Mature students are often spoken of as a distinct group within the student community, but the only thing they are guaranteed to have in common is the fact that they will have spent a significant time away from full time education when they start their studies. Of course, with age comes commitments and many mature students return to education with more to juggle than school-age students: family, work, and mortgage repayments. That's why universities take a more flexible approach when extending offers to mature students, often considering alternative qualifications or none at all. Each year the University of Sussex admits mature students with a wide range of experience including those who have no formal qualifications, those with just one or more A levels, those with relevant professional training in their work and many who have completed an Access course as direct preparation for university level study.
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As a mature student finding an institution which is sympathetic to social diversity and supportive of those returning to education will be a key consideration when deciding where to study. Sussex is acknowledged in the educational community as being a leading university in the admission of mature students. Approximately one fifth of all undergraduates at Sussex are classified as mature students when they start their courses. The University prides itself on its friendly atmosphere and cosmopolitan population and tutors acknowledge the outstanding contribution to seminar groups that mature students make. Your life and employment experience will contribute greatly to the level of intellectual debate.
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The way your application will be assessed will vary according to your education, work and life experiences. The information on these pages covers some of the most common backgrounds of our mature applicants, together with our advice to them but if you have any questions please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office on +44 (0)1273 678416 and ask for a Mature Student Advisor.
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If we like your application on paper you will be asked to write us an essay on a topic relevant to the subject for which you have applied, making use of books currently available in your local library or book shop. This isn't something to worry about. It just helps us to see whether you are fully ready to benefit from degree study. As well as the essay you will be invited for interview and, if successful, you'll be made an unconditional offer of a place.
However, competition for places is often fierce, so if you are able to spend a year preparing for entry to university we would strongly advise you to study on an Access course or to take at least one A level part time. But this is not an essential requirement and you are free to apply regardless of your educational background. Do note that candidates who offer only one A level will normally be required to produce examples of their course work before their application can be taken further, and ideally we would recommend candidates taking two A levels.
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Providing your Access course is recognised by one of the QAA registered Authorised Validating Agencies (AVA's) you will meet our general entrance requirement and your application will be treated like any other qualified applicant. The main difference is that because most Access courses begin in September you will probably apply for university shortly after commencing your course. As a result we will often delay making a decision on your application until after Christmas when we can obtain an updated reference on your progress on the Access course and, possibly some examples of your work. You should still aim to apply by the UCAS deadline on the 15th January, but it is normal practice at Sussex for many subjects to hold back decisions until a second reference has been obtained.
If you are not sure whether a particular Access course is acceptable as an entrance qualification to the University of Sussex, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office who will be happy to advise you. Please also note that you will still be expected to meet any course specific entrance requirements asked for by your chosen subject. For example, our Psychology degrees require a grade C in GCSE Mathematics (or the equivalent). If you do not have GCSE level Mathematics, then you will need to either, take it alongside your Access course or find an Access course that contains a recognized equivalence. If you are in any doubt about whether your qualifications meet any specific entrance requirements stated in our prospectus then please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office.
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Providing your studies have been within the last five years we will treat your application on the same basis as an application from a school leaver who offers A levels. It is possible that you may be asked to provide some samples of work from your A level or you may be asked to attend an interview, but often the Admissions Tutor will be able to make a decision based on your application form. If on the other hand your A levels are from further back, we will still recognize them but the Admissions Tutor may want to ensure that you still have the same level of study skills and may ask you to write an essay.
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The University of Sussex is happy to say that professional qualifications such as those offered by State Registered Nurses, Social Workers and from some other professions meet the general entrance requirements of the university. You may still be asked to provide us with an essay prior to a decision being taken on whether to interview you. If you are unsure whether you fall into this category, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office who will be able to give you specific advice.
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No problem! The University of Sussex offers special four-year degree programmes in Physical Science, Biological Sciences, Computing Sciences, Mathematical Science or Foundation Engineering aimed at people just like you, providing you can offer Maths and a Science subject at least to a good GCSE standard or equivalent.
