has anyone done a degree whilst having a toddler...?

[sophnchaz]

I want to go back and study a degree that has better career prospects. I am thinking of starting in september 2013 to study accountancy. I just really wanted to know what anyone's experience was like studying and being a full time mum?

thanks :) x

welll i had my eldest son whilst i was at university, i took a year out as he was born in the aug before i was due to start my 3rd yr, then went back when he was 13mths old and completed my degree. it was fine, not the easiest thing in the world but perfectly managable and i know plenty of friends who have gone back to uni since having children and managed fine.

most unis have their own nurseries etc.

i found that i ended up doing most of my studying when my son slept, and actually it was a nice balance, i only had 10hrs? of classes a week so i put him in nursery for them and maybe a few extra hours so i could study in the library, so i spent most of my time with him, there were lots of others students with children and my uni even had aparent and baby/child group once a week like a mum and tots group that i could go to.

it was fine, i really enjoyed it, but def had sleep deprived moments!

Ah that has put my mind to rest! I will see what the facilities are like for children when i go to the open day. I'm going to a London university which is an hour train journey but I'm sure it will be fine, just got to plug through the tough times because I know it will be worth it in the end.

Thank you for sharing!

yes it will be worth it in the end :) i was at UEA norwich and it was great, that is where i met dp who got me pregnant at uni, well we did that bit together! but it was fine and uea has a lovely campus with a lake and stuff and it was great actually.

london is nice with children as well, we are 2hrs away by train and often take ours into london, so much to see and do and lots of it free!

i would see what childcare the uni has and may be check out some that are on the way and will be convenient for you to pick up and drop off etc along the way on your journey :) good luck :)

Im about to finish my 2nd year of open university, i started when ds was 3 months.
It has been hard, because i have him at home all the time, no nursery etc. It's much harder now he's older, but in the early days was quite straightforward.
Hth

My dh who works full-time signed up for an Open University MBA on top of his job when our oldest was 18 months. A week later, I found out I was pregnant with our youngest. I work part-time, though had a year-ish mat leave.

Fast forward 3.5 years and the end is in sight... It's been very hard at times but, ultimately, worthwhile. The advantage to doing something like this when they're younger is that they're in bed fairly early.

Good luck!

I am studying for a degree and have DS 1yo, but it is distance learning with the Open University.

I had DS1 when I was rather young, so delayed college for a few years and began my batchelors in English when he was 3.

Luckily I found a place at uni in my home town, so the commute wasn't so bad. DS initially went to the university nursery (which was excellent) then started school in my second year.

Through the summer between y1 and y2 at uni I worked p/t and hired a childminder to help; she became invaluable when I started y2 as DD started school and I wasn't always able to take/collect him due to lecture times and all.

It was very hard work, but I loved every minute of it! I did plan to continue with a masters after a years break but fell pregnant again just before graduation (had met my now ex husband and was just married). Now also have my third child, but plan to return to study next year for an Mphil+Phd =)

Best of luck to you for your course! It can be hard at times but don't be shy asking for help! You'd be surprised at the level of support on offer, particularly when you are passionate about your education and subject matter!

I went back to study when DS was 4 and DD1 was 23 months. I was 34. It was very hard as exH and I had separated (amicably) and I had to live on income support. I could not get a grant, and the DSS at the time regarded my student loan which I had to pay tuition fees with, as income and only gave us £47 per week to live on.
But I did it, fortunately exH did the childcare for me as he did not, (and still does not) work. (which is why we separated).
It was a good time for me though, I met my current D, D,H there and lost 2 stone as I had no money to eat have put it backon now though
Ironically, the only two First Class degrees in my year were both single mothers. It got me a great job, which I still have and enabled me to provide for the children.