Mature Students: Your Guide To Getting Into Oxford University

Oxford University is recognised as offering one of the best educations in the world, and competition for places is intense. The University of Oxford seeks to attract students with academic ability and intellectual curiosity, and the student body is made up of people from a wide range of backgrounds and interests. The application process for mature students is the same as for other students, and mature students can access a wide range of support, including financial support.

Application process

The University of Oxford defines a mature student as someone who will be aged 21 or older at the start of their course. The application procedure for mature students is the same as for other students. However, some parts of it can be a little more complex.

To make a competitive application by the 15 October deadline, you must:

• Choose a course and make sure that you have met or are on target to meet the admission requirements.
• Explore the colleges and decide whether to express a college preference or make an open application on your UCAS form.
• Look at the admissions timeline and note the deadlines.
• Declare on your UCAS form whether you are currently studying at another university.
• Include an academic reference, which is usually completed by a school or college teacher. If you are a mature student, you may find it difficult to find a teacher who can speak to your academic potential. In this case, you should ask someone who knows you in an educational setting, work context, or volunteering capacity to provide specific details of your academic potential.
• Meet the qualification requirements of your course. Many students who apply to Oxford are taking A-levels, but the university also accepts a range of other equivalent UK and international qualifications. If you have not done any formal study for longer than three years, it is recommended that you take another qualification to refresh your study skills.
• Submit any required transcripts or certificates if you are offered a place.

There are numerous financing options for mature students, including the Crankstart Scholarship and the Oxford Bursary.

Qualifications

Oxford University defines a mature student as a prospective applicant who is "aged 21 or over by the 1st of October in the year in which they hope to come to Cambridge and they haven’t already completed a higher education". The application process for mature students is the same as for other students. However, mature students may find it difficult to find a teacher who can speak to their academic potential. In such cases, it is recommended to ask someone who knows you from an educational setting, work context, or volunteering to provide an academic reference.

When it comes to qualifications, Oxford University does not have part-time options or distance learning for undergraduate degree courses. If you are looking for one, you will need to live in Oxford during term time. However, there are various part-time and distance learning options for certificates, diplomas, and graduate courses.

For undergraduate courses, tutors will typically look at your formal education in the last three years before applying. These could be A-levels, an Open University course, foundation degrees, Higher Education qualifications, or equivalent. If you haven't taken any formal education in the last three years, it is advisable to refresh your skills by taking another qualification, such as A-levels or an Access to Higher Education qualification. Keep in mind that some courses, especially in the sciences, may have specific subject requirements.

While academic ability is crucial, Oxford University values intellectual curiosity and recognizes that education is an ongoing journey. They are interested in your academic potential and how you can handle intensive, independently driven academic study in your chosen field. Your life skills and experiences, whether in formal education, working, or volunteering, can also be considered relevant to your application.

In addition to academic qualifications, mature students at Oxford University can access financial support through scholarships, grants, and bursaries. The Crankstart Scholarship is available to UK residents with a household income of £27,500 or less who are pursuing their first undergraduate degree. If you are not eligible for or choose not to accept the Crankstart Scholarship, you may be eligible for an Oxford Bursary, which is based on academic merit and financial need. UK students may also be eligible for additional government assistance, such as the Childcare Grant, Adult Dependent's Grant, and Disabled Students' Allowance.

Scholarships and grants

The University of Oxford offers a variety of scholarships and grants to support students in their studies. Funding for graduate courses is competitive, but Oxford offers more support than one might expect. For instance, for the 2023-24 academic year, around 45% of new graduate students received full or partial funding from the university or other funders.

The eligibility criteria for scholarships vary, with some open to the majority of new graduate students, and others restricted by particular characteristics such as degree subject or country of ordinary residence. Some scholarship schemes offer additional benefits like events to support scholars or membership of a scholar community or leadership programme.

Most Oxford scholarships are awarded between late February and June, and there is no separate scholarship application process or extra supporting documentation required for funding. Based on the information supplied in your graduate application, you will be automatically considered for scholarships where you meet the eligibility criteria, with most scholarships using academic merit and/or potential.

