A study examined the characteristics, experiences, and performance of undergraduates enrolled in part-time degree programs at polytechnics and colleges in Great Britain. Data were collected from questionnaires completed by 2,876 (of 4,227 contacted) part-time undergraduates enrolled in 66 courses in 1985. The median age of the respondents was 30, and nearly two-thirds were male. Most were married and in paid employment, and most had left school at the age of 17 or younger. Part-time day release and evening classes were by far the most commonly encountered forms of previous part-time study. The part-time students generally held higher qualifications at program entry than did their mature full-time counterparts. Only 13 percent of the part-time entrants did not hold the conventional minimum entry requirements as opposed to 37 percent of those entering Open University undergraduate courses. Improvement in career prospects was most commonly reported as students' main motivation for enrollment. Most part-time undergraduates were completing nonhonors courses, whereas most full-time students complete honors courses. One year after the original questionnaire, almost two-thirds of the original respondents were still enrolled, and over one-fifth had completed their courses successfully. (MN)