Choosing a distance learning degree - need advice

onthewayout

Thanks, I have looked at those courses. As I said in my last post, doing that helped me figure out I don't want to stay in the library. It's an easy life and my colleagues are nice, but I'm already a bit bored and it won't suddenly get exciting just because I do a course.

I'm going to look for another part-time job, something that will give me new skills. If possible something IT related, maybe an apprenticeship if I can live on apprentice wages.

That means I won't be claiming course fees from my employer, but I might still look at London or RDI degrees as a way to become a graduate faster. Assuming I have time in my next job.

agrinnall wrote: »

As an alternative to doing a degree you might want to investigate doing a Masters instead. I did a MSc in Information and Library studies (full time 2010 - 2011) and the head of department told us that although they normally expect applicants to have a good first degree they actually have discretion to accept people without a degree who have a work background that would be suitable for doing the course. Many ILS Masters degrees are now offered through distance learning and can be completed in 2 years. There's almost certainly enough time to enrol now for September start so you could be finished in 2014. Take a look at the CILIP website for accredited courses http://www.cilip.org.uk/jobs-careers/qualifications/accreditation/pages/default.aspx

Voyager2002

onthewayout wrote: »

I'd like to keep up my OU Computing degree whatever happens. The only problem I have with the OU is they won't let me use the spare time I have at the moment to take extra credits. I did ask, but because I failed a module last year (while I was working a lot more hours than now) I was turned down.

So the opportunity to get a second degree a lot faster, at no cost, did get me thinking. But maybe I should change jobs instead, and try to get some IT experience. I've been looking at library masters degrees as posted above, and coming round to the idea that I don't actually want to be a librarian. I'm happy on the desk talking to the students, but the back office work I've done has been pretty dull... and that's the more professional side of the job.

Should I be trying to jump ship now to another company, maybe for an IT helpdesk apprenticeship, rather than claiming money for courses and staying put? The library is a nice friendly place to work, but am I just wasting time if I know it isn't my career?

Well now, a nice friendly place to work, and an employer willing to sponsor you for a degree, are actually a lot. I don't think you should throw these things away.

University libraries are major users of IT, so as your studies of computing progress it should be possible for you to gain relevant practical experience. And don't forget that different parts of the university talk to each other, so you could eventually get experience (if necessary unpaid) doing some technically demanding stuff in other parts of the university.

I doubt very much whether you would get a deal even half as good by going elsewhere.

You might be interested in another recent thread on this board with a heading about doing a second degree, which is mainly about librarianship and IT.

onthewayout

I know, it is a nice place to work, and I wouldn't want to throw that away for nothing. There are much worse fates than getting a bit bored! I'm just worried about taking another 6 years to finish my degree, and staying in a job with no responsibilities til then. I'd be 36, and surely there does come a point in life when your future depends on experience rather than qualifications?

I'll certainly try to get other experience within my university though. Nothing ventured etc etc :-)

If I did stick around, and I took the grant for a London External degree, which one would you pick between Law, Business Studies, English, or International Development? The last two are interesting for me personally but I don't think they complement my computing studies or my library work experience. Law sounds impressive, and I think the combination with Computing could be useful, but I am a bit worried about the workload. And Business should be useful too, if it doesn't come across as slightly mickey mouse?

I will look up the other thread you mentioned. Thanks.

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Well now, a nice friendly place to work, and an employer willing to sponsor you for a degree, are actually a lot. I don't think you should throw these things away.

University libraries are major users of IT, so as your studies of computing progress it should be possible for you to gain relevant practical experience. And don't forget that different parts of the university talk to each other, so you could eventually get experience (if necessary unpaid) doing some technically demanding stuff in other parts of the university.

I doubt very much whether you would get a deal even half as good by going elsewhere.

You might be interested in another recent thread on this board with a heading about doing a second degree, which is mainly about librarianship and IT.