The term ‘mature student’ typically refers to individuals who enter university or college after a significant break from full-time education.
Usually, this applies to students over the age of 21 at the start of their undergraduate studies, or over the age of 25 at the beginning of their postgraduate courses.
Some MATURE STUDENTS may have limited or no prior qualifications and might be undertaking Access to Higher Education courses, or starting their course based on their professional or life experiences. Others might be pursuing a postgraduate qualification or a degree in a new field to advance their careers.
40% of mature students are over 30
What is your
motivation
Mature students often juggle their studies with work or caregiving responsibilities.
for returning to study?
You’ll know your own personal reasons for considering returning to learning, but there are a whole range of reasons students embark on study after a break.
For example:
You may wish to continue or improve upon your previous qualifications. SRUC’s pathways, from entry level, right through to PhD, mean that you can pick up your studies at whatever point most appropriate to your previous qualifications.
You may want to progress your career. Building on previous academic qualifications, and embracing the necessity for lifelong learning, is a common reason for further study, and SRUC’s wide range of parttime and distance learning opportunities offer flexibility to those continuing to
balance work, or other commitments, with their studies.
You may be looking to change direction in your career. SRUC’s Change Your Path bursary is there to support those who are embarking on a career change, and stories of our students who have found satisfaction and enjoyment in studying something they truly love are common.
It may have always been the plan to take a few years out between school and study, or you might just have reached a point in your life where you are able to embark on a course just because you find the subject enjoyable, rewarding or interesting. Whatever your reasons, we understand that you may have different considerations from those who are coming to study straight from school.
Chris Cullen, Environmental Management
Chris is studying the Environmental Management degree course at SRUC. Chris has always been interested in the environment and spent a lot of his life camping, hill walking, canoeing, and sailing.
“When I was 18-year-old, (I’m now 40), I started a NC in Ecology but at 18 I was not fully invested. I still harboured a flame for environmental studies and given the direction the World was moving regarding net zero, it felt like the right choice to make.”
“I chose SRUC because it offers a more practical based way of teaching than other Universities/ Colleges and is orientated more towards the end goal of employment rather than just the achieving of a qualification. I also like that I can gain a qualification after each year e.g. HNC, HND then 2 years of a degree.”
experiments etc. I’ve enjoyed finding out what is being done globally and what I can do individually to contribute to net zero targets. As a mature student I relish the realisation that I am capable of taking a new life direction, learning new relevant skills, which will add value to future employment.”
“I have an interest in environmental policy, a recent careers event at SRUC highlighted Scottish Government roles around invasive marine species and its corresponding policies which seemed like an interesting avenue to pursue.”
“Being a mature student, my core skills were learned over 20 years ago so sometimes I have to do some refreshment learning before I tackle the module learning e.g. I had to familiarise myself with a scientific calculator again before doing some calculations in the Fundamentals of Geospatial Approaches and Data Analysis module.”
“My favourite module is Ecology and Ecosystems. It gave a good taste of the practical side of environmental management, allowing you as the student to analyse the impacts of how human activities affect the environment in a very tangible way. This module also tied in well with other course modules such as Pollution Management, Classification and Identification and Biodiversity Conservation.”
“I have enjoyed meeting like-minded people with similar aspirations. I enjoy the practical elements of the teaching, field trips,
“The facilities at SRUC are good. There is space to learn and study, access to ICT including laptops and desktops. Plenty of places across campus to eat and relax with fellow students.”
“Revisiting education is one of the best decisions I have made in my life so far. Education and learning do not stagnate, just because the answer was A yesterday, does not mean the answer will be A today, what’s amazing is, I get to be part of tomorrow’s answer. The SRUC have made me realise that education is a lifelong process which should be embraced.”
SRUC has a very healthy number of mature students, and we appreciate the addition of their knowledge and experience to our classes.
Just under half of our students can be classed as mature, across both college and university levels. This rises even higher in certain subject areas particularly popular with mature students and career changers.
What should you study?
The best place to start looking at what courses are on offer at SRUC is by browsing through our website or prospectus.