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The University of Sussex is pleased to consider applicants who expect to have achieved a total of at least 60 Open University credits by the time they intend to start their course. Your application will normally be treated exactly like candidates offering A levels. However, you may be asked to send us copies of some of your OU written work or attend an interview before we reach a final decision. It is possible for candidates with 120 or more OU credits to be considered for direct entry into the second year of a course, but this will depend on how closely the OU courses match our own first year.
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All applications to full time degrees taught at the University of Sussex must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). If you think you would be treated as an 'unqualified' or 'under qualified' mature applicant it is in your interest to return your application form to UCAS by 15th January of the year prior to your intended year of entry. This is to allow plenty of time for you to provide us with written work and attend interviews as required. If you will be offering an approved Access course or two or more A levels (or equivalent), it is still in your interest to return your form by the 15th January but we may still consider applications made after this date.
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For general advice on completing your UCAS form see Applying to University. However there are some specific points related to applying as a mature student which you should bear in mind.
We pay great attention to your personal statement in looking for commitment to, understanding of and enthusiasm for your chosen area of study. More than anything we are looking for a reasonable degree of commitment and existing knowledge of the subject from all candidates so do not apply for too wide a range of different subjects because your commitment to any one of them will be thrown into doubt. However, we do take into consideration the fact that many older candidates do not wish to move about the country and that studying at the University of Sussex may be more important to you than any one course in particular.
You may wish to send a supporting letter to each of your short-listed universities to supplement the Personal Statement. In which case, indicate in the Personal Statement that you will be doing this. Remember, you must not attach anything to the form itself, as UCAS will not pass this on. If you do have additional information then you should send it along with a covering letter explaining that you have applied to:
Undergraduate Admissions Office,
Sussex House,
University of Sussex,
Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9RH UK
We will then ensure that it is matched with your UCAS application form when it arrives. Please do not send your correspondence direct to the department or individual tutors. You should send any additional information direct to the Admissions Office at the point when you submit your application to UCAS.
All applicants need a confidential referee. Usually this is their teacher or tutor. We appreciate that references for candidates on Access or part-time A level courses often have to be written shortly after the referee has met you. In such circumstances, please encourage your academic referee to state that they will supply another reference early next year if required. Candidates on part-time A level study sometimes receive vague references because tutors do not really know them well. If you are enrolling on such a course, do your best to get yourself known by your course tutor. Mature candidates who have not studied recently may not be able to offer an academic referee but it is helpful if you know someone who is a teacher, lecturer, or anyone who has a degree and is prepared to give you a personal reference. The main thing is that the reference should talk about your academic ability and your preparedness for Higher Education studies.
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Access courses are specifically designed for people over the age of 19 who wish to enter higher education and do not have the relevant A levels or equivalent. They are usually run over one year at local colleges and consist of part-time or occasionally full time study of an academic subject area together with tuition in study skills.
It is important to note that while many Access courses are officially classified as part-time, the required hours of attendance may vary considerably. You may need to study for GCSE Math's and English or equivalences alongside or as part of your Access course unless you already have them. Some degree courses have additional entrance requirements that are specific to the content of the degree so you should check the prospectus for full details.
Any Access course, which carries a QAA 'Kite mark of Approval', is acceptable as a general entrance qualification to the University of Sussex, although we must stress that studying on an Access course does not guarantee you a place. In addition, for some degree programmes you will need to study a specific Access course. For example, a Science Access course for science degrees and, as noted above, there are some degrees with additional requirements, for example, A level standard Math's for Engineering or an appropriate language qualification for degrees in European Languages.
Although an Access course does not guarantee a place, the university does have very strong links with a number of local colleges through membership of the Sussex Liaison and Progression Accord (SLPA). Students applying to Sussex from SLPA member institutions will be given special consideration and in recognition of this positive relationship Sussex specifically reserves an amount of places for local Access students each year.
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How you finance your studies is a major consideration for most mature students, especially since the introduction of tuition fees. You can find comprehensive information on student finance from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and also the Finance and the Career Development and Employment Centre web pages. The Students' Union Advice Centre at the University of Sussex produces 'Money Matters' a students' finance resource pack, which will give you more details about the kind of grants you may be eligible for. They can also provide information about childcare and support networks for mature students.
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One of the Students' Union's longest-standing societies was set up by and exclusively for the university's older intake. The Society recognises that mature students do have needs and interests different from that of the average school leaver and look for ideas from its members to cater for these. Being a mature student automatically qualifies you for membership and you can find out more information about their events at the Freshers' Fair in the Autumn Term.
Also see our page for Mature Students in the Undergraduate prospectus.
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I'm 42 years old and currently working on a doctoral thesis in contemporary history. I study and research themes related to the Second World War, but in essence I read about subjects that hold a personal interest to me: ultimately they will be written up as an academic body of work.
Five years into university life and I am still surprised by the path I am on: university was never an option that I considered, either in my youth or as an adult; it just kind of happened. My educational background was very poor; I left school without qualifications and struggled through an apprenticeship for four years.
As I became older however, I began to take on jobs within my industry that required more responsibility and consideration. I also began to attend evening classes, progressively taking on courses with more and more challenging content. But until stumbling upon a university access course at 33, I had still not considered university, and it was only two years after I had completed the course that I applied to Sussex. The skills and abilities developed in my vocational life, in tandem with my evening course, secured me a place.
University has been great. It has opened my eyes to how I perceive and live my life. It has also completely changed what I think my social and vocational expectations of life should be. That said, the first year was extremely hard. I didn't understand what I was supposed to be doing, and I felt in awe of all the younger students who had numerous A-level qualifications and fast learning abilities.
My department were very supportive however, and through workshops and individual support a lot of issues were made simple. I found that university life became easier and more rewarding by accepting the help and advice of colleagues, rather than thinking I was in a competition. Involvement in societies and activities meant that in addition to advancing my education, my social life became much richer. Financially it was difficult of course - I had a young family - but here again I found support was available.
I have now completed both a Degree and Masters qualification and whilst I am still not sure how I will use my new skills, I think I would like to be involved in education and be able to contribute something real to society. Part-time work for one of the University's aspiration-raising schemes has enabled me to sample this possibility. I am unlikely to earn as much money as I did as an electrician, but I now have the flexibility to enter the employment market much more on my own terms. Moreover, my outlook on life has been enriched and, to date, I have enjoyed a marvellous 5 years. I thoroughly recommend university.
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I had always intended to come to university but decided to take a break after my A-levels in order to save some money to cover my studies. I worked in building maintenance for around a year and then went into bar work - experience which enabled me to find part-time work more easily when I arrived at Sussex, with the help of the University's Career Development and Employment Centre.
Re-adjusting to the learning environment wasn't easy but my personal tutor and faculty staff were always available to answer any questions I had and to offer support. There are also regular peer-mentoring services which I've found useful.
Adjusting to my new surroundings was easy though. Sussex has everything you need on campus, which allows you to get used to Brighton in your own time rather than being thrown in to a major city with no idea where the nearest shop is, or what bus to catch to get to your lecture on time!
I've become very involved with the Students' Union, and next year I will be taking a paid sabbatical year to work as the Communications Officer, before continuing my studies in the following year. With all this experience and being in such a vibrant city I hope to go into a creative or sales job once I've graduated.
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The environment at Sussex University is great for promoting learning; it is spacious and green with an atmosphere that is both welcoming and friendly. Being a mature student, I automatically received additional support classes, in addition to the regular sessions and advice available to all students. This provided me with an opportunity to meet other mature students and lighten my academic anxieties by sharing concerns.
All departments provide student mentoring, and this gave me the opportunity to discuss my academic work on a regular basis with second and third year students, many of whom were mature students. Other useful facilities for mature students are the University crèche and the Career Development and Employment Centre.
My learning has been further boosted by all the extra curricular activities on offer, as many events, debates and films have coincided with themes included on my course. Participating in clubs and societies has also been a great way to meet other students who, while coming from a wide variety of interesting backgrounds, share my academic interests.
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