Mature students and access courses

Have you ever thought about doing that thing you've always wanted to do?

Studying for a degree later in life can be highly rewarding and our mature students are among some of our most successful. However, we appreciate that it is a big step for you to take, and that you’ll have lots of questions.

The information below is designed help with some of the more obvious detail (like which course to choose and entry requirements), but don’t worry if what you see doesn’t quite answer your questions. We know that mature students will have a range of alternative qualifications and experiences, and we want to hear about them! We’re here to help, so do feel free to give us a call on +44 (0)151 794 5927, and there’ll be someone there to talk things through with you. 

Also, we’d be delighted to see you in person, so why not come and see us at one of our Open Days? They are an excellent opportunity to find out more about the options available to you.

Choosing a degree

You may already be focused on a particular vocational degree or subject you are passionate about. However, you might not know exactly what you want to study. We’ve a variety of programmes for you to investigate. As well as our own course pages, websites such as Prospects and our careers service can help you make an informed decision.

Most full-time undergraduate degrees take three years to complete. Those which incorporate a year in industry or abroad, or lead to a master's qualification, take four years. The specialist degrees of Architecture, Dentistry, Medicine and Veterinary Science take five years or more.

Qualifications

You may have recent A level (or equivalent) qualifications and meet the entry criteria of the specific programme that you want to study, but it’s highly likely that you have little or no recent study experience. Don’t worry! It’s time to give us a call on +44 (0)151 794 5927 to discuss your options. We’ll treat you as an individual, listen to your story and suggest suitable pathways to study. You might find that you are perfectly admissible to your degree programme. On the other hand, you might be advised to take further study before applying for a degree.

Other ways of studying with us

As well as traditional full-time degrees, we have other types of learning programme that might suit you. Degrees with a might help if you don’t meet the entry requirements of particular science courses. If you are thinking about accessing Humanities and Social Science degree programmes but need to engage in preparatory study, our Go Higher Access Programme might be suitable. You might not realise that you don’t have to commit to a full degree to study with us—our Continuing Education Department hosts a huge range of courses and events, the vast majority of which require no previous study, so well worth taking a look. Finally, some (but not all) of our degree programmes are able to offer part-time study. See our course pages for the full range of programmes we offer.