Mature students- How did you survive?!

[Wigglywagglyworm]

My dh needs to do a full time degree (no part time options). I’ve worked out that the max maintainence loan he can have is 8k. We have a mortgage and a child. The loan is just not enough (I earn 27k). We would lose his 21k salary and it’s not the kind of course where part time work is doable. I have read he might be entitled to another grant of 1k but I am so stressed out about it as that won’t help hugely either.

I want him to study and improve his working life. I want to support him financially and have a career. We don’t have an expensive house or lifestyle but the loans will leave us short about £200 a month. Only a small amount in savings.

Am I missing something? I know of some mature students who are single mums and study full time...how?! Is there more help out there than I can see?

If it comes to it he will try to do part time work but I don’t want this to kill him off and for him to fail his degree.

Is there anyone out there who has done this and managed to have some kind of balance? Any advice?

Thanks

What science degree is it? Is it an IBMS accredited or similar?
The summer break is usually quite long so he could potentially get 3-4 months work in that time, and wouldn't be taxed on that as he'd earn under the yearly threshold. He may be able to claim an additional childcare grant.

I'm doing Biomedicine at Birkbeck in the evenings, on a full time basis (3 evenings per week plus 20-ish hours home study). I work full-time alongside it as we have a mortgage and our house needs work, so I didn't want to reduce our income. It's not IBMS accredited unfortunately, but that's ok for my career plan.
After some debate I've accepted a place on an unrelated grad scheme (accountancy) as I don't think I could hack a PhD (financially or the intense study of one area for that long).

The summer break is usually quite long so he could potentially get 3-4 months work

I just stress that he won’t be able to find a job during the holidays

What science degree is it? Is it an IBMS accredited or similar?

“BSC Biological Sciences” yes it is an accredited course. It has modules of great interest to him. The open day we went to was very useful, lots of a flexibility with the aspects of study.

They were reluctant to tell us the exact days obviously but I am hoping it’s only actually 2 or 3 days in uni then own study time so he might be able to do a day a week in his old job!

I feel more positive now, thanks all. I know it will be bloody hard but sometimes you have to take a risk in life.

Just checked and it is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology.

I started a science degree part time as a mature student and quickly transferred to full time because it wasn't that much extra. I was single, living in a house share (£320 per month bills included) and worked in a pub 25 hours a week and another 5 cleaning on a Sunday morning. I managed, but the last half of the final year was a real struggle for time.

Is he taking a foundation year? Do you live in an area with reasonably good employment in supermarkets etc?

I did a social work masters. I worked part time despite it being a full time course and doing 2 100 day (6month) placements.

We also rented out our spare room.

It was hard. I got no maintenance loan, though fees were paid.

It was 2 years and totally worth it.

The following year, DH did a masters and worked part time as a teacher. It was hell. But necessary.

I think you need to spend as long as you can (a year etc) living as close to living off just your salary as you possibly can.

It’ll give you an idea of what sort of lifestyle is possible, as well as allowing you to save as much as you can.

I was a mature student (age 44 when I started my degree). I had a few part time jobs, I delivered Chinese meals two evenings a week, that kept the car on the road. I worked as a night watchman Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. I worked from 5pm to 8am so on a Monday went straight to uni, probably did a straight 30 hours without sleep but the wages helped feed my children. It can be done, it might be tough but it is worth doing. Night shift can be great as pay can be good and no clash with uni.

Meant to add that whatever the administration tell you he has to be doing, take it with a pinch of salt until he's actually there. They are used to talking to 18 year old undergrads who if they told them it was only 18 hours contact time wouldn't turn up to the lab sessions or realise that it IS a full time commitment. Not all staff can adjust to taking to responsible adults, and I know I had several different conversations about how practical it would have been too work around my course, ranging from "No it'd impossible" to "of course, just know that there will be times you'll be needed in the lab on what you might normally consider a day off from uni, and that the workload is full time, but you're am adult with life experience, stay organised and you'll be fine!"

Well it's quite simple he has to get a part time job!
Other people do it so there is no reason why he can't if he wants the degree that badly.
When I did my degree at 45 (healthcare) I worked in nursing homes every single weekend and in all of the holidays right up to the end of the 3rd year.
I had a mortgage to pay, a big one and my then husband had been made redundant and couldn't get (too lazy) another job.
It was very exhausting but anything good is worth making sacrifices for.
£200 a month is a very small amount of money for him to find and easily doable.
He will just have to do all his studying in the evenings like the rest of us.
Don't mollycoddle him.

Is he taking a foundation year? Do you live in an area with reasonably good employment in supermarkets etc?

They have said he can do the access course instead of a foundation year. They gave us all the requirements and the college will do it.

