Mature students

Entry Qualifications

To study at Huddersfield our undergraduate degrees have a minimum qualification requirement. But, if you don't hold the minimum qualifications all is not lost, there are other ways to study the course(s) you're interested in.

Access to HE

A popular qualification for students returning to education is The Access to Higher Education Diploma. It is designed for students who would like to go to university, but who may not have the usual entry qualifications, such as A Levels. It has been developed with the support of universities and is widely recognised, but remember to check individual course entry requirements to ensure that Access to HE is accepted for your chosen course(s). Access to HE Diplomas usually take a year or less to complete, and are available in a range of subjects at many Further Education colleges across the country.

Your experience

The experience you bring with you as a mature student are important, so make sure that you include them on your application to university, particularly if it is relevant to your chosen course(s). In some cases, it may even mean that you get some accreditation for it, exempting you from certain parts of the course. If you have any questions about how your experience relates to the course(s) you are applying for, contact the admissions tutors who should be able to provide you with more detailed advice.

Student Fees and Finance

As you probably know, going to university costs money. To complete a course, you have to pay tuition fees each year, as well as considering how you’re going to support yourself. You’re likely to need to take out a student loan, however these are only repaid after graduation when you’re earning above a certain salary threshold. And while most students leave university with some debt, this is often surpassed by the lifetime benefits of a degree, both in terms of potential for increased earnings, and the wider variety of careers available to you.

Find out about Fees and Financial Support available

Whilst student finance conditions can alter slightly each year, the main things you need to know are:

• If you haven’t completed an undergraduate degree before, you don’t have to pay your tuition fee upfront – you can apply for a loan to cover this.
• You will also be eligible to apply for a loan to cover some of your living costs if this is your first degree. The amount you get will be calculated based on your household income and other personal circumstances.
• There is financial support available for second undergraduate degrees in some subject areas, such as health-related professions.

For the most up to date information on tuition fees and financial support for students living in England visit the Government's student finance page.

Other sources of funding

There are other forms of financial support available to you depending on your personal circumstances, some of which you may not need to repay. These include:

• Disabled Students Allowance
• Childcare Grants
• Individual support from the university you apply to.
• Other financial support for parents or carers in Higher Education
• More information on what additional help is available.

Help for parents

Studying when you have a family is a rewarding experience – there’s no doubt that you’ll be very busy, and it might seem like a huge challenge, but you certainly won’t be the only one juggling university and home life. We have a number of students parents who have decided to study with us.

Caring for children can be expensive but don’t let this prevent you from going to university especially as there are a number of schemes that can help you. The Government offers a number of different options for financial support for parents in Higher Education including Childcare Grant, Parents' Learning Allowance and help with paying for childcare.

Finding the right childcare

If you need any help finding childcare you can search for local childcare providers on the Kirklees Council website. There is also a wealth of information to support parents on the Kirklees Council Family Information Directory.

Next Step

Before making your decision about what and where to study, we strongly recommend attending a university Open Day. This allows you to see the institution first-hand and help you to decide whether you can see yourself studying there.

Whilst you are at an open day, consider things like the location and ease of access, the teaching facilities, and the services and support available. Talking to current students and staff can give you a great insight into what it’s like to study there and have any of your individual questions answered.