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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To spend nearly 10 years of my life at university?

45 replies

perpetualstudentt · 23/07/2023 21:08

I'm thinking of going back to university for a 4-year undergraduate degree to retrain to become a speech and language therapist. However, it means in total I would have spent 9 years of my life as a student. I already have done a 4 year undergraduate degree and a 1 year master's. I have used my degrees in my career so far and don't regret them, and they will help me on the speech and language degree too as they slightly related.

I'm really worried about what people will think when they hear I'm going back to university, and worry about taking out even more student loans. AIBU to do this degree?

OP posts:
Paq · 23/07/2023 21:11

Are you eligible for a second student loan at UG level?

You shouldn’t care about what other people think, but the fact that you are asking makes me wonder if you yourself are doubting the wisdom of your plan. If you were sure you would just go for it.

Anonymous20232023 · 23/07/2023 21:12

What are your first degree and masters in? Why do you want to be a SALTherapist so much?

RosesAndHellebores · 23/07/2023 21:13

I thought post graduate speech and language therapy was two years.

ChrisPPancake · 23/07/2023 21:13

Can you apply for an apprenticeship?

Original poster
perpetualstudentt · 23/07/2023 21:21

@Paq As it's an Allied Health Professions degree I'm eligible for funding for a second degree as it's one of the few exceptions.

@Anonymous20232023 I don't want to say the exact courses as I'm trying to not be too outing but they are science degrees. I want to go into SALT for lots of reasons, I feel like the jobs I've had so far have all pointed me towards SALT being the right career for me. I think it would use my skillset well and I feel passionate about the work SALT therapists do for communication and dysphagia.

@RosesAndHellebores There is a 2 year course but the universities that offer it aren't close enough to where I live to make it work. I've also heard it is very intense, as it's essentially 3/4 years condensed into 2 years.

@ChrisPPancake There aren't any out there anywhere near where I am, I think they are only offered at a couple of universities at the moment which are both hours away from me.

OP posts:
TheYear2000 · 23/07/2023 21:23

Who cares what people think? You're not doing it for larks, you're doing vocational training.
And even if it wasn't vocational- the pursuit of knowledge surely isn't shameful/dishonourable?

Sincerely, someone who has spent approximately same amount of time at university.

Persipan · 23/07/2023 21:24

The time is going to pass anyway. Why not use it to get a degree in a field you're obviously interested in pursuing?

mnlk · 23/07/2023 21:25

I did 9 years at uni all in all.

The last 2 years for a vocational masters that equipped me for a NHS career. 20 years later it was definitely the right choice.

JaninaDuszejko · 23/07/2023 21:29

I did a 5 year undergraduate degree (Scottish degree with a year in Industry) followed by a 4 year PhD. DH did 4 year Scottish degree, 1 year masters, then 4 year PhD. So both of us were students for most of our 20s. It was very common for PhDs to overrrun back in the 90s, there was usually some additional funding and both of us were supported by our parents in that final year of our PhDs. Both scientist so walked into well paid jobs when finally graduated.

Anonymous20232023 · 23/07/2023 21:34

Well it sounds like you are keen and feel it's the right thing! So go for it :)

(I actually spent 11yrs at uni in total!! Fortunately for me, I had no tuition fees to pay for any of it, and for quite a bit of it I was paid or received a grant/bursary. I think it's harder to spend all that time studying if you are wracking up loads of debt and paying a fortune in fees. But only you can know if it's worth it!)

I guess if you don't do it, you'll always think 'what if..'

Bobbybobbins · 23/07/2023 21:35

Sounds like it's very career focused with a clear pathway so go for it!

Yarnorama · 23/07/2023 21:36

If it helps, I'm in my 14th year of being a university student!

4 years full time in my mid 20s (BSc)
1 year part time in my mid 30s (prof qual)
3 years part time in my early 40s (MSc)
6 years part time in my late 40s/early 50s (PhD)

I think I might soon finally be able to shed the 'school failure' chip off my shoulder.

illiterato · 23/07/2023 21:38

Have you spoken to anyone doing it as a job now? It’s unbelievably badly paid given the skill level. It definitely won’t pay itself back. Get an HGV license instead.

