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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask what I can retrain as for little/no cost

10 replies

Toniandgit · 08/07/2017 12:21

I am single with 12 month old DD. I work 16 hours a week but want to go back to work full time once DD starts school. Although I have a fairly good job that is secure and that I enjoy, it isn't great pay (23,000 pro rata) and there is no opportunity for development. I want to progress professionally and financially so will need to retrain.

I would like to continue in the healthcare field and would consider something like radiography/ultrasound tech/occupational therapy/nursing but ideally would like to be a doctor. I know that I would have a good chance of getting into medical school as I was about to do the GAMSAT exam before getting pregnant with DD and was scoring very well on the practice exams. I don't know how possible a medical degree followed by the training would be as a single parent though.

I already have a BSc. but in something that probably wouldn't be of much use to me (it is healthcare-related but seen as 'alternative') which means I wouldn't be able to get another student loan etc. I'm not even sure what the current situation is with tuition fees.

Please can anyone offer advice or point me in the direction of some advice? Is there like a career advisory service for adults? I get so confused with the different pathways into jobs, different courses, cost, what funding I'd get etc. etc. that it's difficult to know how best to proceed. Many thanks in advance for any advice.

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BrieOnAnOatcake · 08/07/2017 12:26

Following. I have a psych degree .

i looked into OT but I'd need 30grand for the 3 year degree so that's not happening!!

Toniandgit · 08/07/2017 12:30

Brie I know, it's so discouraging isn't it. A friend said something about OT degree being free (or reduced tuition fees or something) at the moment as there's a shortage of takers but I couldn't find anything! It may be something local to her (Uni of Sussex) but I can't move because of DD and other commitments anyway.

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rizlett · 08/07/2017 12:31

Occupational Health might be an area to interest you?

BrieOnAnOatcake · 08/07/2017 12:31

It used to be when my friends trained ( I think with an nhs bursary!)

I emailed my local place to find out a couple of weeks ago and I could only go local too

ghostyslovesheets · 08/07/2017 12:32

degree apprenticeships (although not high in number) are open to existing graduates and pay you to learn - might be worth looking into?

Toniandgit · 08/07/2017 12:35

Thanks ghosty I'll have a look!

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LaurieFairyCake · 08/07/2017 12:36

Is radiology still bursaried?

Wormulonian · 08/07/2017 12:38

If you get into a postgrad med school course then you can get loans . You can now also get student finance Loans for MSc's (may open up Occupational therapy, nursing etc to you). For most healthcare courses you need to have done targeted work experience or voluntary work.

Check the NHS careers website they usually have good up to date advice. If you need to go to your local Uni then check their courses too. Although there are no longer NHS bursaries for initial training or tuition fee waivers for NHS careers many Universities offer bursaries/scholarships for students on a low income and also for dependents (usually £1-2.5k per year, sometimes a bit more in the first year it depends on the Uni) that are not declarable for Child Tax Credit - so you may be able to access those bursaries, plus CTC and a student maintenance loan. I don't know ow this impacts on HB.

Good luck

Toniandgit · 08/07/2017 12:54

wormulonian thank you, that's good advice. I was unsure what benefits, if any I could claim. I wouldn't be able to get hb though as I have a mortgage

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