Should I finish my degree? How?

[inmysitu]

Change of username because outing to anyone who knows me.

I am a first time mum, in my mid 20s, currently on mat leave and due back later this year.

I work in the public sector currently in a job that I mostly enjoy. The salary is good for the role it is and the flexibility I get back. Things have changed now however and my priorities are at home. I really don’t want to return after maternity leave and can’t bear the thought of leaving my baby. If I had the sort of job that I could step back into then my decision would be easier to make. The issue is, if I left then it would be hard to get back into my role as I got there on experience and interview rather than qualifications. I was partway through my degree when the pandemic hit and stupidly only completed it to Level 5 (Diploma of HE). I can pick this back up as it is distance learning but I am well aware that when I return to work, there will be not enough hours spare in the week as I’ll want to spend it all with my girl.

I am at such a crossroads. I could forget the rest of the degree and stay in my current job forever but wages are stagnating in the public sector and I don’t want to limit myself in the future because things can change. I could do my degree and be a SAHM for a while, but then it’s stepping out the game and my degree might never be needed anyway. I just feel I need it in the bank but it’s going to be very hard to do it when I RTW, because all I’m going to want to do is spend my spare time with my daughter.

DH will support anything I want to do but works long hours himself. We can’t afford for me to be totally a SAHM for very long, and I want a sense of purpose from a career too but maybe there would be an easier time to pick up the last year of my degree than now? What do you think? Sorry it’s rambling!

I'm long term self employed, and have gone to uni very late in life, so advice is based on general knowledge and what I'd be telling my DD's to think about.

Hopefully answering you will get others with more applicable knowledge to come along soon.

I think it may partly depend on what the degree is, and if it's one you need to use within a year of graduating for it to mean much or not, and if it's funded by SFE...

If it's funded by SFE do you actually want to use up that last years funding on what you've already got an HE dip in, or possibly leave yourself open to be able to go after an entirely different degree only having to find two years fees later on? (life will be so very different in ten years time, and you'll still be young enough to entirely change track)

It may help if you can say what the degree is in, or at least a general idea as it will help people to know if it will age well if unused for a time...
ie a computing degree or science degree will become out of date quickly if unused and harder to brush up on than say a fine art degree or a degree in theater costume...

You say you're at liberty to just pick up the 3rd year of the degree, because it's on-line, but have you checked that there isn't too long a gap, (or about to be which might make your decision) or issues if you've already cashed in foe a HE dip?

Moving jobs on a career ladder straight after maternity is not generally a good idea, and certainly not a strong base generally for salary negotiation; you want 6 to 9 months back first and to build currency on your reference.

If you are going to step out to be a SAHM and to finish your degree, I'm afraid that would be the minimum sensible timeline to do it, not right now.

As someone already in there, and sounding like above an entry level position, your employment history may actually be more valuable than a degree depending on exactly what your sector is.

In general I think it’s vital to keep up your earning power, so I wouldn’t take so much time out you can’t jump back in.

Assuming the degree is worth while then I’d give yourself a year off after you go back and once your baby is older and you have a routine going, then finish your degree then. Obviously if you need it sooner you’ll have to grit your teeth and do it pronto, but doesn’t sound like that’s the case.