University of Sunderland

Mature students

Age is no barrier to education. Here at Sunderland we are proud to have a long tradition of welcoming adult learners who want to progress into higher education.

Around 25% of our students are aged 21 or over, and classed as 'mature students' or 'adult learners'.

We know that many mature students have very high levels of motivation and commitment. We 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.

Extra support

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.

Students' stories

You may also want to read about other mature students who have been through similar experiences to you:

Yvonne Hudson, 42, studied part-time for a BA (Hons) in Health and Social Care to progress her career in the NHS.

Gemma Hughes was 26 when she decided to leave retail and go to university. She is now a college lecturer and has started an MA and PGCE.

Graeme Guthrie used a degree in Sport and Exercise Development to kick off a change of career at the age of 27.