LARGE numbers of mature students are opting to study at University Campus Suffolk, figures revealed today.

In total, 2,259 new students enrolled at University Campus Suffolk (UCS) in September, of which 1,599 were classed as mature (over the age of 21).

More than 70 per cent of the student population falls into the mature category.

Nationally in 2011, 27.5pc of those applying for university places were defined as mature students. The statistics for 2012 were not available from UCAS.

Sarah Tattersall, head of student recruitment at UCS, said she was delighted the university was attracting students with “life experience”. Meanwhile, university bosses are also recruiting across the globe in an attempt to attract more foreign students.

The university currently has 419 non-UK national students from 70 different countries, including Sierra Leone, Nepal, Mongolia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Jamaica. Bosses say 198 of these students enrolled in September. Fifty-six of the university’s foreign students are from Portugal, 50 are from Zimbabwe, 35 are from Ireland and 31 are from Poland.

Ms Tattersall said: “UCS staff and students participate in recruitment and academic events all over the world in order to promote our university to potential students.

“A multi-national student body is of great benefit to the institution as it adds an international perspective to our learning environment and helps ensure that our students are ready to take on the challenges of an increasingly worldwide job market.

“We are also delighted to see that UCS remains popular with mature students who often bring with them employment and life experience that can be related to their studies.”