We value the diversity of work and life experience that mature students bring to the university community.
At the same time, we recognise that as a mature student you are more likely to have to balance family and work commitments alongside your studies.
From the structure of our courses to how we evaluate applications from mature students, we are committed to helping you gain the qualifications you need and make the most of your time at university.
'Mature' means that you are over 21 when you start your course. Around 30% of undergraduates who register at 麻豆果冻传媒 each year are mature students.
Not having A-level qualifications should not stop you from considering studying for a university qualification.
We welcome applications from students with qualifications and experience beyond A-levels, for example a BTEC Diploma, professional qualification or an Open University foundation course.
Relevant work experience can also be regarded as equivalent to formal qualifications in some cases.
Your previous study and/or experience could mean that you can gain exemptions for some elements of your university course while you are here. For example, you could progress straight to year two of a degree course. Or you may gain exemptions for specific modules.
If you do not have O-level or GCSE qualifications we may in some cases require you to take a GCSE equivalency test, or advise you to take an Access course that is relevant to the degree you wish to study.
Ask us about your qualifications or experience
The Access to Higher Education Diploma prepares you for university-level study. It is designed for mature students who have the ability to study at degree level but lack the necessary formal qualifications or have been out of education for some years.
Access courses typically include a number of academic subjects relevant to your intended degree course plus a compulsory core element including numeracy, literacy, IT and communication skills.
Access Diplomas are a 麻豆果冻传媒 route into many of our courses here at 麻豆果冻传媒.
Most Access courses can be completed full-time in one year or part-time over two or more years.
See typical Access qualifications for entry to our courses
If you have taken a break from academic study you may be concerned about your study or time management skills, or how to make the most of library and computing resources.
If so, you are not alone. Many students have these concerns and there's no evidence that mature students have less effective study skills than school leavers.
To help you make the most out of your time at the University of 麻豆果冻传媒, you will be assigned a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) at the beginning of your degree to help you develop skills to achieve your goals, such as guiding you through assessment feedback from all of your modules.
You will also have access to our online resources and advice on developing and improving the skills you will need for your course.
You can study many postgraduate courses on a part-time basis. We have a number undergraduate courses which are taught on a part-time basis. Some courses are also available on a distance learning basis.
To make it easier to study for postgraduate qualifications while you work or take care of family, many of our postgraduate masters courses offer intermediate awards like the postgraduate certificate (PGCert) and postgraduate diploma (PGDip).
You can complete a PGCert or PGDip and then take a break from studying, returning at a later date to study for a masters.
Flexible postgraduate study options
Find out how you can study individual course modules or take breaks from your studies.
For most full-time undergraduate courses we don't recommend that students work more than 12 to 15 hours a week during the term. However, some courses are more time-intensive than others.
Courses where you spend a lot of time on placement, such as nursing or teaching, will require more time. Even if you only have 12 hours of teaching a week on your course, you will still be expected to do a lot of independent study, group work and assignments. As a rough guide, for every hour of face-to-face teaching on an academic course, there will be at least two to three hours of other study-related activities.
Speak to course tutors and current students when you come to one of our open days and find out what is realistic for your course.
We offer a number of courses that are designed for people already working full-time. They often include work-based learning modules, with lectures and tutorials all on one day of the week, in the evenings or on Saturdays.
You can use the course finder to identify courses with part-time study options.
You could be eligible for extra support with childcare or general study costs if you have children and are studying at university full-time.
Find out more about support for student parents
TEF Silver awarded for the quality of our teaching and student outcomes
We are in the top 4.3% of institutions globally, Center for World University Rankings 2025
Race Equality Charter Silver awarded for our pledge to advance representation, progression and success for minority ethnic staff and students
We are ranked 14th in Stonewall's top 100 employers for commitment to equality for LGBTQ+ staff and students
We were awarded Athena Swan Silver for advancement of gender equality, representation, progression and success for all
We are a Disability Confident employer, committed to ensuring opportunity for progression for all
Signed to the Disabled Student Commitment, an initiative to improve support for disabled students
EcoCampus Platinum accredited for our environmental sustainability, compliance and processes
