Background
Generally speaking, a mature student is a person who begins their studies at university or college a number of years after leaving school. Typically, this will mean students who are over 21 years of age at the beginning of their undergraduate studies. Mature students are normally regarded as independent of their parents or guardians. An undergraduate student may be entitled to an Independent Students Bursary or a Young Students Bursary if they meet certain conditions.
Further information about funding is available at SAAS www.saas.gov.uk
Individual universities can also have their own access courses in place for mature students, such as those at the University of Strathclyde and the University of Glasgow.
SWAP (Scottish Wider Access Programme)
SWAP is a partnership of further and higher education institutions in Scotland. SWAP programmes are specially designed to support adults, who have no or few qualifications and who have been out of education for some time, access higher education. This is done through the provision of one-year full-time access programmes in a wide range of subject areas, facilitated by partner colleges across Scotland. Successful completion of a SWAP access programme enables students to progress to a range of degrees at SWAP partner universities in addition to offering progression routes to a range of HNC programmes across partnership colleges.
Useful Resources and Contacts
SWAP East Contact Details
Swap.east@ed.ac.uk
SWAP East
22B Buccleuch Place
Edinburgh
EH8 9LN
SWAP West Contact Details
swapwest@scottishwideraccess.org
0141 564 7206
Glasgow Kelvin College
Springburn Campus
Room 226
123 Flemington Street
Glasgow
G21 4TD
UCAS information for mature students
Contact details
03714 680468
The Complete University Guide -mature student university guide
Network
If you would like to be part of a network and interest group to share experience, examine issues and challenges and develop appropriate best practice resources, please contact scapp@stir.ac.uk