Advice needed for second degree!

Kduke4

Hi All,

You all seem to know you're stuff so hopefully someone will be able to help..

I graduated from my sports therapy degree in summer 2011 and have been working since. I have been accepted to St. George's to start in March for a foundation degree in Paramedic science (my first degree was a BSc Hons.
I have enquired into further funding by SLC as I find it unfair students deliberately fail exams to reset them to boost their overall degree mark and takes them 4 years - I went straight through with no failures but cannot claim for any more help. Also, this is a professional qualification, it turns out my old degree was a lot of Mickey Mouse and not a lot of substance.... And therefore in my eyes was a total waste of 3 years and all that money!!

I don't think I am eligible for my scholarships or bursaries as the family income is over the threshold, and I don't think the NHS can help with a bursary as it is not an NHS funded course.

Has anyone had any experience of this? I have also been told about professional development loans but seem too good to be true!!

Any help or advice is much appreciated.

Kind regards

A very stressed out person!

Voyager2002

Ask the university, however, I don't think there are any sources of funding for people in your position.

fishforsale

Kduke4 wrote: »

Hi All,

You all seem to know you're stuff so hopefully someone will be able to help..

I graduated from my sports therapy degree in summer 2011 and have been working since. I have been accepted to St. George's to start in March for a foundation degree in Paramedic science (my first degree was a BSc Hons.
I have enquired into further funding by SLC as I find it unfair students deliberately fail exams to reset them to boost their overall degree mark and takes them 4 years - I went straight through with no failures but cannot claim for any more help. Also, this is a professional qualification, it turns out my old degree was a lot of Mickey Mouse and not a lot of substance.... And therefore in my eyes was a total waste of 3 years and all that money!!

I don't think I am eligible for my scholarships or bursaries as the family income is over the threshold, and I don't think the NHS can help with a bursary as it is not an NHS funded course.

Has anyone had any experience of this? I have also been told about professional development loans but seem too good to be true!!

Any help or advice is much appreciated.

Kind regards

A very stressed out person!

I do engineering, a real degree, your sports therapy degree is near worthless and can be passed by nearly anyone, dont patronise any of us who need to repeat a year because our course is hard

King regards

Voyager2002

fishforsale wrote: »

I do engineering, a real degree, your sports therapy degree is near worthless and can be passed by nearly anyone, dont patronise any of us who need to repeat a year because our course is hard

King regards

Engineering is neither more nor less of a "real" degree than any other subject. Sure, you end up being more able to solve partial differential equations than the typical bloke down the 'pub, but too many engineers are virtually illiterate, unaware of the politics of the countries that provide the key components for the products they design; incapable of writing a closely-argued essay that would meet the standards for publication in an academic journal; unable to appreciate a play or poem in a foreign language. In other words, lacking in the basic skills that one could reasonably expect from someone who had been to university for three years.

I do agree that the OP's comments about people repeating a year were unfortunate. As a matter of fact, most universities cap the results that can be gained on a resit, so that someone who has repeated a year can only gain a lower-class degree, so the OP is simply wrong on that score.

Person_one

fishforsale wrote: »

I do engineering, a real degree, your sports therapy degree is near worthless and can be passed by nearly anyone, dont patronise any of us who need to repeat a year because our course is hard

King regards

40% is a pass, I can't imagine that its possible to really try your best and only get 40%, when you must have been intelligent enough to get the A level grades and through the selection process.

Sure you weren't just busy having a good time? :cool:

OP, Paramedic Science used to be one the courses that was exempt from the rules about second degrees. You could get an NHS bursary and there were no fees to bay, is this not the case anymore?

Person_one

Voyager2002 wrote: »

too many engineers are virtually illiterate, unaware of the politics of the countries that provide the key components for the products they design; incapable of writing a closely-argued essay that would meet the standards for publication in an academic journal; unable to appreciate a play or poem in a foreign language. In other words, lacking in the basic skills that one could reasonably expect from someone who had been to university for three years.

While I think this is a bit harsh, I've thanked it because my !!!!!! ex was an engineer and it made me chuckle! :rotfl:

Dunroamin

Person_one wrote: »

40% is a pass, I can't imagine that its possible to really try your best and only get 40%, when you must have been intelligent enough to get the A level grades and through the selection process.

Sure you weren't just busy having a good time? :cool:

OP, Paramedic Science used to be one the courses that was exempt from the rules about second degrees. You could get an NHS bursary and there were no fees to bay, is this not the case anymore?

I believe that there may be some local funding between individual ambulance service trusts and universities but, in general, paramedic degrees don't attract NHS finances.

Person_one

Dunroamin wrote: »

I believe that there may be some local funding between individual ambulance service trusts and universities but, in general, paramedic degrees don't attract NHS finances.

That's changed in the last few years then, when it was a two year diploma it was eligible for NHS funding from the now defunct SHA and a non means tested bursary. I wonder if the numbers applying will be affected.

viviavis

It is good for you that get the second degree.