Mature Students

Support for mature learners

At the University of Salford, we encourage students from all backgrounds to succeed to the best of their ability, regardless of what time of life they choose to join us.

At Salford, askUS is at the core of our student support service, offering information and advice on matters such as finance, wellbeing and counselling, learner support and more. Once you’re a student here at Salford, if you have any worries, concerns, or need advice on a particular topic, askUS should be your first stop.

Everyone has different circumstances, challenges and support needs, so don’t feel like you need to deal with everything on your own, especially when facing some of the issues that may arise during your studies. We want you to feel like an integral part of our student community, and there are a range of staff and student-led services available that can be of benefit to you during your studies, whether you’re 21 or 70.

Student finance

Even as a mature student, you might be able to apply for student finance. The amount varies depending on your family situation and other circumstance. You may get extra help if you have children. Course fees are the same for all students.

Entry requirements

Applying to university as a mature student is a very similar process to if you were applying straight from sixth form or college. Within UCAS Apply, you will create a profile where you can upload a personal statement, enter your personal details and apply for up to five courses. These can be at the same or different universities. The UCAS application deadline will be the same as other students. 

Mature Student Entry Requirements

The standard entry requirements for each course are detailed in the relevant course page. If you already have these entry requirements, you can apply to the course as normal. 

We acknowledge that prospective students returning to Higher Education may not have gained the traditional entry requirements. The Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES) has been developed to offer students who have gained the knowledge, skills and experience that are equivalent to the academic entry route the ability to continue in their education.

Applicants seeking entry onto their chosen course through SAES can do so by applying to their chosen course via UCAS for undergraduate programmes and through the application form for postgraduate programmes. If you are a candidate for SAES, then you will be contacted by our admissions team.

Travelling to university

We are committed to delivering the best experience to all our students, whether they live on campus or not. We are easily accessible via public transport, as we are on a main bus route and have Salford Crescent train station in the middle of our Peel Park campus. If you choose to drive in there is car parking available, and we also have spaces for over 400 bicycles across campus for those who prefer pedal power!

Across campus, we have hubs for our commuting students with study spaces, comfy seating and storage facilities. The common rooms also have kitchenettes with microwaves, fridges and washing up facilities, enabling you to heat up your lunch or make a brew between lectures.