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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

Wanting to go to uni - is it doable?

13 replies

purplepolo · 30/09/2020 23:31

23yr old single mum to a 3 year old and 1 year old, im wanting to apply for an undergraduate degree in social work. I meet the 'eligibility' criteria but I do need to find work or volunteer in something relevant.

Am I being naive about this? Am I just going to stress myself out or could it be doable? By the time Id finish the 3 yesrs both my children will be in school.

The course is full time, what exactly is full time in uni? Full days 5 days a week, or..?

I am just on universal credit at the moment, would I be able to get help toward my childcare costs etc?

Please just throw a load of information about it, I havent got long left till the cut off point for sept 2021, and I feel like this is something I really want to do to just move forwards with my life but it just feels like a massive leap for me!

OP posts:

LouiseTrees · 01/10/2020 03:38

Not sure on the childcare cpst question but it will cost you for books etc so make sure your maintenance loan will cover your costs and or your uni has a hardship fund. Do you have any family that would be willing to help? Full time means different things at different unis. I did a full time degree but was rarely in more than 3 days but I got lucky with when my tutor groups fell. But then had to work either on uni work like essays or actual work in retail (although to be fair didn’t really need to do that) on the other days. Sometimes even on those 3 days it would be a 9am lecture, loads of free time to do assignments then another lecture at 2 or 3 , then back to back through to 5 but then some days were full on back to back excluding a lunch break. Are you considering doing open University or a local one? That also affects things. If local, which one?

beachedwhales · 01/10/2020 04:09

Full time can be 8am to 6pm. Also fee payments don't always fit with student loan payments, my university have just taken £600 for fees from my bank even though student finance won't be paid until the end of month, you need to be able to budget for that.

ShaunaTheSheep · 01/10/2020 08:23

I don’t have any practical advice other than to contact the unis you are looking at to get advice about being a mature student with a family.

But I just wanted to say, what a great idea, and I wish you lots of luck in getting where you want to be. It will be hard work but worthwhile

cinammonbuns · 01/10/2020 08:43

@beachedwhales ummm I’m pretty sure that OP would get a free loan directly paid to the university so wouldn’t have this problem. I certainly didn’t.

Do you not have a tuition fee loan?

beachedwhales · 01/10/2020 09:03

[quote cinammonbuns]@beachedwhales ummm I’m pretty sure that OP would get a free loan directly paid to the university so wouldn’t have this problem. I certainly didn’t.

Do you not have a tuition fee loan?[/quote]
Yes, I do but the uni fucked up and didn't tell student finance I had registered and so weren't paid the money so took it off my direct debit for other fees.

DonLewis · 01/10/2020 09:06

Well, full time in the time of covid looks very different to full time normally. In my uni, full time is 5 hours contact (face to face) on one day and the rest is online.

You need to contact the university you're interested in and find out what they're doing now and when things are more normal.

mdh2020 · 01/10/2020 09:10

First, of all, good for you for thinking about your future and the future of your children. I can’t talk about the funding but I did a ‘full time’ degree many years ago with two children at school. You won’t be required to be there For a full five days in a week. I was in every day but not all day. The issues are that you

might need to be there at 9.00 am
a lecture might not finish till 6.00pm
you might need to be there all day but with ‘free’ time in the middle.

For example, on Fridays one year we had a lecture 1.00-3.00 and that was all. On another day there was a lecture 9.00-11.00 and a seminar group at 2.00. You will need to be able to spend time in the library. I bought a lot of books second hand from the university bookshop. Your other issue will be if work placements are part of your course because those will be office hours, all day every day, and may be a long way from home. Have you considered looking at the OU? You could study from home when you are able to, when the children are in bed. There’s loads of support available too. However you do it, it will be hard but it will be worth while . Good luck.

clareykb · 01/10/2020 09:15

Hi I can't answer all your questions but I have just started a post grad social work conversion masters. It is full time but lecture wise that is 9:30-3 4 days a week so I can mainly fit it round the school run. When I start placement it will be different though. I also got an NHS bursary which covers my fees, I only got the minimum amount as my OH is a higher rate tax payer and our kids are at school but there was additional available for people on lower incomes and needing more childcare. I'm fairly sure there is similar for under grads
Would be worth a look x

clareykb · 01/10/2020 09:18

Just to add the bursary doesn't need to be paid back so would be better than a loan if you were eligible

Haffdonga · 01/10/2020 09:18

'Full time' varies massively depending on subject but a social work degree could be very intense and will include full time placements which could involve travel to various settings and long hours. You will need flexible before and after school childcare.

Is the degree available part time? That might make it easier to manage with juggling school hols etc,

Bwlch · 01/10/2020 09:25

You would need to check the specific university teaching hours, some go on into the evening. They don't all stop at 6pm.

chunkyrun · 01/10/2020 09:51

Op I've started uni this year as a single parent.

There is a child care grant covering 85% of child care fees term time only. After 30/15hours is used.

Separate child dependents grant.

Maintenance loan.

I still receive universal credit. They've divided my loan over the year and deduct that as earnings per month rather then one go. They don't take any grants into account.

ApolloandDaphne · 01/10/2020 09:53

I did a SW degree and had to be in every day except a Friday. We also had placements which were full time. My DD had to go to nursery pretty much full time to allow me to do this. Thankfully my DH was able to pay for this so I can't help you there. I would advise doing some sort of volunteer work before applying. Maybe do this until your DD starts school and then apply? We had a lot of written work to do and it would have been hard with a young child and no other support at home.

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