Going back to university

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Bobbleowl90

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I know it’s common and plenty people do this when they’re older but just wondering how people actually manage to do it?

I already have a degree but I want to go back and retrain to be a children’s nurse or midwife. Obviously this means I wouldn’t be able to work full time as I currently do. How do people still pay their bills and survive?! Is it actually possible or just a dream?

There’s no way we could survive on just my husbands wage. Not sure what money id be entitled to. Just looking to hear from people who’ve done it themselves. Thank you 😊
 
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Norfolking Good

Norfolking Good

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I work in Education at a MH Trust and I would say the majority of the staff who apply for MH nursing through us are between mid twenties through is some cases early fifties. So long as you’re willing and understand the time commitment along with potential travel you’ll be fine. It’s such a worthwhile profession.
In our case a lot of them have done the 1 yr Foundation degree as part of their Assistant Practitioner role and then go on to do the 2 yr top up to qualify as a nurse. They do 2-3 days as a student nurse and then a few as their normal role so are paid.
I think they’ve brought back the bursary for nursing so it would be worth contacting the uni to see.
sorry for the essay and good luck x
 
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idk2

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Theres a lot of support available but its hard to find most the time.

As it'll be a post grad, you're entitled to student finance again (but I dont know if its for the duration of the course or just one year but that alone can be up to 8.5k a year, up to 10.5 if you're in London). You can also apply for a bursary and see if youre eligible for any govt support. If you have kids you get support for that too, I think thats through student finance or the govt but really not sure. Theres so many scholarships through universities themselves too so def have a look at the universities nearest to you and see what they offer. Its definitely achievable and such a worthwhile profession to go into!!
 
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Chewycinema

Chatty Member
When I was a student I did bank work to top up my bursary. At the time if I did two long days at the weekend I'd come away with around 250ish a week then have my bursary on top. I wouldnt always do that though depended on placement hours or what theory I was on. I qualified almost 6 years ago now though so a lot has changed.
I did a shortened course as I already had a "relevant" degree. When I started i was 23 I lived with my parents so didn't have high outgoings. But there were a lot of older people doing my program like it varied from 22 being the youngest to mid 50s!
 
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Mayday

VIP Member
Are you doing part-time or full-time studying? I know a few people doing a post-grad in nursing who do it over the course of two years, so it spaces things out a bit and gives them the opportunity to work part-time in a care home or mental health support alongside it. You'd also be able to get a nursing bursary and I think maintenance loans as you would've for undergrad. A lot of universities also offer bursaries for various things do - some dependant on household income and some not.
 
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vanillaswirl

Member
Hi, I may be able to help you out here.
I have done similar - not sure of your circumstances fully but you will receive another SF loan/maintenance loan for any allied health care degree so would be eligible for the full 3 years of an undergraduate degree.
So depending on your circumstances (Guessing that you're over 25) you will receive a minimum of around £10,500 per year in maintenance loan..more if you have children.
Then there is something called the NHS Learning support fund where you will be able to get a non-repayable sum of £5,000 per year (Again more if you have children) And depending on your speciality, you could get a further £1,000 per year...sadly not children's nursing or midwifery as both competitive courses to get places. It's on courses such as mental health nursing etc.
In addition to that, you may be eligible for any undergraduate bursary's at the university that you choose to study.
 
1001 others

1001 others

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I did at the tender age of 45! I borrowed against the equity in my house to do it, and I'm pleased I did. I still have a while to go and the costs are never-ending, but it will be worth it in the long run (for my happiness, sanity and earning potential). I pick up odd bits of work here and there from friends to help pay the bills (cleaning, shopping, minding kids, secretarial work ...). I say, do it! Life's too short to think "what if?"
 
LunaLovegood

LunaLovegood

Well-known member
Bobbleowl90 said:
I know it’s common and plenty people do this when they’re older but just wondering how people actually manage to do it?

I already have a degree but I want to go back and retrain to be a children’s nurse or midwife. Obviously this means I wouldn’t be able to work full time as I currently do. How do people still pay their bills and survive?! Is it actually possible or just a dream?

There’s no way we could survive on just my husbands wage. Not sure what money id be entitled to. Just looking to hear from people who’ve done it themselves. Thank you 😊
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I think that you get a bursary for training to be a nurse, not sure about a midwife though.
I’m currently doing my access to HE Science course via distance learning and hoping to go back to uni next year, but I only work 15 hours a week and they are very flexible so I can most probably still keep my job.

Do you think you’d be able to work less hours to keep a bit of money coming in and then just live more frugally? Obvs I don’t know your financial situation so no idea if this is something that would be feasible.