MA ruined!

Fuzquia

I was made redundant at just under 30 years old for the 3rd time. No fault of my own, simply employers going bust. So I decided to go back and complete my degree. On completing my degree, along with other class mates, we were immediately pushed towards the Masters (slightly different subject area).

I raised my concerns about how this course was different to what I wanted, but we were filled with lovely stories of x, y & z and the lecturers involved really described the course to be amazing. They claimed the course had been 're-written' to include people like myself. So I accepted a place and started the course.

3 weeks into the course I find the course is really not what it was made out to be, and I feel we have been told what we 'want' to hear simply to get numbers up for the course. On speaking with another previous lecturer at the University, he claims the lecturers mentioned have been put under pressure to get numbers up.

So knowing that, I phoned the funding people to see what my options were? None. I have 'no' option. I either stay on the course (3 years) or I am never able to receive funding for another PG course again.:mad:. My academic career is now over thanks to a University looking to cash in/get numbers up, as I cannot afford to pay tuition fees myself.

I feel so angry that, IMHO, I have been filled with nonsense in order to fill spaces on the course so that the uni can get their cash. Funding recommend speaking to my lecturer. I emailed him and he has told me to contact the school office? No interest now that I am on the course! So what is the point? Funding claim if I leave the course then a ban is placed on me ever taking a PG course again.

What with the current climate I feel universities need a kick up the A***, not students! But no, it is continually the student who gets kicked down for trying to better themselves. I am just trying to see the positive side of being lucky enough to complete my degree at all considering some others students situations. And for that I am grateful.

sorry... rant over :T

Wicked_witch

Not relevant to your fully understandable upset I'm afraid, but I wondered how/where you got the funding to do your masters? I've not been able to do one, as I can't find any type of funding and am a carer for my husband so can't afford to take out a loan.

Best of luck in sorting your situation.

Oldernotwiser

All universities and academic institutions are in the business of filling their courses and I'm afraid that you've been rather naive to think otherwise.

At least you're receiving funding for it ( which is often difficult to get) and haven't paid thousands out of your own pocket.

Fuzquia

Wicked_witch: I was nominated by the university to get my funding so not sure how that may apply to your situation? good luck in finding the right course for you.

Oldernotwiser: Yes I do agree I have been naive to some extent. I like to think I am not daft, and fully understand an education establishments need to run as a business. However, to be described course content in great detail, and to be advised that the course has been 're-written' to fit my needs/concerns, to then get on the course and find this to be false. Am I still naive?

Every student in the country has to make a decision on the course content described by the university. You have to take their word for it. So is every student in the country naive? I have never in over 15 years of education experience known course content to be false? This perhaps maybe where I am naive also. So if accepting a universities word is being naive then yes I am naive. However to be banned for life from ever taking another course in this situation leaves me a little upset to say the least.

dmg24

Where is the funding from? Is it a research council? Why is the course three years, is it more than an MA?

misswadey

Go to the Union and there is always a student advice centre where you can make complaints or get impartial advice. That would be my first point of call, they may well advice you to get back in touch with your school but at least then you know what needs to be done and the advice centre will also go through your rights.

With regards to not allowing you to continue with a PG course, my BF has just completed his Masters and applied through the University website, not a UCAS style one, so surely this means you would not be able to return and do another PG course at your current Uni (which by the sounds of it you don't want to do) but could apply to another University.

Good luck.

dmg24

misswadey wrote: »

Go to the Union and there is always a student advice centre where you can make complaints or get impartial advice. That would be my first point of call, they may well advice you to get back in touch with your school but at least then you know what needs to be done and the advice centre will also go through your rights.

With regards to not allowing you to continue with a PG course, my BF has just completed his Masters and applied through the University website, not a UCAS style one, so surely this means you would not be able to return and do another PG course at your current Uni (which by the sounds of it you don't want to do) but could apply to another University.

Good luck.

The issue is not that they could not go to another university, but that they could not receive funding (presumably from a body independent of the university) for another course.

Wicked_witch

Ah, well they must think something of you in any case :-) Unless you really hate the course beyond bearing, I think I'd stick with it. It's still a qualification, which can lead to other, more relevant experience and quals via networking- it really is who you know... Postgrad qualifications are so expensive, you might as well make the most out of an essentially free one. Good luck, whatever path you choose!

Oldernotwiser

Fuzquia wrote: »

Oldernotwiser: Yes I do agree I have been naive to some extent. I like to think I am not daft, and fully understand an education establishments need to run as a business. However, to be described course content in great detail, and to be advised that the course has been 're-written' to fit my needs/concerns, to then get on the course and find this to be false. Am I still naive?

Every student in the country has to make a decision on the course content described by the university. You have to take their word for it. So is every student in the country naive? I have never in over 15 years of education experience known course content to be false? This perhaps maybe where I am naive also. So if accepting a universities word is being naive then yes I am naive. However to be banned for life from ever taking another course in this situation leaves me a little upset to say the least.

If the course is very different from the information that was provided to you then you'll have proof to show when you make a complaint. If you've just taken the lecturers' word for it then, I'm afraid, I do think you've been naive.

However, I do feel that you are fortunate to have received funding for the course and would agree with others that you might as well stick with it. I hope that you can work it out satisfactorily for you.

ali-t

IME post grad qualifications can be shifted around.

after completing an undergraduate degree I did a professional qualification that was a post grad diploma. I then went back a number of years later and did a post grad certificate and am now doing an MSc dissertation using previous dipoloma points and the work from the certificate I just completed to have it as a named award in my chosen subject. I was told that I needed to have 50% of the study in my chosen area for this to be named on the MSc award.

If this is the same across all post grad study (not sure how an MA differs from an MSc in that respect) then surely you could do the 1st year of your current course and transfer in the 2nd year to one you want to do and would still come out with an MA in an area you are interested in?

[Deleted User]

is there a course at the uni you are interested in? although not ideal i'm sure you could switch courses (maybe to a shorter one?) without jeopardising your funding. hope you get it sorted out!