Desperate to study again... No chance

[NoSplashNoGash]

Long time lurker, but never posted... Please be kind!

I'm very academic and actually quite enjoy writing a good essay. However when I went to uni the first time (Criminology) I left after 8 weeks as I was pregnant and wanted to settle down. Partner left, I concentrated on the baby.

Fast forward 3 years and I started a Midwifery degree, 8 weeks pregnant! I always planned to go back but enjoyed looking after my children myself so didn't.

Now, DP and I have had a third child and I love them all but can't shake off my dream of wanting to study. After countless calls to Student Finance I've found it my only option really would be to pay for the first year myself - virtually impossible as it would be £9,000.

I'm not cut out for Midwifery :(

Needed to get this off my chest. I feel stupid for wasting my previous chances and just feel sad about the whole thing.

I think that health / medicine related courses have the fees paid by the NHS.

Also, there are certain courses which have means tested bursaries as well.

Is for a qualification or for the love of learning ? Cos if for the latter try here

If the former, OU lets you pay module by module I think. You could spread the load while tour little ones are small and be on the cusp of graduating by the time you are a bit more time rich.

Have a look at the university of London's external courses, closer to £3k and after the first year you could transfer to another uni as a ft student.

I'd second the recommendation of the Open University. Take it slowly.

Without meaning to be rude or pry, your OP could be read to suggest you're not really sure what you want to do -- Criminology & then Midwifery?

So this time (third time lucky??) take a bit of time to think about what you really want to study. Maybe not the overall subject so much but think about what you're interested in. What you're really interested in, with an interest which will carry you through the hard difficult why-did-I-ever-think-I-could do-all-this? moments. (We all have those).

It might be good to do just one quite broad module which will ease you back into studying: something on critical thinking skills? or "Introduction to Social Sciences" or something like that? A module which will give you a broad introduction back into studying and a broad view of what it's possible to study.

Load of extremely bright people from the third world are now learning free on line. The internet is packed with brilliant lectures from some of the best tutors on the planet which cost absolutely nothing. Unless you are looking for the letters after your name to get into work, you could simply study the on line courses which are free. One young man in India did so well in the free test after studying one he got a totally free place at MIT in the USA>

Thank you everyone... Did not expect this much help!

I have been/will look into all the suggestions. Hopefully one day I'll be back to pen and paper!!

Good luck.

I think if you find the right course, you will be fine -- I really sincerely hope that it's the opposite of "No chance"

I'm idealistic I really thin that university is a privilege, and should be seen as such by entitled kids not ready for it-- but a privilege that should be open to anyone who really really wants it. So go for it!

Have a look at Cousera www.coursera.org/ - appropos free online excellent courses.

Thank you!

Many thanks for that free courses link. :)

came on here to ask about studying online for free and have enrolled in a coursera course. Thanks for the link