What is the U3A?

The U3A  (University of the Third Age) is an Association formed by and for older people, who are retired or semi-retired and are interested in learning, teaching and exchanging knowledge and experience in an informal and congenial atmosphere.

The first U3A in the UK was founded in 1982.

What does it do?

The main purpose of the U3A is to promote and facilitate lifelong learning for those who are no longer in full-time gainful employment. It does this by encouraging and enabling its members to share their experiences, knowledge and interests as well as their educational, creative and leisure activities, thus enabling them to enrich their lives in their later years i.e. in The Third Age. It is therefore an organisation of retired and semi-retired people dedicated to shared, self-help learning.

Who is it for?

Membership is open to anyone who is retired or semi-retired and is no longer in full-time gainful employment. All you need is interest and enthusiasm! There are no qualifications required and none are awarded. There are no examinations or tests of any kind. Although it is called a university, it has members, not students.

How widespread is it?

There are U3A groups all over the UK and in many countries across the world. It is one of the fastest growing organisations in the UK, with the number of U3As and size of membership growing each year. There are more than 644 U3As and more than 186,000 members.

How are U3As funded?

Local U3As are democratic, self-funded and self-managed organisations which draw on the knowledge, skills and experience of their members.

Each U3A is funded mainly by members’ subscriptions and is managed by a Committee of members who are elected to the Committee at the Annual General Meeting.

Some U3As may benefit financially from Gift Aid and other donations as well as from grants given by various grant-giving bodies.

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