U3A (Universities of the 3rd Age), are voluntary, non-profit organisations which aim to offer semi or fully retired people low-cost opportunities to learn, share or participate in a pleasant supportive social setting.
There are no formal entry requirements, no examinations and no “awards”. U3As are basically self-help groups built on the premise that collectively semi and fully retired people have the skills and knowledge to provide activities and learning opportunities for each other.
The word “university” in the title is used in the broad medieval sense of a community of individuals coming together to learn from each other. The principles of self-help and mutual support are the very cornerstones of the U3A movement.
If you wish to see more information on Universities of the 3rd Age and their history, please click on the following link, Wikipedia U3A