi 😊
I had a similar circumstance to yourself with around the same age gaps. I also had these concerns regarding making friends so can completely sympathise - however I can confidently say I'm now in my third year of uni and had absolutely nothing to worry about!
I'd like to say if you are feeling ready for university again then don't let these worries hold you back. It is a very common thing these days for students at uni to be a wide range of ages, some of my closest friends in my cohort ranged from age 18-42 in first year and I have met plenty of mature students since!
The beauty of university is that we are all unique people with different backgrounds and stories, all working towards a similar goal 😊 we are all there to learn, all new to the environment and all trying to meet new people and make friends. We have a mature students society at my university which was a great way to meet others in similar situations as me so I recommend looking out for something similar, but I honestly haven't found any issues with having different lifestyles to others of different ages. I found my worries were often only a big deal to me and my younger friends didn't think twice about it, they just wanted to meet friends.
My advice would be to get involved anywhere you can at university and meet lots of different people and you'll see how varied it is. I've met so many great people by getting involved with work opportunities such as the student ambassador programme, plus volunteering as a course representative/school representative through the students union has introduced me to lots of likeminded people 😄
Go for it and enjoy all that the wonderful university experience has to offer ☺️
Becky
University of Salford Student Rep

Hi! I originally went to uni at 18, but unfortunately had to leave for health reasons. I am now in a much better place health-wise and would like to go to uni again. However, I would be 26 when I start and am wondering if realistically the age gap between myself and the majority of students would prevent me from making friends? Thanks in advance!

I wouldnt let your age bother you. Quite a few people start uni later than 18.
I have known a few do it.

Hi! I originally went to uni at 18, but unfortunately had to leave for health reasons. I am now in a much better place health-wise and would like to go to uni again. However, I would be 26 when I start and am wondering if realistically the age gap between myself and the majority of students would prevent me from making friends? Thanks in advance!

Hi! I originally went to uni at 18, but unfortunately had to leave for health reasons. I am now in a much better place health-wise and would like to go to uni again. However, I would be 26 when I start and am wondering if realistically the age gap between myself and the majority of students would prevent me from making friends? Thanks in advance!

Hi, thank you for sharing that, and I’m really glad to hear you’re in a much better place health wise now.
Starting university at 26 is honestly far more common than people think. At LSBU in particular, we have a very mixed age range across our undergraduate courses. Many students start later due to health, work, caring responsibilities or changing direction. You would not automatically be the oldest person in the room, and even if you were one of the older students, it really doesn’t create the kind of gap people imagine.
Friendships at university are usually built around shared experiences rather than age. You bond over your course, group work, societies, placements, deadlines and everyday campus life. After the first few weeks, age tends to become irrelevant because everyone is navigating the same new environment together. In fact, students who start a little later often bring confidence and self awareness that helps them connect easily with others. Being 26 can actually be an advantage socially, not a barrier!
I hope that helps!
LSBU Admissions Ambassador

Hi!
First of all, it’s really great to hear that you’re in a better place and thinking about going back to uni. That takes a lot of strength.
Honestly, I don’t think being 26 would stop you from making friends at all. I have friends who are around 28, and it genuinely doesn’t feel like there’s an age gap. We share similar perspectives and interests, and even when we see things differently, it just turns into fun debates. Age has never been a barrier in those friendships.
At university, people connect more over shared courses, goals, and experiences rather than age. There are also mature students across many programmes, so you definitely wouldn’t be alone. I really wouldn’t let age hold you back.
Wishing you all the best if you decide to go for it!
Lily
Final year Accounting and Finance

Hi there,
Another perspective from a mature student here. I originally chose to live with other mature students, thinking I would be with more like-minded people, but that did not quite work out (long story involving fish fingers being left in the oven overnight while they went on a night out!) I ended up moving and was placed with two 18 year olds instead. They were friendly and nobody even noticed an age gap.
Flatmates are always a bit of a lottery, regardless of age, and for many students it’s their first time living independently, learning to cook, managing money, etc. You might prefer to live with other mature students, but I don’t think it makes a huge difference.
I actually met my closest friends outside of halls. Your course is a great starting point, whether that is setting up a group chat during induction, going for coffee, attending Freshers’ events together, or studying in the library.
Beyond that, societies, part-time work, volunteering, and even non-uni activities can really help. I have met some great people through pub quizzes and open mic nights.
I would just say keep putting yourself out there. Starting university at 26 is far more common than you might think, and it definitely does not prevent you from making friends 🙂
Hope that helps!
Megan (LJMU Rep)

Hi! I originally went to uni at 18, but unfortunately had to leave for health reasons. I am now in a much better place health-wise and would like to go to uni again. However, I would be 26 when I start and am wondering if realistically the age gap between myself and the majority of students would prevent me from making friends? Thanks in advance!