Mature students
If you want to experience university life but think you might have missed your opportunity, you certainly haven't. No matter what previous educational experience you may have had, Sunderland can offer a range of courses to meet your needs.
More than a quarter of our students are classed as 'mature students' (over 21 years old) when they first come to university. That's why we make a special effort to welcome students who may have missed out on higher education the first time round, and you will be welcomed by staff and other students.
We know that many students who have had some prior experiential learning or who were in work and then decided that they would like to return to education have a very high level of motivation and commitment.
We will take previous study experience and work-related skills into consideration, so entry requirements for mature students may be different to those specified in the course listing.
We offer access programmes to help prepare students who may have been out of formal education for a while. These provide a taste of what university life is like, and they can also help you get comfortable with current study skills and learning methods.
We also have a special pre-enrolment event for mature students, which is a chance for you to see the University, meet staff and talk to current and former mature students who have been in a similar situation to you. Our aim is to make sure that you feel ready and confident about starting your studies here with us.
If you're over 21 and thinking of returning to education, call the student helpline on 0191 515 3000 and ask about life as a mature student.
