How does Rest Less make money
We make money through advertising and commission from affiliate links, which enable us to offer Rest Less as a free service to our users. The content on this page may use affiliate links, which track traffic from our website to a third party provider and enable us to receive a commission or payment from any traffic we refer.
* Affiliate links on this page have an * next to them. We place enormous importance on our editorial independence and the integrity of our content which means that we will never change how we write about something as a result of an affiliate link.
There are many reasons why you might want to gain a degree in later life. Maybe you want to change careers or succeed in your existing role by learning some new skills. Or perhaps you simply want to learn more about a subject that interests you.
If you’re thinking about applying to university – either for the first time, or to do a second, third, or even fourth degree – you might be feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement. Studying for a degree offers the chance to develop new skills and knowledge, meet new people, and expose yourself to new opportunities and experiences.
However, the process of choosing a course, applying to universities, and financing your studies can initially feel a little daunting.
With this in mind, we’ve put together a short guide to help you get started on your university adventure.
Choosing your university course
The first step on your university journey will typically be choosing a course. And the best way to see what’s out there is to use the search engine offered by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
However, a quick search will reveal thousands of courses from hundreds of providers, so settling on a specific one can be challenging.
To help narrow them down, you might want to focus on these five questions…
1. What would you like to learn?
A survey conducted by the student lettings app SPCE found that course content and structure are the most important factors for students in the UK when considering what and where they’d like to study.
Discovering more about course content can help you find a course that’ll teach what you want/need to learn, in a way that you want to learn it.
Although different institutions may offer courses that provide students with the same qualifications – for example, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology or a Master of Arts in History – not all courses are created equally. Higher education subjects are vast, and each course places special focus on specific areas within them – so what you’ll learn will depend on what modules are on offer.
While you can find information on modules and course content on UCAS, it’s also worth looking at each university’s website. They should have an individual page for every course they offer, where you’ll find an in-depth breakdown of the modules and how the teaching is structured.
Other things to look out for on the university’s web page include how the course is taught (through practical work, lectures, etc), how it’s assessed (through coursework, exams, etc), how many contact hours you’ll have, and information about work placement opportunities.
While UCAS and university websites are great resources for researching courses, it’s also worth looking into what others have to say about them. Whatuni is a really helpful website that collects course-specific reviews written by past and current students.
2. When would you like to study for your degree?
- Full-time study – the amount of time you’re expected to commit to a full-time course varies depending on the subject and the level of study (i.e. undergraduate or postgraduate). However, the general consensus is that it takes around 40 hours per week.
Part-time study – is particularly helpful if you want to gain your degree alongside employment. Although it’ll take longer (usually twice as long) than a full-time course to complete, you’ll only have to commit to half the time per week.
Accelerated courses – if you’re interested in an undergraduate degree but don’t want to spend a full three or four years completing it, you might be interested in an accelerated course. Some universities offer these, and they condense your studies into two years.
3. Do you want to study in person or remotely?
It used to be that if you wanted a degree, you’d have to attend classes in person. But nowadays, more and more universities are offering remote courses.
If you’re looking for a conventional university experience, a traditional degree course where lectures and assessments are held in person is probably your best option. It’s a great way to meet new people and get involved in the academic community.
For some, however, remote learning can be more suitable. While there might be video conference meetings and seminars that you have to attend at certain times, you’ll generally have greater control over your learning schedule. It also means that you can study anywhere without worrying about having to relocate.
If you choose to study remotely, you have the option to either study a course that’s offered remotely by a traditional campus university or one that’s provided by an institution specialising in remote learning, such as the Open University.
Institutions like the Open University often have more experience providing distance learning courses than their traditional campus-based counterparts, and they usually offer equivalent degrees at a more affordable price. For example, while a three-year BA in English Literature will cost you £9,790 per year at the University of Birmingham, the Open University offers one for £8,176 per year.
Some universities even offer courses that take a blended learning approach, meaning they combine in-person and online teaching.
4. Which university or college would you like to attend?
While choosing the right course is typically the most important aspect of deciding which degree you’d like to undertake, which university you attend should also be considered carefully. It’ll not only affect your experience as a student but also how your degree is perceived by employers after you graduate.
When comparing institutions, it’s worth consulting university rankings. They’re published by The Guardian, The Complete University Guide, and The Times/Sunday Times, taking into account various factors, from student satisfaction to postgraduate employment rates.
One of the most helpful things to focus on when looking at university rankings is the student-to-teacher ratio. This is especially helpful as it’ll give you an idea of how much support you’ll receive throughout the course of your degree.
However, it’s worth bearing in mind that university rankings aren’t perfect. They can’t measure other important factors of the university experience, such as the campus atmosphere or the emotional support you’ll receive. Remember, many argue that getting an education you enjoy is more important than how highly your institution ranks.
