Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To set up a crowd fund to pay for my post graduate degree?

371 replies

Spiceupyourlife1989 · 19/08/2021 23:42

I don’t have the funds to pay it and am currently living on a low income, topped up by universal credit.
I know the post grad loans are £11,500 or thereabouts, but that’s to pay for course fees AND to live on Sad without help, I won’t be able to do it. I want to improve my job prospects, specifically for my toddler son, who I don’t want to end up going without, particularly when he starts school.

OP posts:
ThePearSquare · 21/08/2021 19:42

@Annie2245

It’s unreasonable because I’m sure most students would struggle to do a masters. Some students leave uni over 40k in debt, or have had to work around their studies, sometimes using childcare as well. Sooo my point is what makes the OP so special that they think someone else should be responsible for their funding. ?
Whilst I understand what you’re saying, and I’m one of those students with debt, nobody is being forced to contribute to the GFM or whichever platform OP would have used, so what is the unreasonable? Apart from thinking that they’ll actually be able to raise the funds maybe. However as the saying goes, if you don’t ask, you don’t get.
strawberrysweets · 21/08/2021 19:58

You can do Play Therapy in 3 parts through APAC.

Each part costs just over £3000 so it might be more manageable for you.

You can continue working too!

DerBlaueReiter · 21/08/2021 20:28

I don't think it's a timely request, among other things. If you are an academic contender, you will not need to pay for an advanced degree, you will get a scholarship, fellowship, or teaching assistant position, plus comped tuition, from the institution in order to competitively recruit you.

strawberrysweets · 21/08/2021 20:35

@LoisLane66

PLAY THERAPY? What on earth is that? Just a cushy job which sounds good but is like counselling. No real substance. I wouldn't contribute to any crowdfunding situation no matter what but yours is an especially CF request.
Wow. Ignorant.
Bugbabe1970 · 21/08/2021 20:45

Go for it
If people want to donate they will

Sophinwonderland · 21/08/2021 20:47

My husband did a degree in sports therapy and couldn’t get work really and wanted to do a masters in something similar to play therapy. We couldn’t afford it on the small masters loan but we found out that if you do a second bachelor degree in a health subject (only certain ones) you get student finance at the same rate as a first timer, I believe there are childcare help and top ups for this, that would be course fees free and around £9500 a year. I believe these courses also offer £5000 bursary paid at the end of each term so nearly 15000 a year and childcare contributions. I know it’s a longer route but he is doing occupational therapy which would get you into a better paying job, there are these type of jobs working mostly with minors and you’d have enough to save up for the masters, would be a longer route but can’t see how you’d manage to save for it otherwise, hope that helps

NoNotMeNoSiree · 21/08/2021 20:48

I think YANBU, not sure why so many are against?
No harm in trying, it's not doing anything wrong and if people don't want to donate no-one's forcing them to!

Sophinwonderland · 21/08/2021 20:49

Sorry the £5000 is paid in three instalments, so a third of that at end of each term not £5000 at end of each term

RJnomore1 · 21/08/2021 21:03

@DerBlaueReiter that might be true if you’re going for a research degree but not for a taught professional qualification.

There may be some bursaries dependent on the course and uni but they are normally very limited.

Annie2245 · 21/08/2021 21:31

No, the unreasonable is asking ( when so many don’t but struggle through ) and the fact that they are wanting to use a platform that is predominantly used ( not always I grant you ) for things like cancer treatment, funerals etc
It just means the more people use these sites for flippant things the less people are likely to look at them and more serious things get overlooked.

Ddot · 21/08/2021 21:43

Good luck hope it works for you

ellyeth · 21/08/2021 21:50

I can't see the harm in it. People have a choice as to whether they wish to contribute.

Original poster
Spiceupyourlife1989 · 21/08/2021 21:59

I quite like the idea of getting a job in family support, something like a family support worker, I just wonder if there’s a way into this without precious specific experience.

