Advise Please…Getting Confused With Bursaries & Grants.

rizel23

Hi all, I’m currently 3rd year student doing a BA TV Production degree at Teesside.

However, the lack of jobs that are available after graduation are very limited, which has got me slightly worried since end of second year and I nearly left the course then.

I have stuck with it, fairly enjoy it, but worried financially when I do\if finish the course.

I have realised now that I really should have looked into this before I chose a Uni course, and now I really wish I had done something that was more people based and structured.

I would like to do a second under graduate degree in Social Work in September 2007, but not sure what I’d be entitled to. The fess for the course are £3000 per year.

Obviously I can not apply for a second loan (and don’t really want to either)

Would I be entitled to these benefits:?

I’m 24, Parents: Single Mother who earns less than £15,000 per year.

Bursaries from the GSCC of £4575 (including a fee contribution)

http://www.socialworkandcare.co.uk/socialwork/start/degree.asp

Government Grant (From LEA)

£2,700 Per Year (currently receive full grant on old structure £1k, but only for 3rd year of study, parents divorced))

If any of the above isn’t available, would they be if I quit my current course?

Thanks in advance.

Torby

Am I right in thinking you are talking about quitting before you get your degree, in which case you would be an undergraduate...surely if you get the degree you become a post graduate?....hopefully you will get a sensible answer shortly....

all the best in your career move anyway

rizel23

Thanks for the reply, yes your are correct. I would be a post graduate in TV Production (if i finish the course), doing an undergrad course in Social Care...sorry i'm just as confused as you are!! Help!!!!!!!!!!

Torby

hopefully you will get a proper answer but I suppose the question is , If you graduate in one field , then apply to do another degree are you classed as an undergraduate and receive applicable funding or are you classed as a post grad in which case no funding is available at all....the plot thickens....lol....or is it just my head is getting muddled as well

sockospice

Would you not be better going for the Masters in Social Work? At many unis, they don't require you to have a degree in a related subject (although they do want experience in a relevant field). The masters is basically the BA but done over 2 years (and obviously marked at the higher level) and you would qualify for the GSCC bursary and to get your fees paid.

ETA I'm in year 2 of the Masters at the moment, so if you have any questions pm me.

rizel23

thanks for that sockospice, i have looked into this, need to a little more tbh, my parner is about to (hopfully) graduate as a social worker come end of June, and her placment have offered her a job, so i want to stay in out current area (north east) to study. Thanks for the advise, i'm looking into it now

Oldernotwiser

Sockospice is absolutely right in her advice. You need to look at a postgraduate social work degree that will last for 2 years and will be eligible for funding. Unless you have a fair bit of experience relevant to social work I would consider getting a job which will offer this (working with the elderly, children with special needs etc.) for a year and start your training in 2008. I'm a Careers Adviser working with adults so do pm me for any further advice.

AddieH

Look into postgraduate social work diplomas (DipSW) and finish your UG degree maybe?

Oldernotwiser

No such think as the DipSW anymore; first degree or postgraduate degree in Social Work.

rizel23

Thnaks for all your replies, but i think i would rather just do an undergraduate degree in social work at my current uni. Can anyone advise what funding would be avilable to me? Thanks

Oldernotwiser

This site highlights the key differences between the undergraduate and postgraduate routes.

http://www.socialwork.bham.ac.uk/

As you can see, both routes will take you three years because of the requirement for work experience and the fee situation is the same. However, you'd have one less year of student finance and end up with a masters degree if you went for the postgraduate. You will also need some relevant experience to get on the BA in Social Work but that would be advisable anyway before committing to a career as a Social Worker. The postgraduate route is by far the simpler option financially as it's intended for someone in your position.