Photograph of biomaterials created by Arts University Plymouth MA Student Natalia Lombardi

Research & Knowledge Exchange Repository

Grown-up Conversations: Understanding the Experience of Mature Students in Creative Arts Higher Education

Last updated April 2026
<p>This chapter explores the complex topic of mature students and widening participation in UK higher education (HE). Despite the significant expansion of the university sector over the last decade, with greater access for some, mature student numbers have fallen, and notable inequalities remain evident in many of the performance indicators defined by the Office for Students, UK. This chapter considers some of the context surrounding these learners, before exploring the particular approaches within the creative arts being developed by Arts University Plymouth (AUP), UK. As a small specialist university, we place significant emphasis on a fully inclusive approach to learning and teaching and have developed a distinctive curriculum, underpinned by particular pedagogical principles that support and enable mature students to succeed in HE.</p>
COVER1 Tim Gundry

Designed cover image: © Getty Images

Publish Date
2025
Researcher
Reference
Gundry, T., (2025) ‘Grown-up conversations’, in Exploring Widening Access for Mature Age Students. London: Routledge, pp. 134–147. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003540144-11.
ISBN
9781003540144
Research Type
Research Groups