We live in a town but he would be studying in the city he works in and yes, there will be jobs. It’s just the unknown isn’t it! Terrifying!

Don’t mollycoddle him

I am a bit. Our daughter is 3.5 and we fought long and hard to be able to have her. It’s actually more me I think. He is a hard worker and always has been but I will have to step up more and I have a demanding career. We are at completely different stages in our careers! I don’t give him enough credit.

We told the uni that he can’t afford not to work. They really did pull that “oh dear” face at the idea of him working and studying. Although as a pp said, perhaps that is better suited to 18year olds... I did a “full time” degree and worked my days off.

If he wants the option of the NHS biomedical sciencist scheme, then he needs to do an IBMS accredited degree or be prepared to complete additional units afterwards.
An undergraduate biomedical degree alone is unlikely to get him much more than a lab tech job without additional study or getting onto a graduate scheme such as the NHS one.
I recommend looking into post-grad routes first, to make sure the degree fits his plans, as I know some students on my course who didn't realise about the IBMS accreditation until partway through and were very disappointed.
Not trying to be a party pooper, I wish him the best of luck, but the right or wrong undergraduate degree can impact future options.

He can get a childcare grant of up to 85% of costs if one of your large outgoings is childcare? Sorry if this has already been mentioned, haven't RTFT yet.

Absolutely agree, he is sure biomedicine will not be for him though. The uni do biomedical degrees separately and he has avoided that! To be honest it’s all over my head...talk to me about Shakespeare and I’m fine but Science...

Mummy- our daughter will be in school so only about £170 a month childcare. Would they still help with that?

Yes they can still help no matter how little it is. Plus it's a grant so it doesn't have to be paid back. I'm assuming the extra grant you mentioned is Parents Learning Allowance? The university may also have scholarships, bursaries or a hardship fund.

If he does no housework or childcare itll be a doddle. Thats what i found so difficult; balancing work, study, kids, housework.

I did a full-time Masters where I was one of the oldest on the course at 30. I saved for a year before leaving my job, then worked Saturdays, some Sundays and the occasional weeknight in a cafe. I was also lucky to have some money from my parents too, which I was hugely grateful for. I took out a Career Development Loan for the fees which I’m unfortunately still paying off now!

During the last four months or so (dissertation time) I got a slightly better part-time job where I worked full days three or four days a week. My uni tutors told me this was a bad idea and that I really needed all that time to write my dissertation but honestly, that was nonsense. I had more than enough time to write and I still went out and did plenty of socialising too. I have no idea what my coursemates who didn’t have jobs did to fill their time for all those months! So I would take it with a pinch of salt when the uni say he won’t be able to work on top of the course. If he’s used to working full time then I think he could definitely manage it.

Remember he’ll have long holidays - especially a 10-12 week summer break - so he can work then. Factor in those earnings to your calculations.

He will definitely be doing housework! He won’t worm out of that! But yes, we should find it easier. No plans for more children and she will be at school.

Can I just say how in awe I am of those of you who did this with less money and support! I hope you are reaping the rewards as you deserve to

So I would take it with a pinch of salt when the uni say he won’t be able to work on top of the course. If he’s used to working full time then I think he could definitely manage it.

Thank you, this is what I was thinking and one of the reasons I posted. I wanted to hear real life experiences. I imagine it’s ok some of the year then more stressful when deadlines approach etc but I am pleased to hear that working is at least doable!

To be perfectly honest most people either study before having children when living costs are cheaper or do so when the children are older/they are more financially settled. Its admirable to want to improve your career prospects and learn but be careful it's really the right time for you to be doing this as a family as it will be very very tough. I am doing my masters part time while working fulltime (no children) and that's hard enough (honestly couldn't imagine doing it with kids!) Vast majority of my colleagues will either have studied pre-kids or done it when the kids are older.

I am lucky that my masters is funded by my workplace but even if it wasn't I would still be able to pay for it, I wouldn't have any money to put into savings each month but I also wouldn't be dipping into savings either. I wouldn't want to do that but if I had to I could and I could survive for the 3 years of my masters doing that (although I'd be constantly worried about what happens if something bad happens and I have to use my savings for something.)(

Dh did it Science too, so was at university about 8.40 - 5 each day. With travel added on, he was out the house 6.45 - about 6.15 / 6.30 each day. He also worked 3 nights a week in a bar. I was working FT with a toddler, then a toddler and a baby.
It was bloomin' hard, but so worth it.
Most degrees are only 3 years (might be 4) if it doesn't turn into a masters or PhD. It is to benefit the next 30 years. It has to be worth it.
Skin back spending then skin it back some more - tbh, you are too knackered to go out anyway - It might be worth talking to your mortgage lender to see if you can go interest only for the duration of the degree ?