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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go to university again?

114 replies

hopelessandhopeful · 09/06/2018 19:49

I am married with 3 DCs aged 5 and under. I have a university place for September 2019.

I'm currently a SAHM, DH earns 21k as of last month, for years it has been around 19k. We rent and just got our first car in February. We have about 12k debt. We both have degrees, but I need another one to do a degree which will enable me to work in the NHS and also independently if I wanted to.

AIBU to prolong our debt status by going back to university, graduating when our DCs will be 10, 9 and 7?

I can't decide whether it is best to do it now and get it out of the way, or do it later when it's more convenient. The catch is, our youngest doesn't go to school until 2020 and even with the 30 hours, RTW now when I've had a long career break to a decent wage will be difficult. Unless I go full time I won't be able to work in my previous sector, so I am left with very little prospects unless I give up my time with my DCs.

So, AIBU going to uni?

OP posts:
Apehouse · 09/06/2018 19:51

I think you should go for it if it is manageable for your family.

Singlenotsingle · 09/06/2018 19:52

How will you have time, with 3 small DC?
How will you manage financially?
What does your dh think?

Snape · 09/06/2018 19:52

I don't see a negative in improving education, it's a short term struggle for long term financial gain. Go for it!

N2986 · 09/06/2018 19:53

I would do it if it's affordable for you

Empoweredwomenempowerwomem · 09/06/2018 19:53

My mum did this and I’m considering the same! What course are you interested in?

Original poster
hopelessandhopeful · 09/06/2018 19:55

I have a place on a Speech and Language Therapy course. It may sound cheesy, but I feel it's what I was born to do.

OP posts:
FASH84 · 09/06/2018 19:55

Education is always good, but a family of five with three young children on 21k is going to be a struggle, and it's not like the will be extra cash for paid childcare so you get some study time. Is there nothing you can do work wise until all DCs are school age in the same field that will give you relevant experience and then do your second degree? You are not going to be prolonging your debt but adding to it, if working you could pay it off before you study again.

Justanewname · 09/06/2018 19:56

The big issue is going to be can you afford to go back to uni? You will need a fair amount of childcare to do an nhs course which tend to involve full time hours over 45 weeks of the year unlike normal courses. On your husbands salary you probably won’t get any childcare allowance from student funding sources and unless you also work part time you won’t be eligible for the childcare element of tax credits. Do you have supportive family who might help?

ladybirdsaredotty · 09/06/2018 19:56

I'm considering similar but might wait until mine are a couple of years older (currently 6, 4, 7mo). I can't decide either!

Original poster
hopelessandhopeful · 09/06/2018 20:00

I've worked out all of the financials already, and yes we can afford to in theory. Reality is different though, I guess, but that's not something I can predict.

OP posts:
EurusHolmes · 09/06/2018 20:01

How will you afford the fees? Wouldn't it be £9k a year, minimum? As far as I know you can't have a student loan again

Original poster
hopelessandhopeful · 09/06/2018 20:03

You can for certain healthcare and STEM courses, they are ELQ exempt.

OP posts:
OddBoots · 09/06/2018 20:05

I can't work out your comment with regard to 30 hours but if you are talking about getting the 30 hour funded term time hours, I'm not sure you will qualify as a student.

Original poster
hopelessandhopeful · 09/06/2018 20:06

Due to low income, which will be based on the tax year of 2017-18 for the first year, we should get the full maintenance loan of 8k ish. Then the rest of the childcare topped up with the childcare grant as our income was 19k.

In the second year and 3rd year we won't get anything childcare grant wise as all DCs will be in school, so after school club will be funded out of the maintenance loan.

Then council tax discount of 25% and housing benefit (students with dependents are eligible).

OP posts:
Original poster
hopelessandhopeful · 09/06/2018 20:07

I can't work out your comment with regard to 30 hours but if you are talking about getting the 30 hour funded term time hours, I'm not sure you will qualify as a student.

I meant if I return to work now (RTW as I wrote.) No you don't get 30 hours as a student.

OP posts:
Original poster
hopelessandhopeful · 09/06/2018 20:07

We will also still receive tax credits due to DH working and child benefit.

OP posts:
Ishouldntbesolucky · 09/06/2018 20:11

I'm assuming it's just a year's course? In which case, go for it.

Original poster
hopelessandhopeful · 09/06/2018 20:12

It's 3 years.

OP posts:
HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 09/06/2018 20:13

What are your options for working now?

What type of debt is the 12k? Student loan/ credit card? How much is the interest?

Ishouldntbesolucky · 09/06/2018 20:14

Actually, I've just read your latest crossed that mine crossed with. Why do you need to do 3 years if you already have a degree? Are you not eligible for the 2 year postgraduate course?

DrCoconut · 09/06/2018 20:14

Is the threshold for childcare grant much higher now? When we were in a similar position between 2013 and 2015 you had to be absolutely on the bones of your arse to get it. We didn't qualify and as ExDH was a full time student we didn't get childcare help from tax credits either.

Miladamermalada · 09/06/2018 20:15

Can you get a postgrad qualification i.e. a Masters rather than a BSc course?

Original poster
hopelessandhopeful · 09/06/2018 20:15

No I'm not, there isn't one. SLT is a complex profession, you can't learn it accelerated.

OP posts:
xoguineas · 09/06/2018 20:15

If you can afford it, 100% do it.

Miladamermalada · 09/06/2018 20:16

Not accelerated so to speak, graduates do medicine in 4 rather than 5, nursing in 2 rather than 3. OT can be a masters degree over 2 years.