Second degree takers - funding changes heads up

Oldernotwiser

mark1024 wrote: »

Perhaps you should write a letter to the local paper telling people your opinions.

This site is primarily aimed at helping people deal with their finances, offer advice, and save money. In other words, being helpful.

It's also a place for free discussion and I, for one, would not wish to see that stifled. Other posters have been discussing why they think the changes are a bad idea so I can't see why the opposite can't be expressed.

mark1024

Because the people affected by this sudden change in government policy, those people wanting to forge their futures through education, are having a hard time right now.

Telling them 'tough', implying that they are, as likely as not, fickle, and bringing up that old cliche of perpetual students, shows both a complete lack of understanding of aspiration and, more importantly in the context of this web site, is unhelpful.

I started this thread to advise people of an unadvertised, little discussed measure brought in under the radar, which will wipe out many dreams of retraining. Perhaps you could try to imagine what that must feel like, and how unhelpful some comments may be should you find yourself in that situation.

Well meaning advice is one thing, but much of what passes on this web site falls well short.

sparklygirl_2

My first degree is Physiotherapy from which I graduated in 2004. Of the few parts of this degree that I did enjoy, then my mental health work placement was one of them. I found it fascinating. I also have further experience of working with people with mental health issues.

The career I want is to do is Clinical Psychology. The training route for this is an honours degree in psychology, followed by relevant work experience/asst psychologist post, followed by a doctoral training course in clinical psychology.
I have looked into it a bit more today, plus I have read all of the reply posts on this thread. I do have possible options and I am now not seeing it as an impossible ambition
I am in it for the eventual career and not just to be able to go back to university.

The career I am in currently is one that I love and I have worked very very hard at to get where I am. But it is a short career and 8+ years from now I am unsure my body will be able to do what it does now to the same level (contortion and aerial). However, lucky for me, my work does leave me with the time to do both work and be able to study towards a future career.

Thankyou very much to the people that have replied to this thread with helpful advice. It is all very much appreciated.

Oldernotwiser

mark1024 wrote: »

I started this thread to advise people of an unadvertised, little discussed measure brought in under the radar, which will wipe out many dreams of retraining. Perhaps you could try to imagine what that must feel like, and how unhelpful some comments may be should you find yourself in that situation.

.

Considering in my day you got no guaranteed government funding AT ALL if you'd even dropped out of a course after one term, then I think you're aiming your comments at the wrong person. It's a comparatively recent development to be able to do a second undergraduate degree quite simply.

In addition I've suggested looking at alternatives to taking a completely new degree, which seems to me to be more helpful than just whinging about changes. Most of my work over the last few years has been to do with helping adults in education; I'm not unsympathetic (much less ignorant) but just practical.

Oldernotwiser

sparklygirl wrote: »

My first degree is Physiotherapy from which I graduated in 2004. Of the few parts of this degree that I did enjoy, then my mental health work placement was one of them. I found it fascinating. I also have further experience of working with people with mental health issues.

The career I want is to do is Clinical Psychology. The training route for this is an honours degree in psychology, followed by relevant work experience/asst psychologist post, followed by a doctoral training course in clinical psychology.
I have looked into it a bit more today, plus I have read all of the reply posts on this thread. I do have possible options and I am now not seeing it as an impossible ambition
I am in it for the eventual career and not just to be able to go back to university.

The career I am in currently is one that I love and I have worked very very hard at to get where I am. But it is a short career and 8+ years from now I am unsure my body will be able to do what it does now to the same level (contortion and aerial). However, lucky for me, my work does leave me with the time to do both work and be able to study towards a future career.

Thankyou very much to the people that have replied to this thread with helpful advice. It is all very much appreciated.

As you are already a graduate I'd suggest that you look at doing a Psychology conversion course which is offered by many universities, including the OU. As I said earlier, there's rarely a need for a graduate to start from scratch when changing careers.

bestpud

mark1024 wrote: »

Perhaps you should write a letter to the local paper telling people your opinions.

This site is primarily aimed at helping people deal with their finances, offer advice, and save money. In other words, being helpful.

Perhaps you could do the same?

It IS helpful to point out why second degrees are not going to be funded any more!

Plus, for every person who has carefully considered their options but has a genuine reason for wanting a different career, there will be many more who have just drifted into uni and bummed around for three years, because it was funded!!

Like it or not, HE is expanding and that means less state funding. If there is a limited pot available to HE then it is fairer to fund first timers over those who change their mind at a later date.

Now I don't agree with fees at all, but that is a whole different debate!

If you want advice on managing finances for people who may be funding their way through a second degree then there is plenty on this site. It is NOT helpful to moan about a situation which cannot be changed! Better to work with what you have imo.

Bamber19

Why should there be an entitlement to funding for a second degree? I understand that people can make mistakes when they're 17 or 18 but mistakes should be paid for. What really annoys me is when I hear about someone doing a degree with no direct career prospects, getting a 2:1 or a first and then starting another degree that is similarly lacking in direct career prospects, there's simply no point and it's going to be the same jobs that require "a degree" that you're going to be qualified for and you'll be no more employable than you were 3 years before. If someone has the desire to do that it should come out of their own pocket.

mark1024

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Considering in my day you got no guaranteed government funding AT ALL if you'd even dropped out of a course after one term, then I think you're aiming your comments at the wrong person. It's a comparatively recent development to be able to do a second undergraduate degree quite simply.

In addition I've suggested looking at alternatives to taking a completely new degree, which seems to me to be more helpful than just whinging about changes. Most of my work over the last few years has been to do with helping adults in education; I'm not unsympathetic (much less ignorant) but just practical.

I'm aiming my comments at the person who defended another post which was inaccurate and unhelpful. I am not winging about changes, I am reacting to an unhelpful post.

I also asked you to imagine yourself in the situation I described, which hopefully transcends your life experiences. Having said that, I'm all for pragmatism. I can see this thread going off on a tangent now, so lets agree to disagree, and as you can see I clearly disagree with your opinion on the worth of second degrees.

Just for information, I first graduated twenty years ago myself.

holly_vegas

Anyone any idea what this needs for student nurses?

mark1024

bestpud wrote: »

Perhaps you could do the same?

It IS helpful to point out why second degrees are not going to be funded any more!

Plus, for every person who has carefully considered their options but has a genuine reason for wanting a different career, there will be many more who have just drifted into uni and bummed around for three years, because it was funded!!

Like it or not, HE is expanding and that means less state funding. If there is a limited pot available to HE then it is fairer to fund first timers over those who change their mind at a later date.

Now I don't agree with fees at all, but that is a whole different debate!

If you want advice on managing finances for people who may be funding their way through a second degree then there is plenty on this site. It is NOT helpful to moan about a situation which cannot be changed! Better to work with what you have imo.

Why would I do that. I have tried to warn people about changes, not pass off my opinions about degree funding, layabout students, and the national pot.

My opinions are different from many of the most vocal on this board, apparently.