Leaving Full time job for university

scubaloo

My sister finished a social work degree last year and it's a big undertaking - much harder than my or any of my friends degrees. When you're on placement its basically a full time job, plus you have coursework to do. I know people that worked nights, had a little sleep then went to placement or just worked weekends, but it is very hard to fit in anything other than holiday work. Not trying to put you off but just to let you know that even a part time job may be hard to manage in term time.
Not sure if you are looking at post grad or undergrad but you can do part time for post grad. The GSCC might be able to give you some funding but I don't know about all the details. I can't post their website but you can google them.

elfen

You'll need to contact Student Finance still as they may say you have to pay off what you owe before you can go back. However, they do apply the rule "length of your course + 1" (the +1 is in case you need to retake) but there is a maximum you can take. You may have to do a couple of years OU with relevant work experience then see if it's enough to get you on a relevant degree course at a uni with the work experience.

genuinegal

Yeh, i worked full time in my job for 7 years and managed to reduce my hours last september so i could do a year's Access course at college. I'm starting my degree next month and i'ev managed to reduce my hours further at work to fit around my degree, so i am very lucky. Bare in mind that my wages have decreased by 75% but it meant so much to me to do this degree that it was worth the risk compeletely, i don't regret it at all. I have received the full student loan entitlement, plus the uni bursary AND im applying for funding from a private charity. All this plus my monthly wages from work will more than cover any rent or bills i need to pay. I think if you want something bad enough, you'll sacrifice other things in your life in order to do it.

did you have to move in with your boyfriend? Not a very well thought out plan by the sounds of things.... In addition to this, you've dropped out of uni twice?? I get slightly frustrated with students like yourself who waste a perfectly brilliant opportunity to further themselves - bare in mind that there will be thousands of students this year who won't even get a place at uni because of the shortage of places available and here is you who wants to go to uni for the 3rd time? If i were you i'd give that place up for someone who genuinely wants it and worked very hard for it. As a mature student who sacrificed alot to go to uni, it dissapoints me to read stories such as yourself who takes them university places and drops out without even trying hard enough to make it through the 3rd year.

I don't believe you have thought this through very seriously.

Volcano

One consideration with the OU is that you could work part time (say 20 hrs a week) and take on an extra OU course; this gives you only a 50% drop in your income, but allows you to decrease the overall time spent studying (and so get into a full-time job quicker after you graduate). Don't underestimate the 'part-time degree' throwaway tag the OU uses; depending on your degree you could be spending every spare hour doing it, no fun after 8 hours at work or having to kiss goodbye to your weekend for 16 hours stuck in front of the PC. Level 1 courses tend to be a lot easier than 2 or 3 so you can find yourself starting off fine, then realising you have to commit a lot more.

Post-grad social work training gets a bursary from many universities via the government, though this isn't much and probably just about covers your tuition fees.

Kataratarina

clearly i wasn't wanting to go to uni when i moved in otherwise it would have been very stupid- i have thought seriously about this and when i was at uni i was quite immature and didnt think it through- but i suppose u will comment and ask how i have magically matured within 5 years (because this would be impossible to do)

I take on board most comments from this thread,but am quite annoyed by some people who think that i shouldnt NOW go towards my dream job....

i understand constructive critisim but some imo was not constructive at all!

Theres plenty more i could say but i do consider myself mature enough to not cheek back to a "mature" student!

lolly-i-pop

Have you considered occupational therapy... similar to social work, especially with an increase in generic working, much less paperwork though. And most uni's do it as a parttime course.

Sorry, blatently plugging my profession!!!

Oldernotwiser

Kataratarina wrote: »

clearly i wasn't wanting to go to uni when i moved in otherwise it would have been very stupid- i have thought seriously about this and when i was at uni i was quite immature and didnt think it through- but i suppose u will comment and ask how i have magically matured within 5 years (because this would be impossible to do)

I take on board most comments from this thread,but am quite annoyed by some people who think that i shouldnt NOW go towards my dream job....

i understand constructive critisim but some imo was not constructive at all!

Theres plenty more i could say but i do consider myself mature enough to not cheek back to a "mature" student!

I don't think that anybody's trying to discourage you but you don't seem to be prepared to make any sacrifices - particularly financially - to achieve your aims. You seem to expect that you're going to be able to do it and not to have your standard of living affected in any way.

Apologies if this isn't the case but this is the way your posts have come over.

sozzifer

Can I ask what your first 2 degrees were in? Is there any chance you could claim credit towards any future study? It may reduce the length of time you need to be a student.

Kataratarina

Update- went to an open day for tech today and spoke to an advisor about what i wanted to do. i said i would be willing to do 2 a-levels in a year (sociology and psychology) and he said that would be nearly impossible to do in one year...

He advised of an alternative course-combined access course which takes 2 years and is more managable and adapted to be PT over 2 years, this USED to allow into 2nd year of social work but has recently been changed, but he said this gives a good intro into the degree and IF after the 2 years i decided social work wasnt what i wanted to do i can join 2nd year of alternative degrees.

So I'm happy with that and am enrolling on Tues and i'll see how i goes- i also spoke to someone who knows of a trainee scheme where i can study the degree and work for the Trust and be paid 16k a yr before a qualify which would be an excellent oppourtunity as i could leave my job but it is very competitive so i have to get a good result i my access course and take on more voluntary work to be accepted!

I am feeling happier now

genuinegal

I think your last comment about what i said -"Theres plenty more i could say but i do consider myself mature enough to not cheek back to a "mature" student!" clearly demonstrated that you are in fact being immature?
I'm a realistic and more experienced person and was providing realistic advice because i've already been through what you are trying to achieve and it ain't easy and you have to sacrifice alot - both financially (including your car) and emotionally (your boyfriend).

I gave the constructive feedback (contrary to what you may think) because i don't think your goals or indeed your strategy to achieve them goals were realistic particularly because you contemplated the idea of fitting in 2 a-levels in one year / Being 23 and being 28 are completely different stages (emotionally) in your life and if you believe that you are determined and prepared to sacrifice things in your life to achieve them goals, then i wish you the best of luck.