This research set out to investigate the part-time student experience of higher education across the United Kingdom, in the context of a well-publicised contraction in the sector, and increasing divergence between policies affecting part-time study in the four nations. In order to explore the part-time student experience in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, the first stage of this research consisted of a 25 question online survey. In exploring why learners studied part-time, a clear message emerged that notions of "choice" were relatively meaningless: choosing part-time was effectively an illusion because students were faced with "Hobson's choice"--it was either part-time or nothing. Most respondents admitted to preferring the idea of full-time study, but believed the cost was too great; they could not afford to give up a job when they had extensive family outgoings, and in many cases they were debt-averse. Five key themes emerged from the interviews: (1) flexibility; (2) motivation; (3) student community; (4) information, advice, and guidance; and (5) disciplinary differences. Across the United Kingdom, there is a knowledge gap around the experiences of, and barriers faced, by part-time mature students in higher education. Policymakers need to listen to these experiences and carve out a space in which the needs and aspirations of disadvantaged learners in this heterogeneous sector can be properly considered. The following are appended: (1) Interview and focus group instrument; (2) Preliminary analysis of combined OU and NUS Wales survey responses; and (3) Descriptive statistics of OU data for England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.