Access to Higher Education for Mature Students
Access to Higher Education diplomas, first established in the late 1970s, remain an important route into higher education for mature entrants. Though growth in student numbers has been modest in recent years, one in four first-time mature entrants to full-time degree programmes at universities still enter via an Access course. Of those who go on to higher education from Access courses, most go onto full-time degree courses - they study a wide range of subjects, with subjects allied to medicine being the most popular.
Although the University does not have its own Access to HE course programme, we have had a long and successful track-record of working with many of the local Further Education colleges in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Merseyside who offer Access to HE programmes.
We are very proud of the fact here at Salford that about 12% of our annual intake are mature Access to HE students. One of the reasons for this may be that Salford University offers an annual series of events aimed at mature students. The Mature Student Enrichment Programme is designed as an opportunity for Access to HE students at local colleges to familiarise themselves with HE generally, but with the University of Salford in particular. These events are open to all Access to HE students, regardless of whether they intend to apply to the University of Salford or not.
In addition to these links with Further Education Colleges, the University has a very successful APL/APEL strategy, which enables mature students who may not have formal qualifications, but who can provide evidence of capability to progress, to enter Higher Education.
For further information contact Dr Laura Mole.
You may find the following links useful: