U3A? what's that then? - you may have been asked.

U3A stands for 'University of the Third Age' - a group of people interested in learning, exchanging ideas and participating in joint activities.

What is the Third Age?
The Third Age refers to the age of retirement after the First Age of childhood dependence and the Second Age of full-time employment.

When did U3A start?
It began in France in 1972 as L'Universite du Troisieme Age, U3A for short and spread to the UK in 1982 where the first British U3A was established in Cambridge taking its title from its French counterpart. Most U3As in the UK have no formal links with universities.

"University" is used in its original sense of a group of people comimg together to learn for the pleasure of learning. No academic qualifications are required and none awarded.
There are over 680 U3As in the UK with over 210,000 individual members, and the movement is still growing. There are now U3As in many parts of the world.

How does U3A work?
A local U3A is a gathering of like-minded people keen on learning for the enjoyment it brings, and on joining wider group activities. Members learn by sharing their knowledge, skills and experience and by exploring together subjects and activities of interest.

The aims and objectives of the U3A can be summarised as follows:

  1. To encourage and enable older people no longer in full-time paid employment to help each other to share their knowledge, skills, interests and experience.
  2. To demonstrate the benefits and enjoyment to be gained and the new horizons to be discovered in learning throughout life.
  3. To celebrate the capabilities and potential of older people and their value to society.
  4. To make U3As accessible to all older people.
  5. To encourage the establishment of U3As in every part of the country where conditions are suitable and to support and collaborate with them.

Each U3A is an independent organisation financed by its members’ subscriptions and managed by a committee elected annually. No member gets paid; everyone is a volunteer!

For more information, contact the UK National Office of the Third Age Trust