At York College we appreciate the different routes our higher education students take. Although your course may be full-time, it is still possible to continue to work or balance other life commitments whilst achieving your degree or higher-level course with us.
Whether our students are returning to education after a hiatus, coming to higher education for the first time or wanting to retrain for a new career, we welcome and encourage mature students from all backgrounds and ambitions. We know that as a mature student it can be harder to balance your study, work and life commitments when coming into higher education. Because of this, it is important for you to make the right choice when choosing a place to study, choosing an institution which will support the specific needs of you and your studies.
We can support you. There are several key areas in which we can help mature students transition into academic life.
We’re committed to ensuring that our students have a good study/life balance. This is achieved by ensuring that our courses are delivered over as few days as possible, giving students the chance to maximise their spare time for work, family or other commitments alongside achieving their qualification.
There is a commitment from York College to provide a £600 bursary for all eligible higher education students. The Higher Education Bursary is split into nine separate bursaries:
- Care Leavers
- Student Carer
- Financial Assistance
- Estranged Young People
- Students from Gypsy and Traveller Communities
- Refugees
- Carers
- Students living in a household under £25,000
- Students with mental health problems, specific learning difficulties and/or an autism spectrum disorder such as Asperger Syndrome
Eligibility for the Care Leaver and Student Carer bursaries are not based on your household income, but you will need to provide evidence of your situation. The Financial Assistance Bursary will normally be assessed alongside your application to Student Finance England.
Smaller class sizes mean our students receive more contact time with expertly trained tutors and receive outstanding student support, both in sessions and outside of class.
Dedicated University Centre - there is an area of the Learning Centre dedicated to higher education students. This can be used as a study or social area, with computers, work stations, sofas and a kitchen area for the use of higher education students only.
We have strong industry links and our strategic engagement with employers, who actively contribute to curriculum development, enhancing future employability. With lower fees than most universities, you will gain your qualification with less debt.
Full-time study not possible? Student Finance England are offering tuition and maintenance loans for part-time students, meaning you can study one of our courses part-time and still get a student loan to help with your costs.
As a mature student you may benefit from some career advice and guidance. Prior to applying to a course we can provide you with e-guidance, and once studying you will have access to careers advisor appointments, CV help, mock interviews and assessments, online employability resources and advice and guidance for applying for further study.
