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Support for mature students
Find out more about the support we offer to help you return to learning.
If you are starting university after a break from formal education, we offer tailored support for you.
Students returning to study after being out of education for 3 years or more are classed as mature students. Mature students are often over 21 when they begin their undergraduate degree.
Many of our students are mature students, and we have an outstanding record of supporting those students to achieve academic success.
Hear about our mature learner support
Accessing higher education as a mature student
Mature Student Open Evenings
A great chance to meet and network with fellow mature applicants and students. You can tour our campus, chat to support teams from across the University and learn more about the services we offer to mature students.
Future events and booking details will be shared on this page soon.
Arrange a chat
If you have any questions about returning to study, you can arrange to chat to a member of our Widening Participation Team who will be able to offer advice and guidance about higher education, as well as the support offered at York St John.
Please use the below form to specify a potential date and preferred contact method (telephone call, video call, email or in-person at our York Campus), and a member of the team will be in touch.
Hear from our students: Deciding to apply
Support for mature learners at York St John
Our mature learners bring fresh ideas to our campus. They have useful life experience which enhances learning for everyone.
We help you transition back into an education setting by helping you develop study skills and build your confidence. When we talk about support tailored to you, we mean it.
For more information on the support we offer to mature students at York St John, you can download our guide:
Mature Learner Induction
If you are a mature student you are invited to take part in our tailored Mature Learner Induction sessions that take place throughout Welcome Week.
We offer a programme of activities especially for mature learners, which runs alongside your Welcome Week programme and offers a range of tours, workshops and socials, giving you plenty of ways to get to know your university, your campus and each other.
When you have been given your York St John login information, you can access our YSJ For You online course. The course provides a number of modules to help you adjust to University life, including help understanding your timetable and managing your time, as well as a number of digital skills modules covering use of Microsoft Office and other software available for students.
As a very mature student I had struggled with imposter syndrome. Where I grew up, people didn't go to university and although I'd had a very interesting working life I had never had the opportunity to engage with higher education. Initially it was less a steep learning curve and more like face planting a cliff, but with encouragement and support I eventually started to believe that I could do it.
— Barbara, Human Geography BA
