MATURE students are being offered cash discounts on courses at two colleges in York.

Adults who have not walked into a classroom since they left school may find they can get on degree courses and earn funding of up to £1,000.

And students could also get a free place on a college "Access" course to help them get onto other degree courses.

The College of Ripon and York St John still has places on degree courses starting in September.

Adults with children under 16 can apply for bursaries of up to £1,000 using a new package of Government funding that has just become available through the college.

Tricia King, college spokeswoman, said many adults did not realise they could get on to degree courses without traditional qualifications.

"The College of Ripon and York St John recognises life skills and work experience as appropriate preparation and will interview all mature students to assess their suitability for higher education."

She said the college had its own access funds which students could apply from and some students could get help with tuition fees.

Meanwhile, York College is offering Access To Higher Education courses free to adults aged 21 or over, worth £600.

These courses are designed for adults over the age of 21 who want to return to

learning and move on to HNDs or degree courses at the end, but do not already have the necessary qualifications.

Julia Gledhill, spokeswoman for York College, said students could follow the courses over one year full-time, or over two years, part-time.

There are four different Access courses in health care, humanities and social care, information technology and science.

Students who have already gone "back to school" said they would recommend the move.

Mum-of-three Julie Couttie, 42, of Heworth, who left school with O-levels, has just finished a three-year full-time degree course at the College of Ripon and York St John and will start a teacher-training course there this month.

She said: "I had not written an essay since I was 16 when I took the exam to get into college. I would certainly recommend it and would say go in and find out what is on offer. They are very helpful and take into consideration if you have been out of education for a long time."

Clare Richardson, who is on the York College health care Access course, left school 15 years ago.

She said: "I chose this particular course because I am interested in psychology and health

issues, and have greatly enjoyed the course content. This experience of education has been totally different - more enjoyable. I now want to go on to university to study psychology.

York College is also introducing a cheap bus pass in a partnership with First York. Any full-time student will be able to buy a weekly Minster Card, which covers travel at any time in the city, at the reduced price of £7.50.