Retraining in Social Work

[DesperatelySeekingPomBears]

Hi

I was after some financial advice, not sure if anyone here will have any idea. I understand that generally, if someone has already completed a degree course with funding, then they will not be eligible for a student loan or help with fees in the future, however, I have heard rumours that this is not applicable on NHS courses.

I have a law degree, actually I have an undergraduate and a masters in criminal law specialising in criminal issues concerning children. I would like to study for the undergraduate social work BA as I believe it would be easier to spread the course over three years (I'm expecting DC1 in January) than to cram it all in over two years by taking the masters course. I received all the usual funding for my law degree including a student loan and tuition fees covered by the LEA.

Does anyone have any idea whether or not I'll have to pay my tuition fees if I took the social work BA? Or would I receive financial help from the LEA again?

Thanks in advance for any advice anyone can offer!

Hi, I have the social work masters. I don't think you'd be eligible for funding to do a second BA but you would get the NHS bursary for the masters. In my day this was in two parts, one bit covered all the fees the other bit was 6k living/ travel expenses. Unfortunately at some unis there is now a small shortfall on the tuition fees that the student has to pay themselves.

I would seriously advise you to go for the masters if this is in any way possible for you. I found the masters to be academically not very stimulating so god knows what they teach on the BA. Somebody with your background would be streets ahead of anybody on the BA. You will be starting the course with 18 year olds who, understandbly, will have to learn the very very basics about law.

I would also hazard against thinking of the BA as more 'spread out'. The BA is as intense a course as the masters from what I hear, its just that more time is spent on the basics. Also if I'm being brutally honest, social work training is not a pleasurable experience, social work training is a joke in this country and I'd advise getting it over with as quickly as possible. The real learning happens on the job. I've been qualified a few years now and absolutely adore the profession, the qualification was merely a hoop to jump through to get to the good bit.

I am on a year out from the social work BA and dreading going back!the first year was a breeze but the 2nd and 3rd years are very intense.You get a ninmeans tested social work bursary of 4.5k for the year paid in 3 installments.This is my first degree so can't help with anything else.

Thanks for the help, it's very informative.

Noir I think you may be right and it may be best for me to bite the bullet so to speak and just plough through the course in two years.

Best of luck whichever way you choose.