Mature Students

If you are 21 or over at the commencement of your undergraduate studies at Lancaster University, then you are classed as a mature student, and these pages are for you.

Some students walk past Lake Carter in the summer.

Advantages of being a mature student

Whether you want to explore a subject of interest, progress your career or change direction, returning to study as a mature student has many benefits.

At Lancaster, we value mature students’ wide range of life experiences and the skills each student brings to their degree. Maybe you are confident to speak in seminars due to your experience in work meetings, or you can consider different cultural perspectives in your projects after travelling, or you can manage competing deadlines efficiently with your parenting experience.

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Support, advice and guidance for mature students

So, you have the advantages which maturity brings, but returning to study after a gap can be daunting.

Whether juggling caring responsibilities, living some distance from campus, or having concerns about fitting in, you can feel confident that you are supported at Lancaster at every stage, from pre-arrival to graduation and beyond.

These services below are dedicated to helping mature students get the most out of their university experience.

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Tailored careers support

The University Careers and Employability Service offers a wide range of advice and guidance you can access right from the start of your studies.

  • Mature students can access a wide range of support and resources to help plan and prepare for their next steps, including progressing within their existing career, undertaking a change in direction, further study or pursuing an academic career. This includes 1:1 appointments, online resources, a wide range of workshops and webinars, employer events and a career mentoring scheme. To find out more, please visit the Careers and Employability website.
  • Mature students are also eligible to join our GROW Your Future Programme, a community for students from underrepresented backgrounds within HE – including mature students. As part of this programme, you can access extra support, including exclusive employer networking opportunities and financial support for costs associated with work experience or travelling to interviews.

Other support services

These services are available to all students at Lancaster but can particularly help mature students.

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Contact us

If you have any questions or queries that have not been answered on this page, please contact us.

Student Success, University House, Lancaster University, LA14YW

E: studentsuccess@lancaster.ac.uk