To spend nearly 10 years of my life at university?

[perpetualstudentt]

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?

This. Time passes anyway. Don’t waste it. And who gives a hoot what anyone else thinks?

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with your idea, except that I do wonder how much you’ve thought about getting a job at the end of it. It sounds like maybe you’ve got commitments that mean you can’t move around the country, but as a newly qualified SALT you may find it difficult to get a job immediately if you aren’t able to travel far. Think, if the uni you go to has even 30 in a year, that’s likely to leave at least ten people in the same position as you vying for any local job that is available at the time you qualify.

A friend of mine moved city twice for work before she found a SALT job she liked in an area she wanted to live.

Sorry to put a downer on the idea. I don’t think it’s crazy, just need to consider it.

No I’m a recruiter for HGV drivers. No, I’m not. Just kidding but it is nuts when you think you can get an HGV license in 8 weeks for free as employer will normally pay and you earn more than a speech therapist and all you have to do is drive a big vehicle.

I guess I just think it’s risky to give up 4 years of earnings ( because you need to factor that into the cost calc) to train to do a job where the starting salary is only around 25% higher than the minimum wage and it’s c.20 years till she earns what you do IF she gets a band 7 job.

I'm all for rewarding jobs but you’ve got to weigh it up. Although I guess if the OP is able to not warn for 4 years then she doesn’t really need to work so maybe that’s not a consideration.

I think you need to think through the reasons for your motivation to do it op. What is it that makes you want to be a SALT and what would you take to it?

It's different now that there a clear vocation and also a very needed profession you'll always have work! I would try to do the msc conversion route though if possible

I'm a bit surprised that there isn't a 2 year Masters at the same place as the 4 year course you're looking at - tbh I thought the profession was moving towards 2 years only?

But whatever - why not, if it's what you want to do? I've never regretted doing it, though it hasn't been straightforward either.

You could look at the SALT apprenticeship route, though it's only just getting going I think.

Would you not to the graduate entry route through a 2 year masters? Haven’t looked recently but certainly used to be one.

No time in education is ever wasted.

Why can't you do the masters instead? The 4 year underground is still intense. Also, with the masters you can do it part time (so three years).

I did the masters. Yes it's intense but you'll be surprised how time flies. I'm thinking of doing a phd now but that's another story.

Band 5-starting salary is not great to be honest. I was working part time (three days a week) so it doesn't help. Not sure which area you want to go into? I work with children and I do find working in the NHS a bit repetitive also you don't have much autonomy.

I love the research side of things which is why I'm considering undergoing a phd.

11 years for me (full time university study whilst also working).

There’ll be more for me before I’m done, as well, I expect.

In my profession it’s the norm to have multiple degrees.

The nearest MSc course to me is around 2 hours away on the train, which is doable but it would cost around £63 a day to get there during peak times. In addition, I would not be able to start it until next September as I'd have to apply for next year's admission as I only applied to undergraduate courses this year as I didn't think I'd get funding for a second MSc (I mistakenly was told that the NHS exemption for funded second degrees only applied to undergraduate degrees and not master's).

I also wanted to add that the reason I posted on here wasn't because I was having doubts, or because I'm not committed or passionate about the profession. It's just because I'm expecting my family's reaction to be quite negative and I'm getting nervous about telling them because of it.

But what has it got to do with them? My mother thought I was too ‘lazy” to leave university (I have four degrees), but after all, my choice, my scholarships. I was self-supporting. A different type of parent might have been thrilled their daughter won international scholarships!

So, you earn money this year and start in 2024? Why can't you move closer to the Masters course?

If the money works out and it's needed for your desired career path then go for it. Academics can spend entire working lives at university!

@monpetitlapin Thanks for the link. It doesn't say if there will be any exceptions for health related courses or pgces like there are now. Also, it doesn't say if you are half way through a health related masters if they would still fund the second year. Do you have any more info on it? I am planning on doing either my pgce or conversion masters once my daughter is in reception and this worried me!

Who cares what people think? Go for it.

Do you think it's ok to do the 4-year undergraduate course if I would be eligible for the 2-year accelerated master's? I'm ok with it taking longer. It's a really good course with lots of different opportunities for placements, and would mean I wouldn't need to move as it's only 20 minutes away.

I don't want to move for the master's for various personal reasons, including financial. I'd also rather start on the course this year and feel like I was making progress in moving towards my desired career path rather than spend a year earning money and waiting to start next year.

If the 4 year works for you, then go for it. It sounds perfect!

Go for it!

My OH did a degree then started medicine from scratch - he married me so I could support him!

I left my career at age 50 and retrained - an excellent decision.