OP posts:
Ddot · 21/08/2021 22:08

Maybe I should try for boob job

Darbs76 · 21/08/2021 22:15

I doubt many people would donate. I mean as others have said many people want an education they can’t afford, so a post grad qualification is not necessary. Get a job and do it part time like many others have to

gah2teenagers · 21/08/2021 22:23

Good luck OP. We need more people like you in the world.

leonpride · 21/08/2021 22:33

*If you don't try, you don't get.
Mumsnet HATES these crowdfunder websites but they do work. People do donate. *

...

Yes, people do donate- to worthy causes! I'm not giving money for somebody else's post grad when I don't even have one myself. Putting money into somebody's pot of wealth. Op has every right to try, but it doesn't come across well

Also, if you're on that low an income to need a go fund me, wouldn't she be entitled to the maximum loan anyway?

AlmostSummer21 · 21/08/2021 22:52

@choli

As you appear to have chosen your degree badly enough not to be able to get a job, I would not throw good money after bad on a masters.
What a bitchy comment.

Just no need, go crawl back under your rock

3Br1tnee · 21/08/2021 22:58

@choli

As you appear to have chosen your degree badly enough not to be able to get a job, I would not throw good money after bad on a masters.
That's kind of what I thought too.

Plus, all that money to sit around playing with kids all day.

AlmostSummer21 · 21/08/2021 23:01

@betterwithage

Play Therapy FFS start earning an income & further your studies part time on your own dime. No one owes you. I feel embarrassed on your behalf.
Not as embarrassed as I feel for you. Try at least reading the OP's posts
FolkyFoxFace · 21/08/2021 23:16

[quote Spiceupyourlife1989]@Jofischoice that looks great, but unfortunately the entry requirements say you need a certificate in counselling skills and other experience in counselling.[/quote]
I haven't read much further, OP, just your posts until here and commenting now because I'm about to fall asleep....could you consider volunteering at a women's domestic abuse charity, or something similar?

I did this for several years, and they gave training on the job. Obviously at first it wasn't much, but by the time I left I was able to do it by myself.

It's not a path I've taken because quite honestly, it triggered a lot of residual trauma, and I was waking around pissed off at every man in sight...but would this class as experience?

This was 10 years ago so I don't know if it works the same way now.

I do understand your frustration though. I had a gap between MA and PhD, and only took the PhD because the other route didn't work out. I felt trapped. I wish you the very best.

Merrymermaid7 · 21/08/2021 23:25

I don't have the funds either, I am working full time so taking masters part time ( difficult as single parent of 3 teens) but manageable. The loan pays for my course nothing else, but I can study in my spare time and flexibly with online course. It takes 2 years but can be repeated over 4. This could be an option?

Winemeup · 21/08/2021 23:35

Too many people these days expect something for nothing, the “me, me” culture.

RainbowOctopus · 22/08/2021 00:04

There are lots of degrees that don’t translate to high incomes. If the masters qualifies you to work in public service, for example as a social worker, perhaps there are members of the public that would consider helping out. Should it be the case that your life experiences coupled with this particular masters would qualify you to be someone needed on a skills shortage list then again maybe people would like to support. If the masters guarantees you a career that means you’ll pay the higher tax rate and pay heaps into the national pot and…
…If you are comfortable with asking, and no one is obliged I really don’t see the harm, it’s only like self-sourcing a scholarship.
Good luck to you, and to those who think it’s cheeky, scroll right past it, don’t donate. It’s all good, everyone’s happy.

ThePearSquare · 22/08/2021 00:33

@Annie2245

No, the unreasonable is asking ( when so many don’t but struggle through ) and the fact that they are wanting to use a platform that is predominantly used ( not always I grant you ) for things like cancer treatment, funerals etc It just means the more people use these sites for flippant things the less people are likely to look at them and more serious things get overlooked.
I really doubt that sites which are often used for both potentially life saving fundraising and seemingly trivial matters such as lifestyle choices are going to get less footfall simply because OP asks for some money. All links shared on SM tend to have the reason for fundraising in the title, donators can just ignore whatever doesn’t appeal to them and keep on scrolling. I don’t think asking for something is unreasonable, thinking people should donate to your cause would be though.