Full time work/ full time degree at 45. Would I be mad?

[AgadorSpartacus]

I’m currently working as a TA but I’ve always wanted to teach and if I don’t do something now I never will.
There are combined degree courses offered at the local university centre which would be full time (2 eves a week plus independent study). That’s 120 credits per year which apparently requires 32-36 hours a week study.
Is this feasible? I work 8.30 - 4.00 each day and have a 17 yr old and 10 yr old.
Has anybody done this in similar circumstances? I’ll be working at least another 20 odd years before retirement.

In my experience you can usually 'condense' independent study down quite a bit if you just focus on core material and only do further reading as required when you need to do essays etc. And it also depends how quick you are at typing etc. I think in reality you could get independent study down to about 20 hours a week if you really focus in your independent study time, but it would basically mean giving up most of your free time for the next few years.

However for teaching degrees don't you need to do placements? How would that work with your job?

Thanks Kitkat.
The plan would be to do an Education/English Lit degree which wouldn’t clash with work at all then once graduated probably a year on Schools Direct to qualify. Having worked with plenty of Schools Direct students it seems the likeliest option.
It’s 6 hours at college per week then as much independent study as I could fit in.

The more I type the more ridiculous it sounds. I’d have no time for my children.

It would be a tall order with the kids as well to be honest. Could you do it part time instead?

English Literature as a subject is (understandably) very focused on reading lots and writing long essays too, so harder to skim on the study time.

The issue is if I did it part time I’d be 51 when I finish and that just feels too old to start again.
Thanks so much for replying. It does seem like a massive undertaking.

Yes you'll be fine, but you will get very good at time management I managed with a 7 year old as a lone parent but it was hard work and a lot of late nights.

I will add it was worth it and I loved every minute. I qualified with an upper second in law and went on to practice.

Thanks Jon
Do you mind me asking how old you were?
It’s become a bit of a hang up of mine!

And were you still able to fit in time with your child? My eldest will be going on to Drama School/University in 12 months (fingers crossed) but my DD will be Year 7. I don’t want her life to be too impacted.

Have you investigated student finance? Would you need to work full-time? Why not do an undergraduate teaching degree with QTS?
In answer to the OP- yes you can do it! You’ll hate it and resent it at times but you will be so proud of your achievements! Go for it!!

I don't know if this is regional or not but I have 3 friends who qualified as teachers as mature students. Not one of them has been able to get a permanent job and one of them qualified 12 years ago. According to them younger, newly qualified graduates are more likely to be employed as they are willing to work more hours for less money. Also bear in mind that there is no shortage of Eng Lit teachers in the UK.

It's doable, my dh is older than you and is currently doing this. Yes it's challenging but it is achievable.