Most scholarship databases are built with 18-year-olds in mind. If you’re coming back to education in your 30s, 40s, or beyond, the obvious funding routes often feel like they weren’t designed for you. They weren’t.
But there are scholarships for mature students in the UK — genuinely useful ones — that most people never stumble across. This guide covers the ones that are frequently overlooked, who qualifies, and how to actually apply.
Why Mature Students Miss Out on Scholarships
The main reason is simple: most scholarship search engines default to undergraduate, full-time, 18-to-25 students. If you’re older, part-time, or returning after a gap, you often don’t fit the standard filters.
The other issue is that many university bursaries for mature students aren’t advertised on the university’s main website — they’re buried in department pages, alumni fund documents, or handled entirely by the student services office.
Lesser-Known Scholarships and Bursaries for Mature Students
The Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS)
EGAS is a charity that specifically supports students who don’t qualify for standard funding. Their database includes hundreds of small trusts and charities that fund adult learners. Awards are typically between £200 and £3,000 — not huge, but genuinely accessible.
The Helena Kennedy Foundation
If you studied through an Access to Higher Education course, this foundation provides bursaries of up to £2,000 for students transitioning to university. It’s specifically aimed at people from disadvantaged backgrounds who came through Access routes — exactly the path many mature students take.
Trade Union Learning Funds
If you’re a union member and want to return to education, your union may have a learning fund you’ve never been told about. Unions like UNISON, Unite, and GMB all run learning funds. UNISON’s education bursaries can reach £1,500 per year for qualifying members.
Professional Association Bursaries
Are you studying in a specific field? The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Law Society, and dozens of other professional bodies run their own hardship and merit bursaries. These are almost never listed on generic scholarship sites.
University Mature Student Bursaries
Almost every UK university has a specific hardship or bursary fund for mature students — but it’s rarely on the front page. Search ‘[University name] + mature student bursary’ or email the student services office directly and ask. The Open University, Birkbeck, and many post-1992 universities are particularly generous here.
Government and Statutory Funding Worth Knowing
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)
If you have a disability, mental health condition, or specific learning difficulty like dyslexia, DSA covers specialist equipment, support workers, and other costs on top of your student loan. Many mature students don’t know they qualify.
NHS Learning Support Fund
Studying nursing, midwifery, or an allied health profession? The NHS Learning Support Fund pays a training grant of £5,000 per year (rising in recent budgets) that doesn’t need to be repaid. Additional allowances for childcare and placement travel are also available.
Care to Learn
If you’re under 20 and have a child, Care to Learn covers childcare costs while you study — up to £180 per child per week in London, slightly less elsewhere. Worth mentioning because some younger mature students don’t know this exists.
Pro Tips for Finding Mature Student Funding
- Email your university’s student finance office directly and ask specifically: ‘What funding exists for mature students that isn’t on the main website?’
- Check the Turn2us grants search tool — it filters by age, subject, location, and circumstances
- Apply for every small grant you find — £300 here and £500 there adds up quickly
- Academic departments sometimes have their own small prize funds — ask your department administrator
- Charities connected to your profession, religion, or hometown often have under-subscribed awards
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Only Using the Big Scholarship Websites
Findamaster.com and Scholarship-search.org.uk are useful but they miss the vast majority of small trust and charity awards. EGAS and the Turn2us grants database are far more relevant for mature students.
Assuming You Won’t Qualify
Many funding bodies explicitly prioritise mature students, especially those from low-income backgrounds, carers, or single parents. Don’t disqualify yourself before you apply.
Missing Deadlines
University bursary deadlines are often in October or November — just weeks into your first term. Mark these dates as soon as you enrol and apply immediately.
FAQ: Scholarships for Mature Students in the UK
What counts as a ‘mature student’ in the UK?
Most UK universities define a mature student as anyone who is 21 or over at the start of their undergraduate degree. For some funding purposes, the threshold is 25.
Can mature students get a full student loan in the UK?
Yes. Mature students in England are entitled to the same Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan as younger students. The maintenance loan amount depends on household income and whether you live at home.
Are there scholarships for mature students doing part-time courses?
Yes, though they’re harder to find. The Open University has specific bursaries for part-time students. Some trust funds also support part-time learners — filtering for this on Turn2us is the quickest way to identify them.
The funding is out there — it’s just not well-advertised for mature students. Start with a direct email to your university’s student services team, search Turn2us and EGAS, and check any professional body connected to your field. Most people who put in the research find at least one or two sources of support they didn’t know existed.
