These central research questions were explored by means of the collection and analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data. Research ethics approval was obtained from the University’s Human Research Ethics Committee prior to its collection. The collated quantitative data was analysed and comparisons made to pinpoint significant similarities and differences between the relevant characteristics of the different student cohorts: the single 2002 cohort enrolled in UniSA-PAL at the one adult re-entry school, and the four 2003 cohorts in all four South Australian adult re-entry schools; students undertaking stage one of the University’s Diploma in University Studies, in 2002 and 2003; successive cohorts of students undertaking the Diploma since 1996 (averaged data); students undertaking the first year of award level university study in 2003 having gained entry by means of completion of the UniSA-PAL course in 2002; and students in federally funded bridging programs 1998-99 (averaged national data). The qualitative data from both the students’ questionnaires and the staff interviews were collated and interrogated for patterns and insights with respect to the key research questions. The initial findings from both the quantitative and qualitative data collected in 2002 were brought together as an interim report towards the end of the first year of the pilot, and disseminated for comment to all of the staff participating in the pilot.