What does it mean to be a mature student in Scotland?

Mature students are welcomed at most universities and colleges in Scotland and some offer special entrance schemes. Certain courses can also be studied on a part-time or flexible basis.

If you did not have the opportunity to go on to higher education when you left school or if you did not have the necessary qualifications, it may now be possible as a mature student.

In Scotland, the term 'mature student' generally denotes a minimum age of 20 for entry but 25 for funding. There may be funding differences depending on your age and circumstances, so you should check this with the individual college or university.

Where do I start?

If you are not sure what you want to do, it is worthwhile talking to a careers adviser, who can help you look at the choices open to you. Careers Scotland can offer individual career guidance interviews or you can telephone your local centre for information and advice from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday on 0845 8502 502.

You can also contact Learndirect Scotland which aims to promote high quality, flexible lifelong learning opportunities for everyone, regardless of age, background or ability. A national network of more than 450 quality-assured learning centres covers the whole of Scotland. Learndirect Scotland can also help to find childcare opportunities.

The Learndirect Scotland freephone helpline is 0808 100 9000. It offers free advice on thousands of learning opportunities across the country.

If you have some idea of what you want to do and where you want to study, you can also get help and advice directly from the university or college. Most institutions have open days and special visits where you can speak to course tutors about entry to particular courses.

What do I need to get in?

As well as the 'normal' entry requirements, other equivalent qualifications are also acceptable, including SQA modules, HNC, HND, Access courses and work experience.

As a mature applicant, you may not need all the qualifications listed against the courses, but this will vary depending on the course and the university or college. You should contact them and ask for advice.

How do I go about getting qualifications?

There are a number of ways of becoming qualified for entry to higher education after you have left school and it is a good idea to look at them all before deciding which is best for you.

Highers

You can attend college or your local school on a full-time, part-time or flexible learning basis to obtain the qualifications you need for a particular course.

Higher classes are also available through your local adult education programme. You can study Highers over one, two or three years. In practice, most people who intend to study Highers will do so in one or two years, but this will depend on the subject and whether you have studied it before or not. The tutor or lecturer can help you decide which is the best option for you. For entry to some higher education courses, Highers have to be obtained in one sitting and you should check this first.

If you already have some qualifications or relevant work experience, you may find it useful to visit the Access course and Accreditation of Prior Learning sections of this site.