Stay curious: learning belongs to everyone

Universities are places to study for a degree. They are also places to encounter an idea, hear someone explain their research and ask a question you might never otherwise have thought to ask. You don’t have to be a student to take part.

A public lecture might introduce you to a period of history you know little about, a scientific discovery or a different way of understanding the world. An online course can turn a passing interest into something you return to each week. Neither needs to lead to a qualification to be worthwhile.

Illustrative image, created with AI.

There is value in following an interest

Much of the discussion about adult learning concerns work: gaining skills, improving prospects, keeping up. Those are good reasons to learn. So are enjoyment, curiosity and the pleasure of understanding something that once seemed out of reach.

Learning can give shape to a spare evening and provide something to look forward to. In person, it can also bring you into contact with people you might otherwise never meet. University audiences often include students, staff and members of the public of all ages. Follow a series of talks and unfamiliar faces can become familiar ones.

The NHS includes learning new skills among its five steps to mental wellbeing, recognising its potential to build confidence, a sense of purpose and connections with others. But learning needn’t become another task in a programme of self-improvement. Something can be worth doing simply because it interests you.

Start with a university talk

A university talk offers a straightforward way in. You can hear directly from researchers, revisit a favourite subject or spend an hour considering something entirely new.

Campus Croc brings together free university events open to the public, including talks you can attend in person and events you can join online. You can listen without asking a question, and you don’t need specialist knowledge unless the event description says otherwise.

For anyone uncertain about walking into a university building for the first time, knowing what to expect can help. Our first-visit guide covers the audience, the atmosphere and the practical details.

Find a university talk · Read our first-visit guide