The u3a (the University of the Third Age) is a self-help organisation for people no longer in full time employment, providing educational, creative and leisure opportunities in a friendly environment. It consists of local u3as' all over the UK, which are charities in their own right and are run entirely by volunteers. Local u3as' are learning cooperatives which draw upon the knowledge, experience and skills of their own members to organise and provide interest groups in accordance with the wishes of the membership. The teachers learn and the learners teach. The word “university” is used in its original sense of people coming together to share and pursue learning in all its forms.

The u3a approach to learning is – learning for pleasure. There is no accreditation or validation and there are no assessments or qualifications to be gained. u3as' offer learning activities which reflect members’ wishes and which aim to satisfy the widest possible range of interests: educational, cultural, recreational, physical and social.