The Crankstart Scholarship, for example, offers support to UK residents with a household income of £27,500 per year or less, who will be studying for their first undergraduate degree. If you are not eligible for, or do not want to take up the Crankstart Scholarship, you may be eligible to receive an Oxford Bursary, an annual, non-repayable bursary to support your living costs available to first-degree UK students with a household income of up to £50,000.

The Saïd Foundation Oxford Scholarships are another example, representing a long-standing partnership between the University and the Saïd Foundation, which has supported students from the Middle East since 1984. The scholarship covers course fees, a grant for living costs (of at least £19,237) and flights to and from the UK at the start and end of your course. It is open to full-time master's students from Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine or Syria, who are ordinarily residents in those countries or Israel, and who intend to return to one of those countries after completing their course.

The University of Oxford also receives a Doctoral Training Partnership Grant from the MRC, from which studentships are created and awarded. To be considered for a Grand Union DTP ESRC studentship, you must select 'ESRC Grand Union DTP' in the University of Oxford Scholarships section of the graduate application form, and complete a Grand Union DTP Application Form by the relevant funding deadline for your course.

In addition, students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland who have been granted settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may qualify for Home fee status and student finance from the UK government, and therefore may also be eligible for an Oxford Bursary, if they meet the residence requirements.

UK students may also be eligible for further assistance from the Government, including the Childcare Grant, the Adult Dependant’s Grant, the Parents’ Leaving Allowance, and the Disabled Students’ Allowance.

Student societies

As a mature student at Oxford University, you will have access to a wide array of college and university events and societies. You will have the opportunity to join a mature student society, such as the Cambridge University Mature Student's Society, the Graduate Union under the Cambridge Student Union, or the Christian Graduate Society. These societies can provide representation, academic support, and pastoral support.

Being a part of these societies can be especially beneficial for mature students, as they often face unique challenges and dilemmas that differ from those of traditional-aged students. Mature students often bring a wealth of life experience from work, home, or prior training, and they may need to adjust to the unfamiliar environment and learning experience of university. Societies can provide a sense of community and support for mature students navigating these transitions.

In addition to mature student societies, Oxford University offers a range of other student societies and events. The university is known for its rich traditions, such as Formal Hall, where students wear formal gowns and attend a three-course meal. There are also common rooms and medieval quadrangles that provide spaces for students to connect and engage.

Oxford SU, the university's student union, provides a free and confidential student advice service. They offer support on any issues affecting students and can be contacted via email. The university also offers various skill-development courses, such as IT Services courses in computer skills and the Bodleian Libraries' training on online literature searches. The Language Centre also offers classes or individual study support.

Financially, there are several options available for mature students. The Crankstart Scholarship offers support to UK residents with low household incomes, and the Oxford Bursary is another potential source of funding. Additionally, UK students may be eligible for government assistance, including the Childcare Grant, the Adult Dependant's Grant, the Parents' Leaving Allowance, and the Disabled Students' Allowance.

Academic support

Mature students are defined as those aged 21 or older at the start of their course. If you haven't undertaken formal study for more than three years, it is recommended that you take another qualification to refresh your study skills. This could be A-levels, an Access to Higher Education qualification, an Open University course, a foundation degree, or equivalent. If you have vocational or technical qualifications, you are welcome to apply, but additional academic qualifications may be necessary to make a competitive application.

Once enrolled, mature students will have access to personalised academic support, regardless of which college they attend. This includes the opportunity to join a mature student society and the Senior Combination Room (SCR), which represents mature undergraduates and postgraduates in college matters.

Mature students may also be eligible for financial support, such as the Crankstart Scholarship, which is available to UK residents with a household income of £27,500 or less per year, or the Oxford Bursary, which is a non-repayable annual bursary for UK students with a household income of up to £50,000. UK students may also be eligible for further government assistance, including the Childcare Grant, the Adult Dependant’s Grant, and the Disabled Students’ Allowance.

Frequently asked questions