I'm ready to learn again- advice please!

[Novacane]

I'm ready to learn again after the baby and toddler days, and was wondering if any of you have any advise.

I am university educated, and before DS 'enjoyed' a career in retail marketing. I use the term 'enjoy' loosely- I have no desire what so ever to go back into it, and currently work part time in a job completely unrelated (NHS, in primary care.)

I am in the lucky position that If I wanted to, I could retrain, even go back to uni if I really wanted.

I have always had an interest in criminology, but have no idea whether I would like to do it as a degree discipline, as I don't know much about it!

So here I am wondering what to do. Thne avenues I have explored are:

do an ASET diploma in criminology (Are these just mickey mouse quals? Do they take you anywhere?), to get a good overview and see if I like it.

Do an introduction to social sciences course with the OU, that would gain me entry to the criminolgy degree.

I would really like to do the diploma course as It sounds really interesting, and to give me the broad knowledge, but not sure if they are a waste of time or not.

Does anyone know of an adult learning careers advice service? I have no idea where to go for advice- hence posting on MN!!

Cheers Guys!

It might be worth going along to your local FE college or the local uni to talk to their careers service about the possibilities, at least then you can see what is available to you locally, unless you are willing to do something distance-y like OU (there are lots of OU-ers on here i think). I am doing a sort of distance learning course which is actually based at my local uni, its a graduate diploma in law and its bloody hard work and you would only do it to become a lawyer really.. but do come and join me! All the best

Or try the Open University. The do all sorts of courses, some as little as a few months duration and some which lead to degree/post grad etc and can take years. I'm a big fan of the OU

oh snap novacane see here

I was wondering the same about diplomas...

what was your degree?

I've just been reading the OU website, It looks fantastic, but if I were to go for it I would have to ban myself from this place!

yes, MN is the enemy of course reading/essay writing/exam prep.. i managed to give up MN for lent and suddenly my course didn't seem to take up so much time... obviously i am back in my old habits though!