Feel trapped in my employer sponsored degree

ally1495

I’m currently studying a uni degree alongside my full time job, and my employer is paying. I’ve not been happy for a while and it’s really effecting my mental health, I’ve just started my 2nd year and all I want to do is quit them both and start fresh but I don’t have the money to re-pay the uni fee’s, I feel so trapped and really don’t know what to do or what my options are 

marcia_

ally1495 said:

I’m currently studying a uni degree alongside my full time job, and my employer is paying. I’ve not been happy for a while and it’s really effecting my mental health, I’ve just started my 2nd year and all I want to do is quit them both and start fresh but I don’t have the money to re-pay the uni fee’s, I feel so trapped and really don’t know what to do or what my options are 

 Talk to your employer. It's likely they could set up a repayment plan rather than paying in one go.
 But that'll be the end of your studies and you'll need to find a new job where you don't need a the degree. 

pjcox2005

Before you speak to your employer, have a chat with someone else around mental health and also why you feel this way. What's changed - is it the pressure of doing a job and degree, is it one of them rather than the other which is causing the stress, have you just decided that's not for you and will that last or are you impacting future for the short term.

If you can work that out and be able to articulate it with employer then that will be more useful.

Lomast

Not sure who you are studying with but speak to student support, they are experienced in helping students through these sorts of issues.

[Deleted User]

The University should have someone in place to assist. Hope it works out for you!

Marcon

ally1495 said:

I’m currently studying a uni degree alongside my full time job, and my employer is paying. I’ve not been happy for a while and it’s really effecting my mental health, I’ve just started my 2nd year and all I want to do is quit them both and start fresh but I don’t have the money to re-pay the uni fee’s, I feel so trapped and really don’t know what to do or what my options are 

Feeling 'trapped' almost always exacerbates any negative feelings, because you are in danger of convincing yourself that there's no way out, so it can only get worse, and guess what? You feel worse. 

If you've not been happy for a while, what has changed? Presumably you wanted to take the degree course and weren't talked into it by your employer? Either way the fact your employer agreed to stump up the fees suggests they see you as a valuable employee they'd like to keep, so talking to them once you've through through what you would like to do/can cope with is an essential next step in the escape plan.

Escape doesn't have to be throwing in the towel on both job and course. Could taking a year out of the degree course help? Would working slightly fewer hours (say 9 days a fortnight) be feasible, both from your employer's point of view and your own finances, given it is likely to entail some sort of salary reduction?

You don't say how you are studying. If it is all long distance, with little actual interaction with other students and tutors on a personal basis, that's one heck of an ask. Could you continue your studies elsewhere, with a greater level of interaction, if that's what is making 'academic life' unappealing? 

Finally, mental health issues are a much bigger issue for far more people than was the case pre-COVID. A chat with your GP might be no bad idea, if only to ensure you have no physical condition underlying your mental health issues - and getting help with your mental health, too, which may be simpler and speedier than you envisage. Downward spirals tend to go on going down, but if you can at least stop the spiral effect, you may feel better able to cope with job, studies and life in general.

MalMonroe

Hi, I think it'd be a great idea for you to have a chat with Student Services at the university. They can help and advise you, most universities have a pastoral care department - that is a department to help with personal needs and problems. If you need to postpone your course, they can help you with that too. It may be that the repayment of any fees, should you actually decide to leave the course, can be transferred to you and treated as a student loan, which many students have and which don't have to be paid back until you earn a certain amount each year. My daughter had to leave uni because of illness at the start of her second year and her loan was halted but of course she has to pay it back, when she actually does start earning enough.

It'd also be good to speak to someone in HR at your job, if possible. As they are paying for your education, it would appear to be a large concern, or at the very least, you have quite a caring employer.

I really do feel that if you can speak to both uni and employer, you will feel as if a load has been lifted from your shoulders and I'm sure that some arrangements can be made.

Your employer, I'm sure, won't want you to be unhappy in your work or your studies. Not to mention they will feel as if they are wasting their money sending you to Uni if all you want to do is leave them and have a fresh start.

It's best to speak up now and ask for help. You just don't know what might be possible until you do - and your employer will thank you for being honest.