* Country: University entrance ages and systems differ greatly across the globe. Some countries have a more direct transition from secondary school, while others have significant gaps or non-traditional pathways.
* Type of University: Community colleges or vocational schools often have older students than research universities.
* Program of Study: Certain fields (like medicine or law) might attract older students who've pursued other careers first.
* Definition of "University": The age range will differ if you're considering undergraduate versus graduate programs.
While the *typical* undergraduate student in many Western countries starts around 18-19 years old, the average age across all university students (including graduate students, older returning students, and students at different types of institutions) would be considerably higher, likely in the mid-20s to low-30s. However, without specifying the factors above, a precise average is impossible to give.