Going back to University at 34

[MrPostman]

Hi there,

I am wanting to finish my degree and have either 1 full-time year or 2 part-time years left to complete it depending on what I do choose to do.

I would like some opinions from people on what direction I should go in. A bit of background on me:

• I have a Certificate in Education so can teach and have taught 14+
• I am also an assessor and curriculum manager and developer in previous roles
• Am currently an LSA to fit in with children but still do ad hoc work in ESOL (studied English at Uni before pregnancy made it tricky to continue)

I just want opinions on the following:

• Do I finish my English Degree and just do those modules to get the degree?
• Do I do a Humanities Degree so I can study History (a topic I adore) but it may take longer?
• Will my employability improve with either degree based on the fact I have worked for many years anyway?
• I would like to migrate over into publishing at some point in my life and feel as though there is a good opportunity with any degree to change into that career path at some point. Is this correct in anyone's experience?

Basically, what do I do? I love English Literature and can of course carry it on but I would like to dive deeper into History as it's something I do truly enjoy learning more about.

Any ideas or even an odd pep talk would be great as I want to make a decision quite soon

Thanks in advance guys!

I don't know anything about employability, sorry.

What level have you studied History to previously? I'm asking because IME, they are more different to study than people sometimes think. I currently teach History and started out teaching English Lit; some of my current students did English Lit degrees and are now doing History postgrad courses, so I am fairly familiar with the issues about switching from one to the other. Basically, I'd be worrying that you can't be sure your competence with English Lit would translate over to History. I get that you're saying you love it as a subject, but if getting the degree finished/getting a good result is a priority, it'd be worth trying to figure out if you're likely to do as well in History as you have been doing in English. Have you ever moonlighted on history lectures/had a look at the structure of their essays and assessments?

Hi @SarahAndQuack that's some food for thought actually. I haven't sat in on a History lecture in years and you're right, there is a difference in assignments and the mechanics of the subject when it comes to assessment questions and drawing conclusions. I will have a look back at when I did a broad humanities year when I started my degree and see where my strengths lay.

Good advice and just what I needed to hear to help me with my decision making.

If you're already a curriculum manager I wouldn't bother with the degree. I went to uni at a mature but slightly younger age than you and I found it quite isolating. I had children so didn't fit into the clubbing/party scene and was a good bit younger than the other mature students, who were 50+ and were fitting uni around full time jobs. I came away only knowing the names of a small handful of other students. If I had known this I would have done my degree with OU.

Hi @dragoncena I am actually going to the Open Uni! I started my degree with them and have been back and forth loads with other unis and definitely don't want to have to leave home for lectures. I have only ever succeeded with learning in a distance-learning capacity anyway.

I am going to make my decision by the end of next week I think!

Input it greatly appreciated guys, thank you!

@MrPostman

I thought I’d chip in as I’m just finishing a history module with the OU.

I completed 300 credits of a 360 credit degree at a brick uni, as a teen parent but had to drop out due to childcare issues. My last year was 2007.

I signed up to the OU last summer as I felt I’d let myself down and I wanted to be able to say I’d achieved it. (Actually it was people on here who inspired me to go for it!)

I had previously done modules on child psychology and childhood/education.

I didn’t want to continue down that path. I was able to transfer 240 credits towards an ‘open’ degree which allowed me to pretty much choose any two level 3 modules.

I chose one history and a social science one (in a field I’d never studied before).

I have LOVED my history module. I’ve currently just got my EMA to do (40%- (6 smaller essays made up 60%) and I’m currently on track for a 1st.

I am 36 and hadn’t touched history since A level.

With encouragement from my tutor, I applied and was accepted onto an MA.

If you’re thinking of history at the OU which module do you have in mind? I’d recommend A326.

@DrunkenUnicorn

So pleased to hear you have enjoyed it and are about to start on your MA! Congratulations. You are awesome at getting a first! There's no way I could achieve a 1st as all my previous EMA's were a high pass 3!

I love the Empire module at Level 3. The only thing is I would need to switch my degree from English to Humanities with a specialism. I am not sure what my options would be. afterwards, but with pass 3 an MA probably won't be an option.

I don't have any particular time frame but would like to have a really good idea of where my degree may take me when my youngest starts school in September 2022.

Your input has been very helpful indeed and really well done on a 1st! They are very hard to get at the Open University :-)