Financial Support
Mature students
Exeter Campuses
Study Skills offers 1:1 and group appointments, and workshops covering a range of study skills including academic writing, reading and note making skills, referencing, proofreading, revision and exam strategies, and presentations. If you prefer not to make a booking, we also offer a drop-in Writing Café where an Academic Skills Adviser can offer advice and support while you work. Study Skills also provides a suite of online study resources.
Cornwall Campus
The ASK team of teachers and advisors support students learning at Falmouth University and the University of Exeter (Cornwall Campuses). They provide a range of support services including:
- workshops on writing, referencing and study skills
- study guides and learning resources
- one-to-one appointments
The Library is here to support your studies and research. You can contact them at any time should you need guidance. We have Libraries on the Streatham, St.Luke's and Penryn campuses.
The Careers Service can provide advice to help you meet your own career aims. See the CareerZone website for further information regarding support, opportunities and events.
Access to Internships (A2I) scheme
If you are a mature student, you may be eligible for the A2I scheme which provides paid internships to widening participation students and recent graduates: exeter.ac.uk/careers/internships/access
Career Mentor scheme
Mature students taking part in the University’s Career Mentor scheme are also eligible for a bursary to help with travel costs associated with the programme.
The University of Exeter has a variety of Peer Support programmes with different aims and configurations to suit your needs. This includes cross-college support for Mature Students, as well as department-level support.
Our Students’ Guild (Exeter) and Students’ Union (Penryn) both place huge emphasis on supporting mature students in their first term of study, which is perhaps the most challenging time for mature students, particularly those who have been away from education for several years. They have societies and Facebook groups which you can join, helping you to meet others who might be in a similar situation.
For further information please contact:
Exeter Campuses - maturestudents@groups.exeterguild.com
Penryn Campus – mature-students@exeter.ac.uk or Facebook Group
Both campuses arrange and support Mature Students Together networking at the start of each term in September. For more information contact mature-students@exeter.ac.uk
The Students’ Guild Advice Team offers a range of confidential and impartial advice on topics including academic support, accommodation and money. Including specific support for student parents and student carers.
The Students' Union Advice team also offers a bespoke advice service and you can book an appointment to discuss a wide range or topics, from academic and financial support to health and wellbeing
Mature Students’ Scholarship 2026/2027
We have a limited number of scholarships available. Successful applicants will receive £2000 in year 1, £1000 in year 2 in the form of a cash payment.
Applications for the Mature Student Scholarship will open in September to home undergraduate students starting their studies with us in 2026. Registered students must meet the eligibility criteria listed below:
Eligibility Criteria: You must meet all the following essential criteria in order to be considered for a Mature Student Scholarship:
- You are a UK (home) student
- You are in your first year of your first undergraduate degree
- You were 25 or older on the first day of your undergraduate course at the University
- You have an assessed* household income below £42,875
You must also meet at least one of the following additional criteria and may be asked to provide evidence of this:
- You have unpaid caring responsibilities for a family member (who needs support due to an illness, disability, mental health condition or an addiction)
- You have a disability or long-term health condition
- You are a parent/carer with a child/children aged 18 or under
- You have to work in order to fund studying
- You have achieved an Access to HE Diploma or completed a Foundation Degree
(Information given will be verified by university processes but additional information may be requested for proof of annual income)
If you are experiencing financial hardship, you may be eligible for assistance via the Success for all hardship fund
*Household income is assessed to the same criteria as Student Finance England
For certain groups of students, including mature students we offer an Enhanced Induction Programme. This will run from March through to September with a combination of online and face to face events. Offer Holders will receive regular updates from us at key times in the lead up to transition, which provide signposting to useful contacts and resources to help make the process run as smoothly as possible.
More information about Enhanced induction and additional transition support can be found here
Driving
If you plan to commute to campus by car, parking permits may be available depending on the distance you travel. For further information, please visit our car parking pages.
Train
As a mature student, you may be eligible to apply for a student railcard. While railcards are usually aimed at those aged 16-25 and 26-30, mature students of any age can apply for a 16-25 Railcard.
To do this you will need to complete the print at home Railcard application form. A section of the form must be signed by a member of university staff to confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria.