Where do we start? Returning to education

tiltal

I have applied to do Graduate Teaching Programme in 2008, can anyone tell me if as I will be being paid while I train (£14,000) will I be entilted to any benefits. Will I be classed as a part time student who is employed full time?
I have a rented flat and council tax to pay?
I can't find any advise anywhere, so would love some advice

Thanks:rolleyes:

mummytofour

Outnumberedbysmallpeople wrote: »

good luck to everyone else doing this!

He has finally settled one (and applied for) a social work degree after much consideration, the more he contemplated teaching the more he realised he wanted to train for a career that would make a difference and had the possibility of branching out and moving into other sectors within the same field (i hope that makes sense) obviously social work has a broad range of areas he could work in. So he has applied and we're just waiting to hear now. :T (he has applied to a college which runs the social work degree and is only 1 town away from ours which should help alot with work hours and child care.)

I am now considering getting started on some OU courses- right now actually attending isn't all that viable for me (youngest is still feeding so he goes everywhere with me) but I have been inspired to edge back into education again. Hopefully by the time DS2 is in full time school i too shall be in a position to have a good career.

Thank you all for your help and wishing everyone else embarking on this a whole lot of luck too!

I think I know you from elsewhere..:j

lilmissmup

Just a quick question is there anyone on this board who are going back to college to study who is over 21 so classed as a mature student?

I am 23, currently work in an office and have done for 4 years but my real passion is animals and i would love to work with them but the courses i would have to do would mean i would have to go to college for 3 years and not university first.

I know its not really moneysaving so if its moved thats fine but just wondered if anyone else is considering or is doing the same?

mummytofour

Hi Im old and doing an access course at college this for me is 2 days per week and is the same kind of level as A-levels, which is regarded by unis very highly. Last yr I did key skills in maths and English that is the same as gcse grade A-C.
From what I nderstand there is little help with colleeg courses its all aimed at Uni studenst. Saying that I have been very cheeky and am doing my access at a 6th form college as this menas I can get childcare funding ( due to the way 6th forms are funded) I also get ALG which is like EMA 10-30 pounds per week based on family income. You may get your course free but that depends on the college and so on.

lilmissmup

Yeah because of what i want to get into i can't just do an access course.

I know i could prob get the ALG, think i could get £20 a week for that. Just a huge scary step for me after not studying for 7 years!

gozaimasu

m.smith14 wrote: »

I wish you all the success with your book kevinbarry, but in all honesty it sounds like absolute crap. Its information that most individuals with any level of common sense should be able to come up with and, as has already been stated, more useful information is already available on the internet. :rolleyes:

Aww the poor guy! If you're gonna say that about his book...you might as well say the same about Martin's...

PhatDad

lilmissmup wrote: »

Just a quick question is there anyone on this board who are going back to college to study who is over 21 so classed as a mature student?

I am 23, currently work in an office and have done for 4 years but my real passion is animals and i would love to work with them but the courses i would have to do would mean i would have to go to college for 3 years and not university first.

I know its not really moneysaving so if its moved thats fine but just wondered if anyone else is considering or is doing the same?

I've just done an access course in english and humanities however the college I went to did a social science course which was taken up by people wanting to go into nursing or midwifery however as the course included biology and other sciences of A level standard would you not be able to take one of these over just a year as I suspect with the access qualification a university _should_ accept you on an animal based degree.

Colleges also have a Hardship fund that you can apply to if you meet difficulties during your studies. You should apply for that as well as bursery payments I think they are called. They have a certain amount of cash to give away a year and all you need to do is apply. Your best bet though is to speak to a student finance person at the college.

bobobrussel

It's not often that I feel the need to respond to a forum posting, but I feel that the tirade of abuse regarding spam from KevinBarry was totally unjustified. I myself am a quarter-way through a Foundation Degree course (Business and Management) and, as a 45 year-old going to Uni for the very first time, had all the feelings expressed in the extracts from his book. Experience does count and I am amazed how much I am asked for advice from 18yr old colleagues on the same course who are struggling with their work! Another aspect of the course I found was also the camaraderie amongst students. Within three months, we have all become very good friends and regularly socialise after classes have ended, yet our ages range from 18 - 50, some are full-time parents, some are students, some are in work, some volunteer - we even have a student from Vietnam in our group! My advice is if you feel the impulse to improve your knowledge, your career prospects and your future, then go for it!

uktyler

The other alternative is the Open University, I can't praise them highl enough. You study part time around work, doing about 10 hours a week. If you are on a low income they don't charge a penny, and even give you money towards study materials, ansd even £250 towards a computer if you don't have one. I am hoping to finish a degree in four years from start to finish, the support is superb if you do need it, and you get to meet great people.
There is lots of variety with the courses on offer, and they do education courses for people who want to be teachers.

If you do have to pay you can do that with Tesco clubcard points too.

lilmissmup

PhatDad wrote: »

I've just done an access course in english and humanities however the college I went to did a social science course which was taken up by people wanting to go into nursing or midwifery however as the course included biology and other sciences of A level standard would you not be able to take one of these over just a year as I suspect with the access qualification a university _should_ accept you on an animal based degree.

Colleges also have a Hardship fund that you can apply to if you meet difficulties during your studies. You should apply for that as well as bursery payments I think they are called. They have a certain amount of cash to give away a year and all you need to do is apply. Your best bet though is to speak to a student finance person at the college.

I need to have practical experience if i do decide to go back and think a massive jump into animal biology at university wouldn't be great i think as i am not fantastic at it and would rather ease myself in.

Many thanks for your reply though