Course Catalogue
www.sruc.ac.uk/courses
www.sruc.ac.uk/prospectus
SRUC runs Open Days regularly to help you find out more about our courses. Our online Open Days are usually held in February, and recordings of these events can be located on our Virtual Experience: On-campus in-person Open Days happen throughout the year and you can find all the dates and times on our website.
Virtual Experience www.sruc.ac.uk/experience
Open Days www.sruc.ac.uk/opendays
Open Days offer you a chance to speak to lecturers and find out more about your chosen course, engage with student support staff on-campus, and have a look around our facilities.
Courses and Levels
Courses at SRUC are offered full-time and, in most cases, also part-time (where you would study with the full-time students, but only for half of the week). Most SRUC programmes require some attendance on-campus, due to the practical nature of the course. Some courses are offered by part-time distance learning, where you can study online at home.
If you are unsure what a good starting point would be for you, depending on your previous experience and qualifications, please get in touch with our student recruitment team who can offer some advice – the best way is to email study@sruc.ac.uk or phone 0800 269 453. Some examples are below:
National Certificate (NC): NCs are collegelevel vocational courses and very practical in nature. They typically don’t need higher level entry qualifications and are a great starting point if you don’t have many formal school qualifications.
Higher National Certificate/Diploma (HNC/ HND): Undergraduate courses, equivalent to the first year(s) of a degree course. Usually we would look for some evidence of Highers or A-Levels or equivalent level of study.
Undergraduate degree (BA/BSc): Degree courses in Scotland are 3 or 4 years long. You may, depending on your specific previous qualifications and experience, apply for advanced entry, joining the course in year 2 or 3 for example. Often you can study either full-time or part-time. Degree courses usually require the equivalent of 4 Highers/3 A-Levels, or other qualifications such as HNC or Higher Education Diploma.
Postgraduate courses (MSc/PgDip/PgCert):
We offer Masters (MSc) and Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) and Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) courses. Postgraduate courses can be taught or research degrees, to be studied full-time, or part-time distance learning, depending on the course. Usually you would need a degree to embark on a postgraduate programme, but many of our PG courses (due to their flexible PgCert/PgDip/MSc structure) will accept work experience in lieu of formal qualifications.
The How to Apply section overleaf gives additional information about entry requirements and qualifications.
HOW TO APPLY
Each campus at SRUC supports many different types of courses: part-time, full-time, undergraduate, postgraduate, short courses and college courses. The application process differs depending on what the course is. In each case, the key is to find the course in our Course Catalogue on the website, and follow the apply instructions given on that page.
Mostly, if you are applying for a college level course, or a part-time course, you will apply direct to SRUC using our online application form. If you are applying for a full-time HNC, HND or undergraduate degree course, you will need to submit a UCAS application.
In both cases, the application form is straightforward – you will need:
• details of any qualifications you have.
• a personal statement which tells us a bit more about you as a person and why you want to study the course.
• details of someone who can provide a reference for you.
Qualifications
If you left the school system some time ago, your qualifications may differ from those
that are standard for school-leavers today. Do your best to list your qualifications as fully as possible within your application, but if you have any problems, you can also email us additional details and we will join the email up with your application.
SRUC are as flexible as we can with our entry requirements, while aiming to ensure that each student is able to achieve the required academic standard to be successful. We recognise that some mature applicants may not meet all of our minimum entry requirements in terms of formal qualifications, but do have enough knowledge and experience to succeed on their chosen course. If you feel that you can offer relevant experience in place of qualifications please contact us to discuss your application.
Maturity, work experience, and motivation are recognised as alternatives to formal qualifications wherever possible. SRUC also accepts a wide range of access-level and non-standard qualifications.
Standard minimum entry requirements for each course are given on the course page on the website in terms of Scottish National Qualifications (National 4s, National 5s and Scottish Higers). Entry requirements for mature students are not as fixed as for school and college leavers, therefore non-standard qualifications, qualifications which we would deem as of equivalent standard, and relevant experience may be considered. Applicants are advised to contact the Admissions Team to discuss their application with any questions: email admissions@sruc.ac.uk
Personal Statement
The personal statement is your opportunity to tell us more about yourself, any relevant experience you have, and why you want to study the course you are applying for. You should draft out the personal statement beforehand, so that you can easily copy and paste it into the application form.
