Single mum mature student

Ffifi

Hi, I'm a 36 year old single mum working in Local Government and I really want to retrain as a nurse. I already have a degree, but not in a relevant field and I left Uni over 10 years ago, so I would still need to complete an access course. I'm keen to start as soon as possible, but I have absolutely no idea where to start re: Finding out about funding and whether I could afford to do it full time etc. I currently work 3 days a week and get child/working tax credits and child benefit. My ex partner also pays half of my daughters childcare. I have a mortgage to pay, all bills and half of her childcare. Does anyone have any experience of going back to college, as a single mother/mature student??
Many Thanks

Dunroamin

Ffifi wrote: »

Hi, I'm a 36 year old single mum working in Local Government and I really want to retrain as a nurse. I already have a degree, but not in a relevant field and I left Uni over 10 years ago, so I would still need to complete an access course. I'm keen to start as soon as possible, but I have absolutely no idea where to start re: Finding out about funding and whether I could afford to do it full time etc. I currently work 3 days a week and get child/working tax credits and child benefit. My ex partner also pays half of my daughters childcare. I have a mortgage to pay, all bills and half of her childcare. Does anyone have any experience of going back to college, as a single mother/mature student??
Many Thanks

Have you been told this by the university because it would be quite unusual.

Ffifi

I went to the open day last year and was told that I would need to complete the access to healthcare course (1 year full time or 2 years part time).

Wyndham

To be honest, if you already have a degree, funding options are going to be limited. Sorry!

Ffifi

Oh No! That's not good news.

dizzyrascal

The NHS fund nursing with a system of bursaries. I'm not sure what funding you would get for the access course but you need to ask the course provider what people normally do (it is not unusual for working mothers to want to do nursing so I'm sure they have come across this before)
I would question why you need to do an access course if you already have a degree though. Perhaps you could just do some science based modules (poss OU) as a pre-course refresher
The bursaries are not especially generous and I am not sure what effect they would have on your other benefits. It might be worth asking the Tax Benefits Office if they could help with this.

Ffifi

Many Thanks. I was thinking about the OU, so will have to get in touch. I'm going to another Open Day at the hospital in 2 weeks, so will enquire then. Thanks again

missjacks

Hi
I study with the OU and they will cover your course fees for you if you get certain benifits ie JSA and income support otherwise they offer you a student loan.
best thing to do is ring the OU.

Will you still be able to continue with paid work while studying as the OU may require you to do a set amount of hours in a health care enviroment to be able to do the course.

Dunroamin

missjacks wrote: »

Hi
I study with the OU and they will cover your course fees for you if you get certain benifits ie JSA and income support otherwise they offer you a student loan.
best thing to do is ring the OU.
.

Not if you're already a graduate they won't!

Also students starting an OU course from September 2012 will need to take out loans whether on benefits or not.

LittleMrsThrifty

If you already have a degree you'd have to pay for the access course and it would also be a little pointless as its designed for people without GCSEs even, not people with a degree. The Uni may mean they want you to have recent study which for most mature students would be an access course but could be a course related to your job, an OU module or even just completing an essay to show you are capable.

Funding for nursing is different to other courses so you may well be able to get finding as its NHS funded - but worth checking thoroughly.

Dunroamin

Graduates are eligible for funding for all nursing/midwifery courses but would need to fund any Access/OU course themselves.