HollaHolla · 23/07/2023 21:38

Have you looked at the 2 year Pre Reg Masters programmes? You can usually do these with a relevant 1st degree.
You mention a 4 yr UG programme, so I wonder if you’re in Scotland? If you are, feel free to DM me, and I can give you some pointers. I work in a uni with many many AHP programmes (in Scotland)

dudsville · 23/07/2023 21:41

I know someone who's spent much of the last 3 decades in education. What do you worry people would think of you? I think she's very dedicated to building her knowledge, like it's both a route to various jobs she's done but also a deep hobby, she's an expert. That's v cool.

Original poster
perpetualstudentt · 23/07/2023 21:41

Thank you all, you've helped me feel a lot better about it! I'm the only member of my family who has been to university so a lot of my relatives were already judgemental about me doing a master's, so I've been nervous to tell them I'm going back in September!

OP posts:
impotuginhd · 23/07/2023 21:44

illiterato · 23/07/2023 21:38

Have you spoken to anyone doing it as a job now? It’s unbelievably badly paid given the skill level. It definitely won’t pay itself back. Get an HGV license instead.

Are you an SLT? Would you really recommend going for a HGV license over being a speechie?

OP - I'm an SLT. I did 2 degrees back to back when my first one pointed me in the direction of the second. I've been in the NHS for 16 years and been a full time band 7 dysphagia specialist for the last 8. My pay is £50k which I think is pretty good for a well scoped job that doesn't bleed into my home life. Moreover, it's the most fulfilling thing I've ever done. Go for it!

swimminginthesun · 23/07/2023 21:56

I’ve done 8 years as a student - two degrees plus a (part time) masters. I enjoyed my first degree but never quite found my niche to take that subject further. It gave me lots of transferable knowledge and skills that have been useful in my further studies and my career so I don’t regret it.

You sound sure that this is the path for you so go for it! I used to work in ENT and always admired the SLTs assessing swallowing difficulties and working with laryngectomy patients to help them recover their speech. I hadn’t realised until then what a specialised and varied role it was. I think it would be a really rewarding career. Good luck!

RosesAndHellebores · 23/07/2023 22:02

@perpetualstudentt I think it's a course similar to the one dd wants to do. She plans on starting in 2024. I think you have to be dedicated.

If the 4 year course is full-time might it not make sense to move to where the course is? Surely the loss of two years' earnings would cover the accommodation?

DD just did a three year undergrad, and her teaching qual is through apprenticeship. It's quite a commitment to get on the course and she has had to volunteer for 12 months.

värskekapsas · 23/07/2023 22:07

i believe in lifelong learning, if you only spend 4 years at uni work another 40 without updating qualifications surely it will become irrelevant?

somethingischasingme · 23/07/2023 22:14

I've just added up mine. I currently have 7 years and am nearly a year through a 3 year masters. Never occurred to me to add it up before or worry about what people think. In fact if I tell people they are all really pleased for me!

Aparecium · 23/07/2023 22:15

Why not?

My cousin came into an inheritance and decided to spend it on a career change. She already had a PhD in a science, and was working in that field. She went back to university and did a BSc in Physiotherapy. She is now happily progressing in her career as a physiotherapist.

Rocket1982 · 23/07/2023 22:19

I know someone who did a 3 year undergrad degree, then a 3.5 year PhD and then 4 years of grad medicine - 10.5 years. Now a successful doctor working in a specialty related to the PhD. Go for it!

UsingChangeofName · 23/07/2023 22:19

Who cares what people think? You're not doing it for larks, you're doing vocational training.

This.

I mean, as long as you have thoroughly researched the funding and what you pay back (remembering it has changed since your first degree), then even 9 years is not a long time out of what is going to be at least a 50 year working adult life (will probably not actually be able to retire before 70 + soon, so maybe more years).