What is a mature college?
St Edmund's College, University of Cambridge
Empowering global talent to shape the future
We asked Education Services Administrator, Carly Bracher who works in outreach and student engagement for St Edmund's College to explain what a mature college is and why you should consider studying in later life.
What is a mature College?
St Edmund’s, along with Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge and Wolfson College, Cambridge , is one of three Cambridge Colleges that only admit students who are aged 21 or over when their course starts. These are known as 'mature' Colleges.
I am over 21, why should I choose a mature College?
At St Edmund’s, we have students aged between 21 and 75. We have a strong sense of community and our postgraduate and undergraduate students live and socialise together. Our students are from diverse backgrounds and come from over 60 different countries. This makes for interesting conversation as students share their very varied life experiences. Our students value this community and find that it gives the College a relaxed and more grown-up vibe as most students have lived away from home before.
We have some two and three-bed flats which are occupied by students who move to St Edmund’s with their partners and/or young children.
The Admissions Teams at mature colleges are well-practised in assessing applications from students with a diverse range of different entry profiles and qualifications, including international qualifications.
I didn’t go to University when I was 18, should I consider going to University now I’m older?
There are many advantages to coming to University later in life. You could study a degree which will enable you to further or change your career or you could study a subject simply because you have always been really interested in it. At St Edmund’s, our students are at different stages of their lives. We have students with young children whose degrees will be used to boost their careers once their children are older, whilst some students have older children who have now left home allowing them to focus more on themselves and their studies. Some of our students started a degree at 18 but decided they hadn’t made the right choice and took more time to consider their options before applying to us. Many of our students find that being older means they are better placed to choose what to study. Their increased self-awareness and life experience allows them to form good study habits and to make the most of the opportunities which being at University offers. No matter what your age, you will fit in with our mature student community.
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Is it true that mature students have until 1st March to apply?
Yes. Whilst applications to study at non-mature Colleges in 2025 needed to be submitted by 15 October 2024, those who will be over 21 when their course starts and are making an application to St Edmund’s, Hughes Hall or Wolfson, can apply for the following subjects until 1 March 2025:
In many of these subjects, we accept applications from those who already have an undergraduate degree and wish to study a second as an affiliate student (where you complete the course in one year less).
How can I find out more?
Sign up to our webinar series to find out more about the application process or contact our admissions team (admissions@st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk).
You can also visit the St Edmund College website for more information.
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Education Admin | Social Science Grad | Text + Image 🎨
1moLove this. But, surprised I already qualify 🫣