Mature Learners

Returning to education

If you’re 21 or over and looking to return to education, you’ll be joining our ever-growing mature student learning community – all of whom are taking a firm step in achieving a wide variety of personal and professional goals.

“The teachers are very welcoming and always push me to achieve my goals”

Caroline
BA (Hons) in Fine and Applied Art

Caroline Morgan - BA (Hons) in Fine and Applied Art

Learning as an adult is something…

For you…

Learning as an adult is a wonderful opportunity for you to be the go-getter you know you either are or can be. It opens a door to a brilliant future and offers you the chance to be successful in something you take ownership of and enjoy.

Many of our courses are delivered over just a few days of the week, including some on evenings, so you can flexibly fit your studies around busy family lives, employment, and other commitments.

All of our campuses are also within easy access of local amenities and public transport, making us a great choice if you’re looking to get back into education and gain higher and degree level qualifications right on your doorstep.

You enjoy…

You choose what you study, which means learning more about your passions – it’s a way to explore something that inspires and excites you. Taking that step in returning to education can be daunting, but it’s just the first step on a journey full of increased confidence, achievement, and fulfilled purpose.

You’ll be in great company. Many mature students have joined us in their study journey and felt the transition to higher-level study was smooth and they were fully supported. In smaller class sizes, compared to traditional universities, you’ll meet like-minded, driven individuals, and will be taught by our insightful lecturers, many of whom bring real-world experience to their teaching. Our staff are also happy to provide any support you need, and we’ll always have a friendly face available to offer guidance.

For your career…

Gaining a new qualification brightens your professional future. Whether you’re looking for career or pay progression, or want to change career entirely, the in-depth knowledge and skills you’ll learn can help you achieve your goals. Our lecturers have industry contacts, and provide guest speakers, so you’ll be able to build a professional network tailored to your passions. Becoming better educated opens doors to your ideal future and broadens your horizon.

To make a change…

The way we approach work, leisure, and even social activities is evolving in the face of emerging technologies and trends. All this change comes from people driven to improve their communities, and we want you to help yours. As the pace of change increases, many of us will need to update our skills or learn entirely new ones.

It’s an exciting time, and if you’d like to get ahead of the game then returning to education is a fantastic choice.

Our Specialist Adult Provision

For anyone aged 19+, we offer courses at different levels across a wide range of curriculum at our Colleges including Rotherham College, North Notts College and Dearne Valley College. Our adult provision includes free, informal and short community courses, flexible distance learning courses and part-time industry-recognised professional qualifications.