SRUC’s admissions team want to know what has interested you about your chosen course,
Catherine Stewart, Veterinary Nursing
Motivated by the pandemic, Catherine decided to go back to education and study for her second degree, to achieve her lifelong dream of becoming a Veterinary Nurse.
Catherine says “SRUC is a welcoming environment in which to learn, and the teaching team are friendly and very helpful. The practical sessions are fun whilst very educational and engaging.”
“So far, one of my favourite modules would be Introduction to Infection Control – This module has given me an insight into the procedures that a veterinary
why you think you are a suitable candidate, and what you hope to do after you finish your studies. You should include information about relevant interests, work experience, project work, volunteering or placements, and give us some background about your life and employment.
Reference
Mature applicants often worry about who to ask to be a referee. It just needs to be someone who is not a close friend or family member, but who knows you in a more professional setting. For example:
• a current manager or colleague at work, or someone from a recent past place of employment
• someone who has supervised you when volunteering
• someone with professional standing who knows you and your background well, for example, a doctor, social worker, independent careers advisor, or solicitor.
Remember to ask your referee for permission before you give their details. Advice for writing references can be found on the UCAS website and you may find it helpful to pass that on if you’re asking someone who hasn’t done this before.
team need to do prior to surgical procedures and the importance of having a sterile environment.”
“The distance of campus from my home in Fife and being away from my family during the week has been a particular obstacle I have had to overcome, but the facilities at SRUC fulfil all requirements whilst studying.”
“If I could offer some words of wisdom to any prospective student, it would be to follow your dream and never think that you are too old to retrain or study.”
TIME COMMITMENT WORKING & CHILDCARE
Wondering whether it’s even possible to fit study into life is one of the most common concerns of students coming back to study after a break.
Our term dates for the next year can be found on our website, and while the final timetable for a course isn’t finalised until the months before the course starts, you can also find timetables for the current year online to give you a good idea of time commitment and structure of the course. Have a look at www.sruc.ac.uk/timetables for this information. If you have any questions please get in touch, via study@ sruc.ac.uk, and we will be able to pass your query on to the correct course tutor.
Many of our students work at the same time as studying, even when studying full-time. If you have children, then you can claim assistance with your childcare costs. They must be a registered nursery/childminder
and you can only claim costs for the days when you are timetabled to be in college or in a mandatory work placement as part of your course.
For the best advice, please contact our funding team for information: registryfunding@sruc.ac.uk
Lilias Fraser, Horticulture
Lilias had previously worked as an administrator in Higher Education before deciding to study Horticulture at SRUC. Lilias worked in public engagement and live literature in a poetry library for 15 years, then five years in a team supporting academic researchers to make research funding applications.
Lilias says: “I’ve been incredibly lucky to work in jobs that have been completely absorbing and rewarding – it’s not that I’ve always had a lifelong passion to be a gardener, because I was probably Girl Voted Most Likely To Have Nose In A Book (and it wasn’t a book on biology or horticulture, either). But you don’t always stay exactly the same person right through your life, and after a baby, family loss, lockdown, like a lot of people I think I realised I had at least another career’s worth of time in the tank before retirement age and I wanted to do something different. (Also, like a lot of people, I realised that there is a load of time for a second career – whether you have to because of redundancy, or because you want to take the opportunity for a second chance. If you’ve previously been funded for Higher Education fees as a Scottish student but the course was before 2002-3, it’s really worthwhile checking the SAAS guidance –things have changed in the last couple of years, so now you might be able to apply for course fees again.)”
out of this ridiculous idea, she offered me a day’s work a week through the winter so I could test my enthusiasm, and she was even my referee for the UCAS application to the course. Now, being outside every day, getting muddy, pruning trees and learning how to drive a lawnmower the size of a tank seems like a fantastic way of spending the next half of my working life.”
“It is a specialist course that combines hands-on practical skills with horticultural knowledge. The more horticulture and garden professionals I talk to, the more I realise how well recognised and well thought-of the course is (and half of them trained here).”
“My experience at SRUC has been great. The course design and the lecturers and instructors are supportive of students, welcoming and encouraging, and actively want students to succeed. The course students are a really good, wide mix of ages and interests (I’m not the only midlife career change), and it’s a friendly, relaxed and engaged atmosphere. I really love that we can be practising trimming a hedge, and learning plant biology, and both kinds of knowledge are respected and valued.”
“It’s making possible things I thought I couldn’t possibly do, I’m physically healthier, mentally happier and I’m flexing bits of my brain I didn’t know I had. It really is opening (garden) doors.”
“I went to talk to the manager of a nearby large garden, and instead of her talking me
“Once I complete the course my plan is to build a small, local gardening business.”
STUDENT SUPPORT
At SRUC, we aim to provide a supportive service in an informal, flexible and, where appropriate, confidential way. There’s lots of information on our website: www.sruc.ac.uk/studentsupport
Student Support takes many different forms. We can help you with education or learning support, health and wellbeing, IT and equipment, careers advice and financial support. There’s a Student Support Assessment form on our website which you’re encouraged to complete even before you start your course with us, so that we can begin any conversations or planning that may be needed to help you. Support from SRUC doesn’t finish once you complete your course either – by joining our alumni network you’ll find business contacts and like-minded people who can continue to support you in your career ahead.
Student Finances
The area of student finances can be a complicated one, as sources of funding
and processes can differ depending on the nature of your course and your own age or personal circumstances. You can go to www.sruc.ac.uk/studentfunding to have a look for specific information related to you, or you can always contact our funding support team via: registryfunding@sruc.ac.uk
Other useful information sources:
SAAS www.saas.gov.uk
Scottish Government www.gov. scot/policies/universities/studentfinancial-support
UK Government www.gov.uk/ browse/education/student-finance Bursaries www.sruc.ac.uk/bursaries
From Audio Systems to Eco Systems
Alan Daly, Wildlife & Conservation Management Student
Read Alan’s story and learn more about our Change Your Path bursary for careerchanging adult learners.
STUDENT LIFE
IT literacy
You will use many different systems while studying your course. If you are worried about your access to the right equipment, or your level of computer literacy, then don’t be. SRUC has a great IT support service who can offer an assessment and assistance with your equipment needs and guidance and support in the use of all our systems. There’s great induction information and helpdesk services, and you can access free WiFi while on-campus (or while visiting any UK education institution) via Eduroam.
You can read more here: www.sruc.ac.uk/ study-with-us/student-life/studentsupport/it-support/
SEEDABLE curriculum
SEEDABLE as an acronym describing the key elements of our award-winning curriculum development which incorporates Sustainability, Enterprise, Equality and Diversity through Active and Blended Learning. It supports you to develop an enterprising mindset, builds essential entrepreneurial knowledge and skills, and enhances your business skills through the content and assessments built into your course.
MySRUC
The MySRUC app provides an easy-touse and personalised system to help you to manage your learning at SRUC. The app provides you with everything you need in one place and notifications to keep you
updated. Browse to https://my.sruc.ac.uk or download the MySRUC app from the app store or Play Store.
Distance Learning
If location or personal commitments make attending a campus-based course difficult, then online distance learning may be an ideal opportunity for gaining qualifications in a manner better suited to you.
We have a growing number of online courses which can be taken for general interest or to gain a recognised qualification. The courses are studied from the comfort of your own home or workplace, and you are supported throughout your course by direct communication with experienced and knowledgeable staff.
Accommodation
SRUC offers a range of accommodation options. At some campuses, we run our own accommodation, at others we work in partnership with other local providers or direct you to ample private accommodation providers in the local area. Once you know which campus you will be located at, you can find out about accommodation options on our website: www.sruc.ac.uk/accommodation
Social Life
Much of your time spent on your course will be spent studying, but social activities with friends new and old are also an important part of student life. As a student you’ll have access to student discounts, social spaces on campus, and student societies, and will be able to work with SRUCSA, SRUC’s Students’ Association.
