Gaining Qualifications

rickslick

Hello was just looking for some advice really. I feel like i finally come to that point in my life where I'm sick to death of being stuck in jobs that i just don't enjoy.

I want to try and learn a course in something that I'm interested in like criminology, law, psychology that sort of thing. But I don't know where to start really and plus with work commitments how good are those distance learning courses. Do they offer good value for money and can they offer real job opportunities afterwards.

falko89

rickslick wrote: »

Hello was just looking for some advice really. I feel like i finally come to that point in my life where I'm sick to death of being stuck in jobs that i just don't enjoy.

I want to try and learn a course in something that I'm interested in like criminology, law, psychology that sort of thing. But I don't know where to start really and plus with work commitments how good are those distance learning courses. Do they offer good value for money and can they offer real job opportunities afterwards.

Hi, I am doing a degree with the OU in computer programming. It can be tough at the start to motivate yourself but you soon get into the swing of things. I love it but as for real job opportunities I am in year 3 now, which should get me at least an entry level position but its not happening, I am to far though to back out now so I am sticking it out. I'm sure I won't be the first factory worker to get a degree.

hawk30

If you are interested in law, take a look at the CILEx qualifications. Www.cilex.org.uk

May I ask what qualifications you have so far, as this have impact on your choices.

rickslick

hawk30 wrote: »

If you are interested in law, take a look at the CILEx qualifications. Www.cilex.org.uk

May I ask what qualifications you have so far, as this have impact on your choices.

Hi many thanks for the link. I only have gcses as qualifications. A in English, b in maths that sort of thing.

fishybusiness

I want to try and learn a course in something that I'm interested in like criminology, law, psychology that sort of thing

Criminology - voluntary work almost essential to gain a job in this area, for ex prison service, youth offending, probation.

Psychology - working within psych will need a BPS accredited psych degree, plus voluntary work, perhaps related experience, and most probably Masters level quals.

Dedication, financial support and real interest all needed for above careers.

The only real distance learning option for higher education (i.e career enhancing quals) is the Open University, especially for the subject areas you are talking about.

For more arty subjects, you could look at the Open College of Arts...

http://www.oca-uk.com/

hawk30

Ok, your qualifications would not be a bar to the CILEx route, which can be done by distance learning. You would, however, need to find work in the legal sector to obtain your qualifying employment, which most people do alongside the academic qualifications. There are also a number of legal apprenticeships around, which might suit you.

You would likely struggle to get into law going the traditional route (e.g. Law degree and postgrad qual), as it is highly competitive. Don't make the mistake of thinking that law will get you mega bucks - it most likely won't.

jacques_chirac

fishybusiness wrote: »

The only real distance learning option for higher education (i.e career enhancing quals) is the Open University, especially for the subject areas you are talking about

Not true at all, many traditional universities offer distance learning courses now. The OP should shop around to see which are best suited to his needs.

fishybusiness

Not true at all, many traditional universities offer distance learning courses now. The OP should shop around to see which are best suited to his needs.

Agreed, many universities do offer online learning, many are postgrad and short courses.

Specific to psychology, the BPS say "There are only two online BSc (Hons) Psychology degrees in the UK that have been accredited by The British Psychological Society,"

What I was getting at is that OU are a known entity, with quals that carry weight, I wouldn´t like to recommend any others.

agrinnall

fishybusiness wrote: »

What I was getting at is that OU are a known entity, with quals that carry weight, I wouldn´t like to recommend any others.

You might not like to, but many universities' distance learning qualifications are in fact exactly the same as their traditionally taught ones (including those offered by the university where I earned a Masters degree and where I now work).

RosaBernicia

agrinnall wrote: »

You might not like to, but many universities' distance learning qualifications are in fact exactly the same as their traditionally taught ones (including those offered by the university where I earned a Masters degree and where I now work).

The course content may be similar, but the quality of teaching can differ drastically depending how much tutor contact and group discussion you can get via eg. online.

I did my Masters part time while working, and although I considered switching to the distance learning modules I had already seen and been warned that there was nowhere near the same level of support, which makes it much harder to get decent grades. It would be sensible to look carefully at the format of the course and ask for info on comparison with the classroom based version.


Rosa xx

fishybusiness

You might not like to, but many universities' distance learning qualifications are in fact exactly the same as their traditionally taught ones (including those offered by the university where I earned a Masters degree and where I now work).

Perhaps it would be good to hear from anyone that has studied OP´s course interests online?