Advising mature students
We welcome students from all ages and backgrounds onto our programmes, including those who decide to return to study at different stages of their lives.
If you have any questions please contact the mature students admissions team
Choosing Bath
Applicants should be advised to view our prospectus for specific programme entry requirements. Mature applicants should provide evidence of recent study to maximise their chances of receiving an offer.
Our mature students come with a variety of qualifications, including Access to HE Diplomas and Open University qualifications. If students have any questions about our programmes or entry requirements they should email maturestudents@bath.ac.uk and we will be happy to help.
We would encourage mature students to come along to one of our Open Days. These provide an excellent opportunity for them to get a feel for what studying here is really like.
At the Open Day applicants can visit the Mature Student Stand in the information fair to find out more about making a successful application.
If students are unable to attend an Open Day they come on an individual visit to campus. If they would like to meet a current mature student please contact maturestudents@bath.ac.uk and we will do our best to arrange this.
Access to HE Student Transition Conference
We organise an annual conference aimed at mature students who are studing an Access to Higher Education programme.
Access course tutors are also encouraged to attend.
The last conference took place in February 2013. Details about the next conference will be available when confirmed.
The conference is held in collaboration with:
- University of Bristol
- University of the West of England, Bristol
- Bath Spa University.
Completing the UCAS application
It is important that mature applicants complete all sections of the UCAS form, including details of all qualifications, even if these were achieved some time ago.
A full employment history should be provided in the 'Details of paid employment to date' section, including an explanation of any gaps in employment (eg travel or unemployment), even if this information does not appear relevant to the application.
Applicants (particularly international applicants) should be made aware that they may be asked to produce certificates for qualifications that form an essential part of the programme’s entry requirements.
The personal statement is the ideal place for applicants to demonstrate their understanding of and enthusiasm for their chosen subject and demonstrate the relevance of qualifications, life experiences and skills to the course/profession.
Encourage your students to reflect on the skills that they have gained in life, and how these will benefit them in their studies.
We also encourage mature students to explain why they have chosen to return to study at this time and how they feel they will benefit from a university education.
Providing references for mature students
Before making a decision on an applicant, we consider the whole of the application form, of which the reference is a key component.
We are aware that the Access to HE Diploma is an intensive one-year course, with a steep learning curve, and that references have to be completed at a very early stage in the course, when Access Tutors have only just met their students.
We would be very grateful for all the information that you are able to provide at this stage, including whether students have completed any units, and, if not, when they will be completing their first units and receiving grades.
For applications received before the Christmas holidays, we will generally ask for a second reference to be provided during January or February, by which time, we hope that students will have been awarded grades for their first units, and you will be able to provide a more informed reference.
If you have any questions about providing references for mature students, please email maturestudents@bath.ac.uk and one of our Admissions team will be pleased to help you
Interviews
Students may be asked to attend an interview before an offer is made. This allows admissions tutors to meet applicants and find out more about them.
This is a good opportunity for prospective students to visit the University, meet a member of academic staff and ask questions to help them decide whether it is the right programme and university for them.
Interviews will generally start with questions exploring applicants’ motivations to study their chosen subject at degree level and at the University of Bath specifically.
They will also explore the applicant’s understanding of and readiness to study at degree level. Many interviews will include questions that will explore the applicant’s understanding of subjects or topics that are central to the chosen programme.
Some departments will send information or papers to applicants in advance, which they will then be asked about during the interview. Encourage your students to read the guidance provided about the interview carefully, and to check the individual programme webpages to see if any further guidance is available there.
Where possible, it may be helpful to provide mature applicants with the opportunity to have a mock interview.
Interview tips for students
- Re-read your personal statement
- Research the university and the course
- Look at what makes this course different to others offered elsewhere
- Decide what makes the university stand out to you
- Do some additional reading around your chosen subject
- Be ready to talk positively about achievements, motivation, future goals
- Think about things you want to say/demonstrate about yourself
- Plan some answers to standard questions
- Think about questions that you may want to ask
- Be aware of current affairs, particularly anything that relates to your subject area
