Non-traditional students and the widening participation agenda have had a significant impact upon provision of higher education in recent years.  Throughout the western world access to higher education has increasingly become available to persons who at one time would have previously been excluded.  This has brought a raft of challenges to universities who now need to cater for much greater diversity in their student populations.  Non-traditional students frequently require appropriate preparation if they are to be assured of success upon entry to undergraduate programs.  Assessing applicants for an appropriate pathway to formal tertiary study and providing them with the essential skills, knowledge and affective attitudes requires specialised curriculum expertise and pedagogy.  In order to ensure retention and success of non-traditional students a broad appreciation of the diverse needs of such students and the means to effectively address their preparation fortertiary study is essential.