University College lecturer Nicole Crawford is one of two people in the country to have received the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education Fellowship.

She will use the funds to embark on a national study to investigate the impacts of mental health on mature age students and examine the response universities take.

"Traditionally, universities have had the response that if people need help with their mental health then they should just go see a counsellor but we can always do so much more," she said.

Doctor Crawford works with mature-aged students during her regular work at the University of Tasmania, as she works with students coming through the university preparation program.

The UPP works with students who may not have achieved the academic entry requirements of their chosen course, or who may have been away from study for several years.

It is a bridging course to help people find an alternative pathway to the university and as such, Dr Crawford said she often witnesses mental ill-health in her students.

"We see this as a teaching and learning issue...as teachers there is a lot we can do to assist our students with their mental health," she said.

The national study will comprise a student survey and student interviews, which will then lead to qualitative analysis of the results.

Dr Crawford is one of two people who have received grants as part of the NCSEHE Fellowships.

NCSEHE director Sue Trinidad said it was an exciting time for the Centre as the next two Equity Fellows embarked on their projects.

"The NCSEHE Equity Fellows have been received with unprecedented support and both national and international acclaim," Professor Trinidad said.

"Their leadership and the dissemination of their research findings are helping us to continue building the evidence base. These emerging leaders follow in the footsteps of the six previous NCSEHE Equity Fellows whose research has had a sustained national and international impact."

Fellowship projects include secondments to the department, as well as national and international presentations, events, publications and sector engagement.

The Equity Fellows Program is funded by the Australian Government Education Department.