Second degree?

Person_one

Has anybody on here made a career change that involved doing a second degree completely different from their first?

If so, how did you manage financially without the tuition fee loan? From what I can see the only funding available in this situation is the maintenance loan and whatever scholarships or bursaries your uni may offer.

MrsManda

Most people save lots, work whilst doing their degree, and/or take out a career development loan.

Or do a degree such as certain medical/social work degrees where the fees are paid by the Government.

Or work and do a degree through the Open University.

Oldernotwiser

Alternatively, you might be able to get on a relevant post grad course with your existing degree or use the credits from this to transfer to the OU for "top up" study.

Person_one

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Alternatively, you might be able to get on a relevant post grad course with your existing degree or use the credits from this to transfer to the OU for "top up" study.

Not always a possibility, especially if the first degree is completely different to the new one.

lynzpower

Person_one wrote: »

Has anybody on here made a career change that involved doing a second degree completely different from their first?

If so, how did you manage financially without the tuition fee loan? From what I can see the only funding available in this situation is the maintenance loan and whatever scholarships or bursaries your uni may offer.

HIYA

I guess you could say i am doing this: I am doing a Msc when I did a BA for undergrad-

I get no bursary and determined not to get into debt- i had saved the fees, my OH is financially supportive. My course is part time, Im hoping to work part time alongside a placement ( unpaid 3 days a week), I expect it to be very tough financially. I have dwindling savings and am being tight as a gnats

:eek: but it is my dream so I will do what i have to do to make it happen, if it comes to it, ill take a loan but I really really dont want to :eek::eek:

bzz

I'm currently studying for my second degree.

In 2005, I graduated with what was supposed to be a very marketable degree from a prestigious university but I soon found that my options were very limited. I bounced around the education system for a little while longer (doing some post-grad work at the uni) and re-evaluated.

I eventually decided to go into teacher training but, as soon as I got onto the course, I discovered that the jobs prospects in my area were dire - the government had placed my subject on the priority list so the universities were churning out far more teachers in this area than were needed. I discovered that most of the recent graduates couldn't get full-time jobs. I wish I'd known people in the profession before I started!

I dropped out of teacher training after a couple of months (I also had some health problems that left me unable to walk for a while) and decided to re-qualify in a field that seems quite secure.

As I'm Scottish, SAAS paid my tuition fees the first time around, then paid for my PGDE. I went into my second course expecting to pay my own tuition fees and for the first year I did. Now I've discovered that I will get the next 3 years paid for because I have been marked as having paid the graduate endowment (which I didn't - it was forgiven because I'm classed as disabled).

I'm lucky because my OH is in quite a well paid position and has good job security. I can't work part-time to supplement our income as I get tired very easily and can't stand for long periods of time. Five days of uni leaves me exhausted but I'm getting there. We are just above all the limits for extra financial help from SAAS (by less than £100, which is annoying to say the least).

Oldernotwiser

Person_one wrote: »

Not always a possibility, especially if the first degree is completely different to the new one.

Which is why I said "might".

Person_one

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Which is why I said "might".

Well I did say 'completely different' upfront in the OP.

Oldernotwiser

Person_one wrote: »

Well I did say 'completely different' upfront in the OP.

I've known someone with an English degree do a post grad in Business when she wanted to change her career from teaching, so even big changes are possible.

It wouldn't work with sciences, of course.

melancholly

Person_one wrote: »

Well I did say 'completely different' upfront in the OP.

do you have any specific courses in mind? it's almost impossible to give tailored advice when it could be any first degree and any second degree. a few more details might help people give some advice that could be really useful (and be more helpful than just telling people their suggestions don't apply to you!)

claire123c

Person_one wrote: »

Has anybody on here made a career change that involved doing a second degree completely different from their first?

If so, how did you manage financially without the tuition fee loan? From what I can see the only funding available in this situation is the maintenance loan and whatever scholarships or bursaries your uni may offer.

Hi,

I'm doing exactly that. I have just started a second degree in a funded profession. I get the maintenance loan, a tiny bursary and my fees are paid. I also have two part time jobs. I couldn't do it otherwise... it's hard work though!

However it was a huge decision to make as committing to a second degree was a big step to take for me.

My first degree is from a 'good' university btw, I have just changed direction career-wise and needed to re-train.