to consider selling my house to fund a degree?

[7654321j]

More of an 'am I being completely ridiculous?'

I went through school with undiagnosed dyslexia. My grades were all over the place, totally inconsistent and very little correlation to how much effort I'd put in, and ultimately, I dropped out of university in my final year.

There's always been a question over whether I'm autistic too. I have no friends and I haven't since I was a young child. I don't really fit in anywhere.

I've always worked in unskilled jobs but I find everything apart from the actual work difficult. I'm bored and I get frustrated when things are unfair/illogical/half arsed/pointless. I hate having no autonomy. I was managed out of my first workplace for poor social/communication skills.

I feel like even if a degree didn't lead to a more interesting job, I'd possibly benefit from the student support and social side of things but it's a huge amount of money to spend when I might not get anything out of it.

Is it an option worth thinking about or is it just a massive waste of money? When I dropped out, fees were £3k so it was reasonable to think 'I can always go back later' but now they've pretty much trebled, is it worth it?

My first response is my my god don’t sell your house to fund a degree. You’d be better off seeing if you can get a student loan. Or save.

What? Why wouldn't you get student finance?

Please don’t sell your house to fund your degree! Depending on your age, spend a few years saving and then whilst at uni get the biggest loan possible. Martin Lewis calls the repayments a ‘graduate tax’ as it just comes straight out of your pay so you don’t even see it. You never know if you’ll ever be able to buy again, don’t do it!!!

Open university?

Tell us what you are thinking of doing or are interested in and the hive mind will sort it for you.

(Rubs hands in glee)

No!!! Don’t sell your house!!

There are unfair, illogical, and apparently pointless things in every kind of job at every level, really.

No, I don't think it's worth selling your house to study on such an unfocused basis. If you had a career path in mind that you knew suited your drives and tendencies, that would be one thing, but it would still be a big financial risk compared to taking student loans and quite likely an own goal.

You need to start with what kind of work you think would suit you. You can be quite autonomous and logical in e.g. software engineering, and could teach yourself without a degree.

OP, I'm in my 50s, and working towards going to university next year. As I've never done a degree before (I messed up my A levels), I've been told I'm eligible for student loans, including the maintenance loan.

There are also bursaries and scholarships available at the university I want to go to, for mature students.

Look at the university you want to study at, and also look into student loans, I reckon you'd be eligible.

If you’ve already had student finance you will be funding a lot yourself.
I think selling a house for it would be very silly unless you are walking into a ££££ job after.

You may be eligible for one year of finance at least, as they'll fund an extra one for people who change course or take a break etc.

Or if you enroll on an integrated Masters you may get funding for the whole of that. I.e. a 4 year course that ends in you being awarded a masters, rather than a separate Bachelors and Masters.

Depends rather on what the degree would be in and where you'd do it but I would be wary of actually selling your house for a degree

I can't get loans because I've already been to university including using the extra year. I studied beyond the extra year and financed the last bit myself because I switched courses. I don't even qualify for the STEM second degree funding because I didn't finish my first.

I take home just short of £15k a year so I'll be saving for a very long time to save £30k. Even the OU isn't cheap anymore and I'm looking at lab based sciences so not a great thing to study via distance learning anyway.

I know it's a stupid idea really but being completely stuck in a soul destroying job (I know all jobs have pointless bits but a large part of my work is literally moving boxes around for somebody else to move them somewhere else for no good reason and then decide to make me move them back again two weeks later... and similar) will do that.

Specifically what are you interested in studying?

No absolutely not

@7654321j I didn't finish my first degree and got the second-degree stem funding, so a part-time science degree is possible you just won't get the living cost loan.
Also a university should find you someone at a better price for at least a dyslexia diagnosis so you could get DSA.

Please don’t sell your house, we did ten years ago because of a property crash and are unlikely to ever own our own home again. It’s really shit because we keep moving due to landlords wanting to move back into their houses or sell. It’s a nightmare to say the least.
Have you thought about renting your house out and renting a small flat that would give you extra finance?

You would still need to live somewhere even if you sold your house. The cost of the rent over the long term wouldn’t be worth it in my opinion. You’d have to find the money for a house deposit again to be back on the property ladder.

Don’t do it . Most people are working to get a house . I’d apply for jobs in the area you want to study in . Obviously not the job you’d do with a degree but perhaps something in the same industry ? You may find it’s not really for you anyway .
And I mean this kindly but what’s changed this time that makes you think you won’t quit again . You’re still the same person with the same personality.

OP I understand how you feel but
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Absolutely not. Sorry, that’s a crazy idea.

“ I'd possibly benefit from the student support and social side of things but it's a huge amount of money to spend when I might not get anything out of it.”

From what you say about yourself, I think it would get on your nerves.

I know an MA student who did a bloody treasure hunt in her induction week because it was meant to be “fun” and help her get to know fellow students.

Could you contact your old uni and look into doing one year there - perhaps they would let you finish your old degree?

Nope don't sell your house...

If you have dyslexia and /or ASD.... You'll be eligible ( most likely) for disabled students grant. This can fund equipment /extra support tutors.... This is independent of income... It's several thousand per year.

Can you get a career development loan?

How long would you need on your degree to complete it??

No, definitely not. You're in an amazing position to own a home, particularly given your annual income. I have an undergraduate degree, a master's and a PhD, and make 45K a year, and I'm only just able to buy my first house at nearly 40. It sounds like you are in a really good position and I assume you would struggle to save another deposit and get another mortgage later, even with a better earning job. Could you take a second job or look for a higher earning job to save up faster?

I agree with @LilacTree1

Student mental health is often not great as it’s quite a pressurised environment .

Definitely writing from experience here - if you don’t feel you fit in and get on with people outside of a course, being on an intense full-time course isn’t necessarily helpful.

I’d also be VERY wary about student brochures or open days - they’re designed to give a glossy idea about the brilliant new life you’ll have if you
sign up for a lot of money

The Open university does residential schools so you can get lab experience and will take into account any previous academic work you’ve completed so you won’t need to pay too much overall.

Plus the age range has lots of 20-30 year olds so you won’t feel like the oldest or youngest.

Dont sell your house. Look for a better job. Do a shorter course, night course maybe in the area you're interested in.