There are many reasons why you might want to return to education. You might be looking to improve your job prospects, be considering a career change or you might simply have an interest in your chosen subject. Whatever your reasons for studying, it is important that you find our as much as possible about the course and the university before you apply.

All courses at MMU have entry requirements which set out exactly what qualifications you must have in order to apply for a course. Some subjects will have specific subject requirements. You can find details of our courses and entry requirements on our online prospectus or the UCAS website.

If you have been out of education for some time, or you do not have the necessary qualifications, you may have to refresh or upgrade you academic skills. Access courses are particularly aimed at returners to education, and you can find out more on the access to HE website.

When you come to consider which University you might want to apply to, there are lots of questions you need to ask. Do you want to study close to home or move away? Would you prefer a city or campus based University? Would you like to study a vocational or academic course? Do you want to study full time or part time?

Attending Open Days are a great opportunity to get a feel for the University, find out about the facilities, meet tutors and current students, gather course information and find out about general matters such as applying to university and student finance.

At MMU our Open Days take place in June and October and include a full programme of subject talks, tours of our facilities, and general advice on applying to university.

To apply for any full-time course you must register on the UCAS website (University and College Admissions Service) and apply online. Applications can be sent to universities from mid-September the year before you start, and close on 15 January (though it may be possible to apply later). You can apply for up to 5 choices and will need to include personal details, academic achievements and any qualifications you are still undertaking.

You will also need to submit a personal statement where you should detail why you have chosen the subject area you are applying to. It is your chance to convince admissions staff about your enthusiasm and suitability for a course.

The loans and grants you are entitled to are dependent on your own situation and the course you are intending to study. Full and part-time undergraduate students are normally entitled to a Tuition Fee loan which means you do not have to pay tuition fees upfront. You do not start to make loan repayments until you are earning £21,000 and your loan is written off after 30 years if you have not repaid it in full.

You can find information about student finance on the Student Finance England website or ring their helpline for advice: 0845 300 50 90.

If you have studied at degree level before, there may be restrictions on your entitlement to financial support. To check your eligibility, you should contact Student Finance England.