Am I a mature student?
You will be a ‘mature student’ at the University of Leicester if you are applying for one of our undergraduate degrees and you will be 21 or older when you start your course.
By undergraduate degree we mean the sort of degree that people traditionally do straight after their A-levels, usually a BA or BSc. If you are applying for a postgraduate degree (a Masters or a PhD) then you will almost certainly be over 21 anyway, along with all your fellow students, so the distinction becomes moot.
What experience or education you have acquired since leaving school will not affect your status as a mature student – although it may help with your application.
Resources for mature students
- Gov.uk: Mature students: university and funding
- The Student Room
- UCAS: Mature Undergraduate Students
- The Telegraph: University as a mature student: top tips
- Huffington Post: 5 Important Lessons From Mature Students
As a mature student, you will have an NUS card qualifying you for all the same discounts that other students receive.
And here’s some more good news. As a full-time mature student, you can apply for a 16-25 Railcard, whatever your age.