Mature Students at Bristol
Find out more about life as a mature student at the University of Bristol
Support for current mature students
During your time at Bristol, our Student Inclusion Officer for mature and part-time students offers a range of support and activities to help you make the most of your time at Bristol. You can find out more about the support available to current mature students on this page.
Preparing for University study
While we do not require you to prepare before you start your studies, our Study Skills team has put together a series of open-access, self-directed courses designed to support students to transition to University study and feel equipped with the skills that will help them succeed:
The Study Skills pages have a wealth of further resources on academic skills and support available to use.
Accommodation
University accommodation
If you are aged 21 or over, and would prefer to live with other mature students, you can request this in your accommodation application.
We do not have a dedicated residence for mature students. Instead we will review the mature students flat profile requests, and aim to allocate them together according to their preferred residences.
We will do our best to ensure that your flat is made up of mature students. However, it is likely that students living in surrounding flats will be aged 18 or 19.
Private accommodation
Some mature students choose to live in private accommodation and there are many private accommodation providers in the city. Accommodation prices in popular student areas (Clifton, Redland, Montpelier) may be higher than in other parts of the city so do your research to find the area which most suits your budget.
Commuting to the University
The main University campus is in the Clifton area of the city and is served well by a number of buses, is within easy walking distance of the Clifton Down train station and easily accessible from the main Bristol Temple Meads station.
There is very limited parking in the area surrounding the Clifton Campus and no dedicated student parking. For further information on transport options please see the comprehensive Student Transport Plan
Childcare - the University day nursery
The University day nursery accommodates children of students and staff between 3 months and 5 years. Spaces are limited but priority is given to student parents. You can apply for a place even before you have made a final decision to study with us. Visit the University Day Nursery website for further information, fees and an application form.
In addition to this there are a wide range of other nurseries and childcare providers across the City. Bristol City Council's website provides a comprehensive list of these and also offers helpful advice for parents.
Academic Timetable
Your timetable will not be available until a few weeks before the start of the academic year. Lectures can be scheduled at any time between 8am - 6pm Monday to Friday, except for Wednesday when teaching finishes at 1pm for most courses.
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Student Inclusion Officer (Mature Students)
Maria Tottle is our Student Inclusion Officer for mature, care experienced and estranged students. As part of her role, Maria works with new and current foundation and undergraduate mature students who are studying full or part-time.
Disabled Student's Allowance
There is additional funding available for students with a disability in the form of a Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA).
More information about disability services.
If you declare that you have a disability on your application to university, it will only be used to offer you financial and practical support. It will not be used to judge your application or be passed on to anybody outside of the university without your permission.