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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be pissed off at how social work students are treated compared to nursing students?

72 replies

disgruntledsw · 21/09/2021 12:19

I've just started an MA social work course this week and I'm already shocked at how poor the package is compared to nursing. I compared both before starting the course and decided that I preferred social work even though it wouldn't be financially the best choice as a student. I have to contribute £3500 to my course fees per year and get around 6k to live on as a bursary. I have been told this morning that I am prohibited from working during the course as I need to focus on my studies and my first bursary payment won't come in until the beginning of November, wtf? On top of this I need business insurance to be able to drive to placements that I have to fund myself. Aibu that student social workers are being fucked over? If I would have chosen to do nursing I would have got student finance and a £5000 training grant on top and full tuition fees paid. This country is desperately short of social workers yet are making it almost financially impossible to train.

OP posts:
CatJumperTwat · 21/09/2021 13:44

I've added business cover to my car insurance several times, and it's always been around £20 for the year.

Original poster
disgruntledsw · 21/09/2021 13:44

Snack, you can do post graduate nursing too Hmm

OP posts:
Seesawmummadaw · 21/09/2021 13:45

Student nurses have to have business insurance too.
Student nurses are also advised not to work. Most do.

As for your bursary phone them and ask why. I can’t remember getting mine right away but it was a while ago.
You can apply for a hardship fund from the university to tide you over until then.

SaskiaRembrandt · 21/09/2021 13:47

@disgruntledsw

Snack, you can do post graduate nursing too Hmm
Yes, you can, my son is, and he works full time on a ward alongside studying.
Original poster
disgruntledsw · 21/09/2021 13:47

I'm just annoyed that if I had chosen to do nursing I would be living on 14k a year instead of 6, ok 9k of that would be a loan but that's fine, i didn't mind a loan I'm just not entitled to it.

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HarrisMcCoo · 21/09/2021 13:49

@disgruntledsw

The bursary comes from the same nhs bursary scheme company so that's why I'm wondering why the finance is so different.
You won't be required to work nights, unsociable hours etc to the same degree as nursing/midwifery students. It's all reflected in the nature of the course as to how they work it out.
Original poster
disgruntledsw · 21/09/2021 13:50

Anyway I have contacted my personal tutor about the 'must not work' rule and have asked if I will get into trouble if I then choose to work. I wish I would have taken a photo of the PowerPoint slide earlier which said I must not work.

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Seesawmummadaw · 21/09/2021 13:50

Most social workers in the NHS start at band 6. Nurses typically start at band 5.

Pros and cons for each profession.

CornishTiger · 21/09/2021 13:51

I had to pay tuition fees and take out full student loan when I was studying as a student social worker. I’m paying these back.

We got a small bursary which was supposed to cover travel to placements which was no repayable.

Your deal sounds better or am I confused?

m0therofdragons · 21/09/2021 13:53

Different jobs so hardly comparable… also, business insurance has only impacted my car insurance quote once when it went up £5 per year and the other times it hasn’t been affected at all.

Original poster
disgruntledsw · 21/09/2021 13:56

The last quote I got for my old job was 80 pound a year as I'm quite a young driver.

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m0therofdragons · 21/09/2021 13:58

Use a comparison tool.

lifegavemealemon · 21/09/2021 14:02

@disgruntledsw

Life yes I could but public transport would limit my placement options and id be paying for public transport and then keeping my car on top as I need my car to get to university.
Do you live in a remote area? The bursary has a travel allowance so you can't really complain about travel costs. I understand your frustration really but you need to find a flexible job and get on with it. Most people on my course have children, used public transport and didn't work and managed. I know it's hard but it's possible. I worked and it was hard but I managed.
sashh · 21/09/2021 14:06

Social work students do not get 18k unless they do the step up course with a local authority or the front line course. The step up course isn't a masters it's a diploma.

So why don't you do the diploma?

