Mature students

Exeter Campuses

Study Zone offers 1:1 and group appointments, and workshops covering a range of study skills including academic writing, reading and note making skills, referencing, proofreading, revision and exam strategies, and presentations. If you prefer not to make a booking, we also offer a drop-in Writing Café where an Academic Skills Adviser can offer advice and support while you work. Study Zone also provides a suite of online study resources. 

To find out more, please visit our events and workshops page or contact studyzone@exeter.ac.uk.

Cornwall Campus

The ASK team of teachers and advisors support students learning at Falmouth University and the University of Exeter (Cornwall Campuses). They provide a range of support services including:

• workshops on writing, referencing and study skills
• study guides and learning resources
• one-to-one appointments   

The Library is here to support your studies and research. You can contact them at any time should you need guidance. We have Libraries on the Streatham, St.Luke's and Penryn campuses.

Pre-arrival Library Guide

Library Induction

The Careers Service can provide advice to help you meet your own career aims. See the CareerZone website for further information regarding support, opportunities and events. 

Access to Internships (A2I) scheme

If you are a mature student, you may be eligible for the A2I scheme which provides paid internships to widening participation students and recent graduates:  exeter.ac.uk/careers/internships/access  

Career Mentor scheme

Mature students taking part in the University’s Career Mentor scheme are also eligible for a bursary to help with travel costs associated with the programme. 

The University of Exeter has a variety of Peer Support programmes with different aims and configurations to suit your needs. This includes cross-college support for Mature Students, as well as department-level support.

Our Students’ Guild (Exeter) and Students’ Union (Penryn) both place huge emphasis on supporting mature students in their first term of study, which is perhaps the most challenging time for mature students, particularly those who have been away from education for several years. They have societies and Facebook groups which you can join, helping you to meet others who might be in a similar situation.

For further information please contact:

Exeter Campuses - maturestudents@groups.exeterguild.com
Penryn Campus – mature-students@exeter.ac.uk or Facebook Group

Both campuses arrange and support Mature Students Together networking at the start of each term in September. For more information contact mature-students@exeter.ac.uk

The Students’ Guild Advice Team offers a range of confidential and impartial advice on topics including academic support, accommodation and money. Including specific support for student parents and student carers.

The Students' Union Advice team also offers a bespoke advice service and you can book an appointment to discuss a wide range or topics, from academic and financial support to health and wellbeing

Mature Students’ Scholarship

 Applications for the Mature Student Scholarship will reopen in September to home undergraduate students starting their studies with us in 2025. You must meet the eligibility criteria listed below 

Amount:  We have a limited number of scholarships available. Successful applicants will receive £2000 in year 1, £1000 in year 2 in the form of a cash payment. 

Eligibility Criteria: You must meet all the following essential criteria in order to be considered for a Mature Student Scholarship:

• You are a UK (home) student
• You are in your first year of your first undergraduate degree
• You were 25 or older on the first day of your undergraduate course at the University
• You have an assessed* household income below £42,875

You must also meet at least one of the following additional criteria and may be asked to provide evidence of this:

• You have unpaid caring responsibilities for a family member (who needs support due to an illness, disability, mental health condition or an addiction)
• You have a disability or long-term health condition
• You are a parent/carer with a child/children aged 18 or under
• You have to work in order to fund studying
• You have achieved an Access to HE Diploma or completed a Foundation Degree

(Information given will be verified by university processes but additional information may be requested for proof of annual income)

Year of Entry: 2025 onwards

Opening Date for Applications: September

Next steps: All applications will be reviewed by the scholarship awarding panel and applicants will be contacted to confirm the outcomes of their submission by the end of November.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, you may be eligible for assistance via the  Success for all hardship fund

 *Household income is assessed to the same criteria as Student Finance England

Success for All hardship fund

The University, in partnership with its alumni community, has created a fund to offer additional financial support if you are experiencing unexpected financial hardship which is affecting your ability to study within your current academic year.

Priority will be given to students undertaking their first degree who are from low income households or without family support. The majority of funds are means-tested and you will be asked to provide evidence in support of your application.

Allowable expenditure includes (but is not exclusive to):

• Accommodation fees
• Travel
• Childcare
• Course costs
• Living costs
• Unexpected one-off costs

 As a mature student, am I eligible to apply for this support? 

Yes, all registered Undergraduate and Postgraduate students are eligible to apply. If your course is part-time, distance learning, or you commute to University, you are also still eligible for support.

We recognise that as mature students, you may face a number of unique issues, such as having pre-existing financial commitments or caring responsibilities, and these will be considered in your application. If you have dependents, or commuting is necessary for your course, please let us know and this will be considered in your application. Please note we will ask for supporting documents to evidence these costs.

For more information or about applying to the Success for All hardship fund please click here

For certain groups of students, including mature students we offer an Enhanced Induction Programme. This will run from March through to September with a combination of online and face to face events. Offer Holders will receive regular updates from us at key times in the lead up to transition, which provide signposting to useful contacts and resources to help make the process run as smoothly as possible.

More information about Enhanced induction and additional transition support can be found  here

Driving

If you are looking to commute to campus, car parking permits may be available depending upon the distance travelled. To find our more look at our car paking pages

Train

As a Mature student you can aslo apply for a student railcard - these are traditionally designed for 16-25 and 26-30 year old age brackets but a Mature student of any age can have a 16-25 railcard. You must complete the following print at home Railcard Application

There is a specific section that will need to be signed off by a member of university staff to comfirm you meet eligibility