Looking at a total career change.

SideShowBob

Hi,

For the past 17 years I have worked in the I.T. industry and have recently found myself unemployed.

I am going to be 40 soon and that has kind of made me reevaluate my life and what I really want to do with the rest of it.

I feel that this is possibly my last chance to look at a total career change.

I have really thought about this and have decided that what I would really like to do is to work in Social Care or the Probation Service.

My route into this would be a 1 year access course and then a 3 year degree in either Social Work or Community Justice.

I currently receive JSA and housing benefit and wondered what financial help I may get whilst studying.

I know if I study full time I have to sign off which my effect my housing benefit.

Being over 25 I would be classed as an independent student.

I also have 3 dependent children.

I know I can get a student loan for tuition, a maintenance loan and also a maintenance grant, plus some institutions offer bursary's as well.

I just wanted to know if anyone on here had personal experience of going back to Uni as a mature student.