Attending an open day, either virtually or in-person, is one of the best ways to get a feel for these sorts of things. Here, you can talk to students studying the course that you’re interested in, and lecturers, too. If you attend in person, you can take a tour, see the facilities for yourself, and get a taste of the surrounding area.
Another great resource for comparing universities and colleges is Student Crowd, which collects student opinions on things like campus facilities, the students’ union, and the careers services at any given institution. You can also check out our article: 7 tips on how to choose a university as a mature student for more help.
5. What are the entry requirements?
When choosing a degree course, you’ll also need to consider if you meet the entry requirements.
These are in place not only because space is often competitive, but to make sure you have the relevant skills and knowledge needed to complete the course. You can view a course’s entry requirements when searching on UCAS.
Entry requirements are usually listed as academic qualifications (for instance, A-levels, GCSEs, and their equivalents), and/or as UCAS Tariff points – a system used to measure the value of any relevant qualifications.
Try not to be disheartened if you don’t have everything that’s required, because as a mature student, your work experience and education may be enough for you to be admitted. So if you don’t qualify, it’s worth getting in touch with a university’s admissions team.
If you don’t meet the entry requirements for a course you’d like to study, you could also consider applying for an extended degree with a foundation year, or taking an Access to Higher Education course. Both involve teaching you the knowledge and skills necessary to study at the undergraduate level. The main difference is that a foundation year (not to be confused with a foundation degree) is usually integrated into a degree, while Access courses are taken separately.
To search for degree courses with a foundation year, you can use the UCAS course search tool. And to find out more about Access to Higher Education Courses, you might want to have a look at the Access to Higher Education website.
If you’re interested in taking an Access course or are looking for some inspiration, why not read Christine’s story? Christine completed an Access course at the age of 57 before applying to university.
And finally, if you don’t meet the entry requirements for a course at a traditional university (and don’t think you’ll be able to meet them with further work or study), The Open University offers many remote undergraduate and postgraduate courses with no formal entry requirements – so it’s worth taking a look.
Tuition and financing
UK degree costs vary greatly depending on the course, university, and country you’re studying in, as well as the country you’re from. But if you’re a UK national studying in the UK, tuition fees will almost always be expensive – unless you’re Scottish and studying in Scotland. In this case, you may be eligible to attend for free. For everyone else in the UK, however, fees can be anything up to £9,535 per year.
While cost should obviously be taken into consideration, if you’re really keen to study for a degree, try not to let the expensive price tag get you down, as you might be eligible for financial help. And remember what Benjamin Franklin said: “An investment in education always pays the highest returns.”
Depending on your circumstances, you might be entitled to access some assistance from the government to help you finance your studies. For example, if you’re studying for your first degree, you can apply for a loan to cover your tuition through the Student Loans Company (SLC).
If you’re worried about how you’re going to support yourself throughout your studies, you may be able to apply for a government-funded maintenance loan, which is intended to assist you with living costs such as food and accommodation while you’re studying. The amount you’re eligible to receive will depend on your household income and where you’re studying.
If you’re over the age of 60 at the time your course starts, you won’t be eligible for a maintenance loan. This is something that we, quite frankly, do not understand. However, you may be able to access a lower ‘special support loan’.
As well as loans, you may also be able to take advantage of various government grants and bursaries that you usually don’t have to pay back. To find out more about loans, grants, and bursaries, head on over to the student finance section of the government’s website. Or check out our guide to financing your education later in life.
And finally, it’s also worth checking university websites to see whether or not they offer any scholarships or bursaries that you might be eligible for.
How to apply to university
Once you’ve decided on your course and how you plan on financing it, then congratulations, you’re ready to apply! How you apply for your course will depend on the course conditions and whether or not you’re planning to study at an undergraduate or postgraduate level.
If you’re applying to a full-time undergraduate course, you can register with UCAS and apply for up to five courses. You’ll also have to write a personal statement as well as provide a reference, which you can obtain from an employer or volunteering supervisor. Or, if you’re currently in education, you can ask your tutor or teacher.
If you’re applying for a distance learning or part-time undergraduate degree, it’s best to apply directly through the university or college. You’ll be able to find details about the process on their website.
Although you can apply for some postgraduate courses through UCAS, there are many that you can’t. In this case, you can still use the UCAS course search tool to find courses; it’ll then redirect you to the right place to apply.
If you’re looking to apply for a music, dance, or drama course at the undergraduate or postgraduate level, you might have to apply through the UCAS conservatoires scheme. And, if you’re a graduate wanting to apply for postgraduate teacher training courses, the process is different still. You can find out more about how to apply for teacher training here.
Final thoughts…
Learning is one of the most rewarding things that we can do in life, and it’s never too late to study for a degree, whether it’s career-focused or simply for your own fulfilment. And while there’s a lot to think about when you’re considering becoming a mature student, we hope this short guide has been helpful and even got you excited about the journey ahead.
Are you currently a mature student? Or have you been one in the past? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Read our full commenting terms and guidelines