Financial help for Open University degree

bach230

Thanks for all your replies. I'm definitely going to look into the tesco clubcard suggestion as i regularly shop at tesco and get my petrol from there so that's a bonus at least anyway.
I won't quit my job just yet although it is doing my head in - i started off as a practice medical secretary in a GP surgery, then went to being a support secretary at the local hospital and am now a GP medical secretary again, however i seem to have gone backwards in my job skills - all i'm doing now is typing up dictations from 8.30am - 4.30pm (5pm on a wednesday) and everyone else has either half-days or days off in the week except me.
This is the whole reason why i want to do something else in my life because i know i'm worth a hell of a lot more than this.
As for what i want an OU degree to work towards afterwards if i qualify - i'm not entirely sure yet. It would either be teaching (preferably not secondary school) or going on to being a music therapist which i would need to do another degree for afterwards. I'm going to keep my options open with regard to after the degree

KT1985

Not sure, but I think the degree title you said at the top is a bit too vague for teaching, unless you mean FE/Sixth Form, which opens a whole new qualifications can of worms.

jonny0

Bloomin' hell - you work AND your husband work full time, even on the minimum wage that comes up to a decent amount!

then you really expected financial support ?! You have got to be having a laugh. Why don't you cough up some of your own money instead of trying to get a freebie.

This sums up us british. Always want something for nothing.

I can understand if you were on benefits or even on low income, but only someone with a cheek will go ask for support despite them and their partner working full time.

If you really can't afford it then don't do it! ...simple as that.

jonny0

I forgot, you are willing to quit or work less hours if it means getting support ?

How about you appreciate what you have in this current climate where jobs are hard to find ? Thought of that for a second ? no i dont think you have.

Never mind, quit work and you will realise this.

surfsister

why don't you look for alternative work? I know ther's not much around but you never know unless you try. You could have a two pronged attack eg look to change job and look to start degree in Sep. Good luck with whatever.

bach230

jonny0 wrote: »

Bloomin' hell - you work AND your husband work full time, even on the minimum wage that comes up to a decent amount!

then you really expected financial support ?! You have got to be having a laugh. Why don't you cough up some of your own money instead of trying to get a freebie.

This sums up us british. Always want something for nothing.

I can understand if you were on benefits or even on low income, but only someone with a cheek will go ask for support despite them and their partner working full time.

If you really can't afford it then don't do it! ...simple as that.

jonny0, did something crawl up your !!!! and die or what?? how dare you judge me just because i said that both my husband and i work full-time - how does that tell you that we can easily afford for me to do a degree? i haven't even said how much we both earn.
ok we don't need to have benefits to support ourselves and the house that we live in but for your information we cannot afford our house - we are in a shared ownership property because we cannot afford the mortgage for a house of "our own".
i think you are extremely single-minded to speak like this to people and feel very offended by what you have said

blindmouse

bach230 wrote: »

jonny0, did something crawl up your !!!! and die or what?? how dare you judge me just because i said that both my husband and i work full-time - how does that tell you that we can easily afford for me to do a degree? i haven't even said how much we both earn.
ok we don't need to have benefits to support ourselves and the house that we live in but for your information we cannot afford our house - we are in a shared ownership property because we cannot afford the mortgage for a house of "our own".
i think you are extremely single-minded to speak like this to people and feel very offended by what you have said

Dont get put off by jonny0 I have looked at his previous threads and he is clearly not worth a reply, anyway good luck to you and hope you find a way to fund your dream job xx

Oldernotwiser

bach230 wrote: »

It would either be teaching (preferably not secondary school) or going on to being a music therapist which i would need to do another degree for afterwards. I'm going to keep my options open with regard to after the degree

It's good to keep doors your doors open but if you're looking at primary teaching then you really should make sure that at least 50% of your degree is a National Curriculum subject. Music isn't, although History is, but I'd really think about broadening out from Classical Civilistion to more general History modules. Primary teaching is very competitive and you may be in very real difficulties in the future if you stick to your current plans.

I also think that you may have some difficulties going into Music Therapy with only 50% of your degree in this subject. The entry qualifications are:


"To work as a state-registered music therapist, you need to complete a postgraduate course accredited by the Association of Professional Music Therapists (APMT) and recognised by the Health Professions Council (HPC). Check the APMT and HPC websites for details of approved courses.
To get on to a postgraduate diploma or Masters in Music Therapy, you will usually need a three-year diploma or graduateship from a college of music, or a degree in music from a university. You may be accepted with a degree in education or psychology, as long as you have a high standard of musical ability. Check with course providers for exact entry details." Learndirect

I don't mean to be negative but after doing your Level 1 Humanities course, you may need to make definite decisions on your future career before going any further.

Good luck.

RainyWednesday

My first post. Just wanted to say thanks for the useful information on this thread. I started doing a 60 credit course at OU in January (on top of a fulltime job - hard work but can be done) and my dream is to try and go part time work and spend more time on my degree (Geosciences). My goal is savin £10,000 to do this (I am thankfully currently debtfree after a lot of hard work)

I had no idea about clubcard vouchers - I'll be getting a clubcard tonight.

jonny0

bach230 wrote: »

jonny0, did something crawl up your !!!! and die or what?? how dare you judge me just because i said that both my husband and i work full-time - how does that tell you that we can easily afford for me to do a degree? i haven't even said how much we both earn.
ok we don't need to have benefits to support ourselves and the house that we live in but for your information we cannot afford our house - we are in a shared ownership property because we cannot afford the mortgage for a house of "our own".
i think you are extremely single-minded to speak like this to people and feel very offended by what you have said

Oh come of it, will you. Millions are on JSA and looking for work yet you have the cheek to suggest "should i stop working or cut my hours so i can get support". If that is'nt taking the mick then i dont know what is.

As a taxpayer, ofcourse i will get worked up because of that and you should understand the cheekiness of what you said.

regards,