To study this degree?

[onfiree]

My life is a mess, and I’m sorry if this thread jumps all over the place!

I earn £40k, and I work as an analyst manager. I’m currently off sick due to work related stress after my manager sexually harassed me. I’m applying for other employers as a priority, though my current employer has offered me a job elsewhere in the company. So I suppose either way, I’ll remain employed but I don’t trust my company anymore.

This work situation has been stressful and I sort of impulsively applied for a part time undergraduate degree. I’m mid 20s and went to university at 18, but left my degree at 19 to care for my parents.

I studied Psychology at the time. I was thinking to choose this subject again, but ended up opting for Data Science as it’s relevant to my current career. However aibu to study Data Science as it’s not necessarily something you need a degree in? It would help me pivot into a more technical role and more specialist roles. I still have time to defer my entry and change my course for a 2025 start…

To add, the main thing that puts me off psychology is the low pay/extra degree requirement to progress as a mental health practitioner. There’s some element of overlap between the two eg research methods & statistics.

Maybe defer for a year to think through what you really want to do? Would a degree in data analysis help your career? Sounds like you have a pretty good salary in that kind of area just now and my DP works in a similar role without a degree and his salary and career progression is no different to those with a degree. Would your company pay for the degree though? Or would you really rather work in mental health? Why do you want a degree?

In my experience as a mature student, there are two goals of higher education. You either do it for a job or you do it for yourself because you are interested in the subject.
So you need to decide what your motivators are.
When I went to uni at 32, I wanted to study for myself. So I did an art and philosophy degree. It was marvelous and I did not expect for it to lead to a career. It was 100% worth the time and money for me and I had the best time. It opened my mind to completely new things and possibilities. I then did vocational masters which led to a job that utilises both really well.
If you are focused on your career at this stage of your life, it would make sense to study something which will contribute towards it.
If you want to study psychology because you are genuinely interested in it, then do it for you. There are probably Data Science masters which are accessible to you at a later stage with your work experience. Only you can make this decision, really depending on what your priorities currently are.

Whilst psychology is a really interesting subject, it doesn’t really qualify you for anything. It’s the study of the mind and behaviour rather than studying mental illness. You can go on and become a registered psychologist but that takes many more years and the job prospects are limited.

I’m not sure what your thoughts are on working as a mental health practitioner but there are better ways into that than doing a degree in psychology. For example many counsellors and therapists do specific courses, to get their qualifications. Mental health nursing is another way into that area.

If you fancy psychology, as a really fascinating subject then go for it. However, I would definitely look into other means of studying to get into mental health practice.

Dat science sounds great! Getting a degree (any degree basically) is about the best thing anyone can do to ensure the rest of their life is better than itotherwise would be...

Ahhhh been mulling this over all weekend, I still can’t decide. I wouldn’t study psychology at the university I’m enrolled in, I’m not super impressed with their modules. My original university had a much more interesting offering. I am super impressed with current university’s data science modules though, and I am very drawn towards this subject more so than psychology.

I’m considering whether I want to change universities or not, I’m registered with the open university but wondering about whether I’m missing out on a traditional university experience. I don’t mean socially, but more so professionally.

Really sorry to hear about the assault. I hope the person no longer works for the company and pays for what they’ve done!

I’d absolutely go for data science. Interest in data will just continue to evolve, as you say, it’ll lead to better prospects for you. Good luck!

I'm wondering if you can do a combination degree. There are AI and data science, crime and data science and computing and data science degrees. All offer scope to branch out into other areas.

If you are studying part time and working you won’t get the traditional university experience. Might get a bit more face to face time but much is still online and rushing to get there / get home etc. I’ve studied at both degree and masters level with the OU while working and it proved to be much more flexible to fit studies around work / life generally and the OU are very good with career advice / seminars etc. Speaking with colleagues who went traditional uni route at the same time I was with the OU and their feedback was that my experience with the OU was better than they had. The OU also score highly in the uni league tables for both quality of tutoring / study and quality of degree qualification.