Policy Brief: Enhancing Access for Mature Learners in Canadian Universities

Introduction / Context

Mature learners face significant challenges when navigating Canadian university admissions. While formal criteria exist, policies are often fragmented, inconsistently labeled, and difficult to interpret. This places the burden of understanding on applicants, who must piece together requirements, documents, and additional steps on their own. Limited visibility of supports and unclear pathways can further restrict access, making it harder for mature learners to convert eligibility into meaningful participation.

This brief draws on a comparative review of publicly available admissions documents from three Canadian universities—Cape Breton University, Brock University, and the University of British Columbia—to identify common barriers and propose actionable strategies for improving access for mature learners.

Evidence / Findings

Analysis of admissions policies reveals several recurring barriers for mature learners:

• Labels: Institutions vary in how they identify mature students. Inconsistent labeling creates uncertainty about eligibility and access to supports.

• Documents: Required documentation—transcripts, résumés, proof of experience—can be difficult to obtain, particularly after long educational gaps or if records are archived and non-digitized.

• Pathways: Alternative admission routes or bridging programs exist but are often fragmented or poorly articulated, creating obstacles or delays.

• Supports: Advising and transitional resources exist, but timing is critical—most are only available post-admission, leaving applicants without access during application and decision stages.

• Additional Steps: Extra requirements such as interviews, entrance exams, or essays are inconsistently applied and under-communicated, adding pressure and potential barriers.

• Visibility: Admissions information for mature learners is often hidden within general undergraduate materials, reinforcing systemic barriers and limiting transparency.

Summary Insight: Across all institutions, mature learners face a fragmented and opaque admissions landscape. Policies may provide formal criteria, but these often do not translate into actionable guidance, clear supports, or transparent pathways.

Recommendations / Action Steps

Minimum (Low-effort, immediate fixes)

• Update university websites to clearly label mature student admissions and explain eligibility.

• Explicitly list required documents and additional steps on admissions pages.

Moderate (Some coordination / planning required)

• Develop custom pathways in partnership with faculties, such as bridging programs or alternate access streams.

• Standardize additional requirements across faculties to reduce inconsistency.

Structural / Long-term (Systemic change)

• Create and expand visible supports for mature learners, including advising, orientation sessions, mentoring programs, and transitional resources.

• Redesign admissions processes for mature learners to create transparent, consistent, and accessible pathways across the institution.

• Institute accountability measures to ensure policy clarity and monitor mature student access outcomes.

• Regularly review and update admissions policies—e.g., annually before the new intake—to maintain clarity, accessibility, and effectiveness.

• Consult externally with independent experts, such as mature student researchers or advocates, to ensure impartiality and provide constructive feedback.

• Embed the Capability Approach principles into policy review to ensure access is meaningful, not just formal.