Original poster
disgruntledsw · 21/09/2021 14:07

I have a flexible job thank you, my problem isn't that I'm not willing to work it's that I have been told that I CAN'T. I am trying to clarify if I will get in trouble if I work and I'm found out.

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Original poster
disgruntledsw · 21/09/2021 14:08

The diploma only qualifies you to work in one area of social work as it is only a one year course and not every local authority is offering it.

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m0therofdragons · 21/09/2021 14:23

My brother was at Cambridge uni and they said no paid employment. I can only assume they’re so used to rich families they’ve totally lost sight of reality.

itsgrand · 21/09/2021 14:30

@disgruntledsw

I have a flexible job thank you, my problem isn't that I'm not willing to work it's that I have been told that I CAN'T. I am trying to clarify if I will get in trouble if I work and I'm found out.
did you have to sign an agreement that you wouldn't work? Or is just the general consensus that it's a demanding course therefore students are asked to prioritise it and not work? I would imagine you would only get in trouble if it was seen to be interfering with your progress on the course or a job that may pose a conflict of interest
PermanentTemporary · 21/09/2021 14:35

Cambridge terms are short (8 weeks) and the workload for some courses is truly bonkers. Also they have a lot of hardship funds, extra bursaries and more subsidised accommodation than other universities.

I certainly knew plenty of people who worked while there, usually along the lines of a Sunday pub shift. I did some volunteer babysitting and could easily enough have tried to find paid sitting. But no, you're not supposed to during the terms. The college is supposed to be a community that will support you.

FateHasRedesignedMost · 21/09/2021 14:35

What’s the starting salary and NHS band for a social worker?

Is there a reason you’re doing a Masters instead of a funded diploma to access the profession?

My friend’s a Physio and had to pay all her tuition fees and living costs, but I think there used to be a bursary available for living costs (means tested though, so if anyone in your household worked FT or had savings you had to cover your own rent, bills, travel etc even if living with family and paying full rent to them, your share of bills, running a car etc). And I think physio had no tuition fees back then. Now it’s the same as any non-medical degree course, you self fund or take out a student loan. Wouldn’t be surprised if they scrap tuition fees again, but I think paying foe your living costs is understandable? There are so many professions unable to recruit at the moment, if study grants and bursaries were handed out to everyone where would the money come from? If you do a Masters when there are other routes into social work it seems fair to save up to pay?

Draculahhh · 21/09/2021 14:37

I am a 3rd year social work BA student. I get both student finance and the NHS bursary. I think we have it better than a lot of people.

We were strongly advised not to work, but a lot of my cohort still do during the evenings and weekends.

toconclude · 21/09/2021 14:37

[quote EL8888]@MaudBaileysGreenTurban all of this. I doubt you want to do evenings, weekends, nights etc. My memory of working with social workers on wards, was them wanting to go home at 430pm[/quote]
Oh really? Never went home at 4.30 in my entire career in hospital social work and did shedloads of extra hours. Met plenty of snotty nurses who thought they could do my job better than I could though...
OP, you ought to be able to work, many students on my course ( me included) were sponsored by work and worked three days a week until placement and five days outside term time

Original poster
disgruntledsw · 21/09/2021 14:40

Yes If I was an undergrad I would get both student finance and a bursary so I would be ok, but as I've gone back to it as a post grad I can't access student finance and have to contribute to fees which is what is making it so tight.

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TrifleCat · 21/09/2021 14:52

But surely that’s just the nature of the beast of doing a post grad?

And it’s a bit daft comparing undergrad nursing to post grad social work - of course they will be different packages.

Is your current job related to social work - If money is going to be a problem can you get your employer to contribute to fees ?

Or if you are using the masters as a route in to social work why not look at the options for different routes in?

Because of my past and current job I worked with and still work with lots of social workers and nurses, (and teachers fwiw) and each group works bloody hard.

Original poster
disgruntledsw · 21/09/2021 15:05

I'm not comparing undergrad to post grad, post grad nurses can still access student finance where as post grad social workers can't.

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