Ever think you are doing far too much!

Impet_Limpet

I'm currently doing a part time Biomedical Sciences degree, its supposed to be on day release. In theory it is for people employed in a pathology laboratory who are sponsored by their employers and allowed out of work for a day a week in term time to attend. Now this doesn't apply to me as there were no trainee positions available so I have to pay for the course myself and I don't get paid by the NHS for the days I attend university, any exams or revision come out of my annaul leave. The degree is completed in 4 years. As they also run a full time equivalent course so they spend time arranging lectures so they all fit on our day of attendance.

Full time students do 6 modules a year. As part timers we are supposed to do no more than 4.5 modules - bear in mind we work 30hrs (at least) the rest of the week and full time over the holidays. But somehow theres been a screw up in the course and we have to do 5.5 modules next year!! That equates to nearly 92% of a full time equivalent course on top of a full time job!

I'm seriously wondering whether I can see this through. I find some lecturers think as we are part time, we just watch daytime TV all day and swap our days off work in the blink of an eye. They don't seem to appreciate mature students also have homes to run, kids to bring up (not yet for me) and responsibilities to our employer.
An example was an email sent a by a lecturer on the 16th April where some work sent out in March had incorrect figures on it. I read the email the next evening and sent a reply back saying I wasn't sure I could change the work in time for the handing in date (this Friday) It was pretty major changes and I have other coursework and revision to do. I only got a reply yesterday which I read last night, apparently as he was on holiday (fair enough it was still the easter break) he could only get back to me today. Then he said " I cannot understand how you have not found the time over the last week of easter break to amend this work. As you may be aware there were no lectures on."
After sending reply back last night saying I may have not had lectures but I work full time in the holidays, and it is diffcult to get any time off in school holidays as so many parents take time off (you really need to plan in advance!) therefore I had no more time than if I was at university. However I would do my best, but I have other commitments too.
He then replied suggesting if my employment is affecting university work I should consider cutting down my hours! Blimey! I could really see that going down well with the employers who pay for the part timers degrees!

Anyone else find Brick universities don't appreciate the differences between mature students, those on day release and the full time students


PS I released that this was a huge rant so here is the money saving bit....

as part timers we pay £200 per module and have to complete 18 modules

£200 x 18 = £3600

Full timers pay £3000 per year in fees for the same degree but it takes 3 years (also 18 modules)

£3000 x 3 = £9000

So at least I save £5400 by doing it this way!