AIBU to leave my job and study full-time at university?

[SquirrelySponges]

Hello,

I am currently trying to make a decision after weighing up my choices and need to know if I am being really silly or am actually doing the right thing!

I am in my 40s and a single Mum of a primary school child. I currently work 19 hours a week doing shifts (days, lates and nights) and get a UC top up too and the housing element to help with my rent. I want to make some changes, get a better paid job with better hours etc. And to get off benefits and eventually buy a property etc. The only way to do this is retrain as I dont have the qualifications to get a very well paid job. I have been going to college in the evenings and got a level 3 qualification but need to take it to degree level get a job in it.

I was going to do this part time at Uni, cut my hours at work to 17 a week to get Tuesdays off to attend, and do a lot of course work from home. But being part time I can only get student finance for the fees and not get a maintenance loan or any other grants etc. I went to a meeting with the Uni finance team today and they have advised me to do it full time instead. Then I can get a maintenance loan and a parent learning allowance and UC should give me a bit more as I will be earning less so they reckon I may not need to work to give me more time for study and family life.

I have asked so many official people and bodies how this will work so have an idea but I want to hear from people that have done similar. I've heard scare stories that UC can insist you work instead and may sanction me for leaving ny job. But I really am trying to better myself and my life.

So I am after a bit of advice from anyone that has been through similar or well anyone that knows a bit about this sort of thing please.

Thank you for reading and for any advice

YABU - Stay at work and dont be silly
YANBU - Go for it, do the full time course

What do you plan to study?

Counselling - I have looked into college options too but there arent any near me which is why I thought I'd just go the direct route and do it all at Uni and leave fully qualified and ready to go

Counselling

Counselling is not a career that will earn you a good salary. It's poorly paid and you'll need to show experience to get employment. Many also ask for a Masters.

If you want to do it self employed, you do not need a degree.

Frankly, if you'd said economics or something like this I would have said go ahead but counselling is a complete waste of time and money.

Well said

Ah, no, you’re not going to earn the salary you’re aiming for out of counselling.

Ot trying to pile on with negativity, but surely you need to rent premises in order to work as a counsellor. ££??
How would your UC work? I mean you'd not be available for work when you are endeavouring to set up a practice. It sounds pretty risky tbh.

It would make more sense to do a degree leading to a stable job at the end.

Nooo you can study to be a counsellor in your own time and work alongside it my friend has recently completed this. Counselling itself is not well paid, demanding emotionally and is not well regulated. It is definitely not something I would devote full time study to.

If you are attracted to helping people would social work or allied health fit the bill?

I am in Australia and studied full time in my forties with kids. Here is my 20 cents.
if you go full time it seems like a lot but don’t underestimate how many breaks uni has. Here some universities will let you do a subject during break time to help you speed up your degree. But also I felt like during study blocks I was busy then had a couple of weeks off where I could deep clean, batch cook etc.

Also look into the sector benefits of your chosen field. My old work didn’t have as much personal leave or other positive things that work better for my family. Financial benefits aren’t the only things that matter.

A lot of universities now let you study online so that makes fitting things in with kid stuff and part time work easier.

Remember if you start full time and it’s too much then you can change to part time and vice versa. You can increase or decrease your work hours too. What works at one point will change and so can you.

Good luck. Talk to people who have done it. Talk to different tertiary institutions and find out as much as you can.

You don’t need a full time 3 year degree for counselling and it won’t earn enough to repay the student loans. If you did psychology at a decent university then an MSc, you could be set for a better job but that is slow and expensive

I never said I needed to rent somewhere or wanted to set up my own practice. I know I can't afford to leave uni and suddenly set up on my own.

I already have my level 3 in counselling so I am aware of this but nowhere around me offers the higher levels at college hence looking at Uni instead. I felt like if I was going to Uni anyway I might as well do the extra yesr to make it a degree as surely that would be more desirable when looking for jobs or even dor clients when they look you up. Its not for everyone but its something I'm passionate about.

Thank you for your advice and kind words. No to be honest social work doesn't appeal at all. I feel like I've done so much research but you get different opinions and ideas and rarely get a straight answer hence asking on here! Though it seems everyone is quite down on the subject for some reason which is not my experience in the real world.

I don’t think counselling is worth studying. It’s similar to ‘accounting’, you will end up witb a qualification but no jobs.

I have done what you’re planning, not as a single mum though. I studied allied health but currently many many AHC professionals are struggling to find jobs.
People on MN would say it’s badly paid but I’m earning more than before so it was worth for me.

Studying is great at any age but you nerd to look at what the market needs.

Voted YABU. Graduates are finding it very difficult to get employment even though they have excellent A levels and great degrees and no caring commitments.
I do know someone who is moving into counselling as a career. She has a very good and well paid job and has reduced to four days a week to do the study. No caring commitments.
Not sure why you can’t fit in the study if you’re only working three short days. It’s not a career that will make good money as it’s very hard to get enough work. Have you actually looked at the earning potential? Done your sums?
Well done for thinking about how you can make a change but honestly I don’t think you have the circumstances to be able to follow a passion. You need to be smarter about earning capacity if you want to get off benefits.

You won't be eligible for UC while a full time student and not working, unless I've misread the rules!

I don't think that you will be allowed to claim universal credit. You certainly never used to be able to claim JSA and study, as you are not available for work.
This will have a knock on effect to the housing element too.

Have you looked at the Open University? I used to work and study as a single parent whilst my son was at primary.

I voted YANBU because I think it’s always good to invest in your education to get a better job.
However I’ve just seen the subject is counselling. I don’t think that subject merits such a commitment. Sorry but counselling is a bit wishy washy!!

I would investigate carefully what job opportunities you’d have. Don’t give up on improving your circumstances though, I think I’d just be worried about putting all that time and effort into something that won’t deliver what you want.

If your child is of primary age then now is the ideal time to do this.

I have done a year at uni part-time and about to start my third year full-time. I've got UC throughout alongside part-time work.

Initially, I was working 30 hours when I did the part time course and it was designed to allow for work during the day so I did still receive UC and get a maintenance loan.

I moved to a full-time degree 2 years ago and worked less hours. I get full maintenance loan. You declare your loan to UC (alongside the extra parent £ and any bursaries), part of it is disregarded but you'll still have more than enough to live on. Its a constant battle if you have go to appointments at the JC but for the most part they leave you alone during term time.

As for the topic you want to study, I can't advise. Good luck, OP. Happy to chat if you need any help.

I’m afraid I agree with others. Count how many people are on your current college counselling course. Count how many are going to go on and do a degree. Now imagine setting yourself up in business, or looking for a job, in competition with all of them, plus all the graduates from previous years plus the well established counsellors.

I commend your ambition but don’t saddle yourself with a load of student debt for an unstable future.

A proper accredited course as in psychology leading to bps registration?

Apparently you can if you have a child.

I also question whether counselling is a good choice for a degree. There are so many micky- mouse courses out there, plus anyone can call themselves a counsellor. Would it be better to take one of the lower paid jobs and work you way up? Experience counts for more in this day and age, plus your salary won’t be reduced by a student debt.

Can't edit my previous post but should have added that my son was in high school when I started my part-time course and in college the past 2 years.

UC has only dropped as his course ended in June. He starts uni next month.

This is why if your child is of primary age it's ideal for you. Uni are also supportive if you have caring commitments.