How to get into uni as a mature age student

Thinking about studying at university? Here’s what you need to know.

Male student at the UNSW campus Kensington

Whether you’re kicking off your career or looking for a change, you can start your journey by applying to study at university as a mature aged student. With so many courses to choose from, it's normal to feel unsure about where to start. Read on to learn how to apply, understand entry requirements and explore your options.

What is a mature age student?

A mature age student is someone who returns to study after spending time away from school. This includes people who haven't completed Year 12 and have been working after high school, or people who want a career change.

Mature age students bring valuable work and life experience, which can be a real advantage at university.

What age is a mature age student?

There’s no specific age for being a mature age student, but most are 21 or older when applying for undergraduate study.

How to apply for uni as a mature age student

Here’s how to get started with applying to university as a mature age student.

1. Find out what you want to study

Think about your interests and what kind of progress you’d like to make for yourself, in your career or community. Whether your goal is to drive social change through law or shape a more sustainable world through engineering.

From there you can match that to a particular study area or degree to explore your options and find the right course to study. You can even try taking our two minute quiz to get an idea of what degree might suit you.

2. Consider your study load

Once you know what you want to study, consider what study load fits your life.

Do you want to study full time, or part time while working or managing other commitments? Do you want to specialise in a bachelor’s degree, develop your knowledge in an honours degree or gain more career opportunities with a double degree?

3. Understand the entry requirements

Now that you’ve narrowed down the degrees that interest you, check the entry requirements for your chosen degree. As a mature age student, universities may consider your work experience as part of your application.

At UNSW, your application considers your studies, skills, experiences and potential. You can visit our entry requirements page for more information on how you’ll be assessed and what qualifications we consider.

4. Explore admission pathway options

Alongside understanding the entry requirements, you may be eligible to apply via an admission pathway. These pathways help create more opportunities to succeed at university, no matter your starting point.

UNSW admission pathways give you more ways to start your degree, depending on your experience and background. For example, if you have previously acquired qualifications through TAFE or VET, you may be able to receive automatic credit towards your degree. The University Preparation Program (Uni Prep) is another pathway that builds the essential academic sills you need for academic study. After completing the program, you can apply for a degree at UNSW or another university.

You can visit our admission pathways page to discover all our pathways and see eligibility criteria.

5. Keep track of key application dates

Now that you’ve explored the admission pathways, the next step is to take note of the application dates.

Applications usually open in early April for the following year via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). It’s recommended to apply early to avoid a late application which incurs a higher processing fee.

While school leavers applying to UNSW usually receive offers in December, as a mature age student, you can also apply in earlier rounds.

You can find more information on the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) website, including key dates and on-time application closing dates.

6. Start the application process

To start your application, you’ll need to head to the UAC portal and select your preferences for courses and universities. You can choose up to five preferences. You can receive one offer per UAC round, based on your highest preference. You can always change the order of your preferences before the relevant offer round.

For a step-by-step breakdown, read our UAC preferences guide.

7. Pay the application fee

This fee may vary between universities due to their different application processes. UAC does charge a non-refundable processing fee.

If you’re applying to UNSW, there is a $150 non-refundable application processing fee for each online application you submit*.

For more information about fees, visit our page.

_{*Applications for admission to an honours year program, diploma programs, postgraduate research programs, programs offered at UNSW Canberra, and postgraduate domestic applicants will not incur an application processing fee.}

8. After you’ve submitted your application

Now that you’ve submitted your application, you can track and update your preferences via your UAC account.

If you’ve received an offer, congratulations, it means you’ve been accepted to study at your chosen university. Starting university can be an exciting step in your journey. UAC will email you to inform you of what degree you have an offer to study. Ensure you check the offer acceptance deadlines to secure your spot in time.

If you don't receive an offer, or your offer isn’t your preferred degree, you still have options. You can learn more about what to do in UAC's guide.

9. Accepting your offer

If you apply to UNSW and receive an offer, you can click the link in your offer email or head to Accept Online. It’s recommended to accept your offer as soon as possible to guarantee your place.

10. Enrolling at UNSW

After you’ve accepted your offer, you can start preparing for university. This includes picking your courses and registering for classes. Our enrolment page can help guide you through this process

If you have questions at any stage, our friendly team at the Nucleus Student Hub are here to help.

Access our guide and get familiar with common university terms

Frequently asked questions about mature age students

Mature age students can get HECS if they meet the eligibility criteria.
Mature age students may not need an ATAR. Universities can assess you using other criteria such as work experience or previous studies qualifications like TAFE/VET.
As a mature aged student, you can get into medicine if you meet the eligibility criteria. You can visit our page for more information on how to apply to UNSW Medicine.
To become a teacher as a mature aged student, you’ll first need to decide between primary or secondary teaching. Then you’ll need to meet the entry requirements to enrol in a Bachelor of Education. After completing your degree, you’ll need to register with your state teaching authority.
Yes, you can do a master’s as a mature age student if you meet the entry requirements for your program. The requirements differ between each degree, so it’s best to check with the university and their program requirements. For more information about applying for master’s at UNSW, read our postgraduate requirements article.
Yes, mature age entry students may apply for scholarships if they meet the eligibility criteria. Visit our scholarships page for more information.
Generally mature age students can’t apply for early entry as this pathway is for high school leavers who are applying before they get their ATAR.

However, at UNSW, our Gateway Admission Pathway provides early offers to non-recent school leavers if they meet the eligibility criteria. You can visit our page for more information.

See what progress you can make at UNSW

At UNSW, mature age students are supported to turn their experience, skills and ambitions into real progress, whether that means changing careers, building on existing knowledge or pursuing a goal. Explore your study options, discover flexible pathways and see how UNSW can help you shape a future that works for you.