Mature students

Nearly half the students in higher education are now over 21 at the start of their course. Universities often make special provision for their particular needs, and maybe waive some entrance requirements.

At Birkbeck, in London, over 95% of the students are mature and 75% at the Open University. Both Oxford and Cambridge have colleges specifically for mature students. Elsewhere, there are very high numbers of mature students at some universities and relatively few at others; the average is 21.5%. The proportions are given in our university descriptions.

Mature students should feel particularly comfortable at the following institutions, where they constitute more than 70% of the student population.

Cambridge University, at Hughes Hall, Lucy Cavendish and St Edmund's colleges.

Oxford University, at Harris Manchester College.