Postgraduate info please...Scotland

wordsfan

Hi

I am 42 and went to uni in England as a mature student 2003-2006. I achieved BA(Hons) Degree in English Literature and Language.

Unfortunately I had a breakdown just before completing my course. I had high enough marks that I was able to graduate and have my degree certificate and transcript.

Originally I was planning to do PGCE straight after Uni and become a High School teacher.

What actually happened was I took a holiday to visit family in Scotland (Its where my family are from), was persuaded to just stay here basically. I worked full time initially but as I'm also a single mum it was too much at that time and I stopped for fear of becoming ill again.

Since then I have been on benefits. I still am interested in becoming a teacher but would also like to consider becoming a college or university lecturer. This may involve doing a masters, perhaps also a doctorate.

I just want to know if anyone can tell me how student funding in Scotland works or can signpost me to websites re this?

Thanks in advance

tomtontom

Student funding at postgraduate level is scarce, with the exception of the PGCE and some NHS/ social work courses. As a prospective pg student, surely you should be researching what might be available yourself?

wordsfan

I will of course do my own research too, but my experience as an undergraduate student was that much of what IS available is not or is scarcely advertised. Experience is always a great teacher.

tomtontom

wordsfan wrote: »

I will of course do my own research too, but my experience as an undergraduate student was that much of what IS available is not or is scarcely advertised. Experience is always a great teacher.

Your experience is out of date, funding advice is readily available online, in terms of student finance, course specific funding and charitable sources. Why not do your research and then post what you find, see if people can add to it rather than doing the work for you?

agrinnall

What grade of degree did you get? Many Masters courses (although not all) will want at least a 2:1, and the few that come with funding are likely to require that to get an award. And it would be rare for a funded PhD to be available to someone without a 2:1/1st or a good Masters.

If you're unable to cope with employment do you think you are ready to consider postgraduate study? I can tell you from personal experience that a full time Masters is very hard work, and while some of my classmates (all of whom were a fair bit younger than me) were able to do some part time work there's no way I would have been able to, and as a single mum it may be a struggle for you just to get the course work and assignments done.

Voyager2002

The competition for academic jobs in Literature is just incredible. Unless you were the kind of student who could get a first-class grade without really trying and collected all the prizes on offer, don't even think of this as a career option.

Teachers in FE colleges train by doing a PGCE. There are some PGCE courses that are specific to FE, but these are not recommended since they limit the range of jobs open to you. Many successful college lecturers are simply school teachers who got jobs in colleges...

A Masters degree is unlikely to be of much practical use to a future teacher: funding is effectively non-existent but if you have the money and want to spend it on a year of study rather than a new kitchen, that is up to you.

Mrs_Soup

I think you need to decide which you want to do and follow that path as they are very different. You could potentially need only a year of training to be a teacher by doing PGCE or even on the job training in a school, some of these places are even paid. You can also get a fee loan for PGCe and possibly a bursary depending on your subject and the class of your degree.
To become a university lecturer you would probably need a masters and a PhD. Masters degrees cost about 5-10 K fees full time. PhD funding in arts subjects is extremely scarce and fees at my uni are about 3K per year for at least 3 years. So this route you are looking at minimum 4 years more study full time (longer part time) and fees of 20K plus. It is possible to do masters and PhD part time while working to support yourself but obviously it takes longer. And yes most masters courses will require you to have at least a 2.1 and most PhDs will want you to have done a masters first.

LL30

Just to give you a different perspective:

I got a drinkers degree 10 years ago (good old 2:2!). I worked for 8 years or so, but unfortunately acquired a disability just after I'd applied for my Masters in Social Work (which was funded by NHS bursary - this has just changed last year). The MA application said I needed a 2:1 to apply, but my experience over rode this requirement, and I was accepted (and it's a v good Uni).

Roll on nearly two years later, and despite my disability, and being a single Mum, I have nearly finished - I just have the last few months to go on placement. To top it all off, I've done it with a distinction and today I went to discuss PhD opportunities. Not for one second did I EVER think I could achieve this before, I nearly pulled out of the MA when I got ill. It's been brutal at times, and it's not quite over yet, but I am very close now.

Have you thought about some voluntary work in Schools to start with? Small steps at first and take it from there.

wordsfan

I am at this stage considering all my options so I can try and make the right decision. My degree is unclassified due to incomplete assignments due to being ill. But my marks are equivalent to 2:1 and even a few firsts. I'd like to complete my degree by making up the marks but I would have to pay fees myself plus I've already had a conversation with the recruitment officer at Strathclyde Uni who has checked with the relevant authority and it is suffice to entry requirement for PGDE (scots equivalent to PGCE). Work experience in a high school is not demanded but improves my chances when applying.

To wit I am in the process of the incredibly difficult task of writing my personal statement and have a letter ready to go to my local high schools asking for work experience.

Voyager2002

wordsfan wrote: »

I am at this stage considering all my options so I can try and make the right decision. My degree is unclassified due to incomplete assignments due to being ill. But my marks are equivalent to 2:1 and even a few firsts. I'd like to complete my degree by making up the marks but I would have to pay fees myself plus I've already had a conversation with the recruitment officer at Strathclyde Uni who has checked with the relevant authority and it is suffice to entry requirement for PGDE (scots equivalent to PGCE). Work experience in a high school is not demanded but improves my chances when applying.

To wit I am in the process of the incredibly difficult task of writing my personal statement and have a letter ready to go to my local high schools asking for work experience.

That is good: you seem well on your way to a rewarding career.

Voyager2002

Mrs_Soup wrote: »

I
To become a university lecturer you would probably need a masters and a PhD. Masters degrees cost about 5-10 K fees full time. PhD funding in arts subjects is extremely scarce and fees at my uni are about 3K per year for at least 3 years. So this route you are looking at minimum 4 years more study full time (longer part time) and fees of 20K plus. It is possible to do masters and PhD part time while working to support yourself but obviously it takes longer. And yes most masters courses will require you to have at least a 2.1 and most PhDs will want you to have done a masters first.

You forgot to add that there are virtually no jobs at the end of all that. In a subject like English Literature, most of those determined souls who go through all the hard work and expense that you describe would end up having to find another career if they ever wanted a salary.