About 3% of the 10,000 undergraduates currently at Cambridge University are mature students. You are considered a mature student if you are over 21 by 1 October in the year in which you intend to start a university course, and if you have not previously completed a course of higher education.
You are welcome to apply to Cambridge at any age; there is no upper age limit. We do take mature students at Homerton, but you should note that there are two colleges that take mature students only, and these generally offer a larger community of students with more 'life experience'.
What qualifications are required?
All mature applicants are expected to produce evidence of high academic potential as well as recent study, and you should undertake some formal study (full-time or part-time) in the year before you intend to start university. Mature applicants tend to have a greater diversity of qualifications than younger applicants, but we still look for academic potential the ability to cope with end-of-course assessments by examination. If you are deciding upon qualifications to take, we suggest that you take one, two or three A-levels or an Access or Open University course. It is very important that you contact us before embarking on any course of study.
How to apply
Mature applicants apply in the same way as standard-age applicants. Please see our how to apply pages for more detail.
Testimonials
Changemakers has introduced me to a community of wonderful and inspiring people. Each Changemaker event I have attended has left me feeling energised and excited to tackle the big challenges our world is facing today. Having the right values, tools, attitude and people on my side has emboldened me to champion radical positive change.
"Homerton Changemakers is a brilliant and necessary invitation for us to raise our game as humans. To explore how to draw new maps for a world with a future.”
Our Directors of Studies, Tutors, Student Union and Support Staff provide unparalleled support during your time here and long after you graduate. You are a Homertonian for life.
Cambridge is famous for rigorous academic lectures, seminars, supervisions and practical sessions. At Homerton, we aim to provide all of this and so much more.