Open University while being a single parent

[LolaMacbeth]

At the moment I work part time and I am a single parent to an almost 13 year old, we are currently awaiting for a decision on a DLA claim as my daughter has uvietis, associated glaucoma and takes immune suppressants. Still not sure if she will be awared, so I'm excluding that payment.

I have been pondering on if I should start a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology full time so 120 credits a year (3 years of study) with OU to broad my prospects of getting better job opportunities in something I love to do.

I am in receipt of Universal Credit and Housing Benefit.

Now I know with OU you will be considered a part time student even if you study full time. I won't be entitled to maintenance loan either just the tuition fees.

I've tried to work out my finances and I think I would be struggling immensely if I was to do this...

If I was to study full time and give up my part time job would mean I would be worse off...

Is there any help at all for single parents other than the normal benefit award like child care, living cost and housing benefit?

Because my daughter will be soon 13 UC will expect me to work 35 hours a week, will that affect also my decision to start at OU?

I calculated how much I would get not working, would be around £1.400 a month, my rent alone is £750 and the left over money wouldn't cover the rest of the bills such as energy, food council tax internet etc. I have no debts.

I have spoken to a UC advisor and they were not very helpful, it seems they don't know how to answer these questions either... they just tell me if I can't commit to my work requirements they'll close my claim, however me training towards a better qualification isn't qualified as fufilling the requirements?

If anyone could help or in similar situation would be apreciated, thank you

I think you should contact the OU who will be able to advise you on this..

If your dd is awarded DLA middle rate care or higher you can claim Carers Allowance or have the Carer premium added to your UC and you won’t be required to look for work. That’s what I was doing while I studied most of my OU degree and all was well.

It’s possible to work part time and study 120 credits (2 modules) a year with OU.
Why not study 60 credits (one module) for the first two years and work part time? Then reassess and see if you are feeling ok to study 120.

What job do you want to go into? A lot of psychology based roles require further training or training posts beyond a degree, it's worth looking into as 3 years of study could turn into a few more! There are a lot of psychology graduates who are surprised by this, I'm sure you're already away so sorry if comes across condescending just the reality is it can be quite a long road. There are more apprentiships for some routes in that field though, perhaps worth a look?

OU will have had these queries before and should be able to advise, if not maybe CAB?

Already aware*

Enrol at a physical university and commute. A "full time" student really isn't that- you'll have 8-12 contact hours a week and then can either read/write on campus or finish work at home. If you do this you'll be entitled to tuition fees and a maintenance loan- which doesn't affect your UC.

Yes I am aware. OU does mention that the degree is like a steping stone to being a fully qualified psychologist. Which is totally fine.

The degree is a Bachelor's with Honours in Psychology with Councelling.

I would say I am looking towards counselling more, working with people and help them manage mental illness. Working with children even.

I am going to try and contact OU with the same questions, it would mean alot to me if I could do this tho I am just very worried about how would I pay the bills and juggle my child's needs and work if I had to still work...

Thank you

I don't think you'd be able to do 120 credits a year, plus work plus look after a child. It's too much. I did 60 credits at a time with a partner to help. For TMAs and the final EMA, it was full on. Couldn't have coped with doubling that.

Definitely check out physical unis near enough to commute to, and the contact hours for the course you want to study.

I have just completed my second degree year, 3rd year of uni as had to do a foundation year as well. By attending physically you will get the maintenance loan of around 9.4k pa, then possibly extra for being a single parent, and also be eligible to apply for bursaries. The maintenance loan is taken into consideration for UC as an income, am not sure about bursaries tho.

Workload wise I cope fine, tho assessment period is a bit stressful. I have 2 dcs, 1 went to uni last year herself and dc2 is 9 now. We also have 2 ponies that take about 3 hours a day, 7 days a week, plus run a business that takes on average 2 hours a week every week. And various other animals, hobbies for both dcs that need taxi of mum for. Husband works fulltime, long commute so majority of domestic drudgery I do tho he is very hands on at the weekend. I do humanities, so contact hours are about 9 a week, rest is self study I squish in around everything else. And with blended learning now being a thing, tbh most of my lectures I do online at home, so only go into uni for seminars/workshops which might be as little as 3 hours a week, at most 6 hours.

With 1 dc and a single parent as well, you will absolutely manage with the workload and work part-time, even with additional needs for dc.

If you want a counselling qualification, then don't do a degree online. Check your local colleges. You can do part-time courses that eventually work up to being a qualified counsellor that are less work and cheaper. To be a registered counsellor, you need to be on a course where they support you to get "counselling placement hours".

Most good counselling courses are part-time, including a degree or masters in counselling because of the hours of facr to face work needed. Check out BACP: www.bacp.co.uk/careers/becoming-a-counsellor/ and UKCP: www.psychotherapy.org.uk/psychotherapy-training/train-as-a-psychotherapist/ for good courses that will allow you to get jobs or become self employed at the end.

I would start with 60 credits and see how you go. You have 16 years to complete the degree. (Or something like that) I did part time over 6 years, started when Dd was 3. It was hard but fantastic.

Hello

Not sure what you decided on in the end but I work 30 hours a week, study with OU part time doing 60 credits a year and a single parent to one child and I just about manage but we have quite a crazy outdoor fun lifestyle. Also claim UC too and we manage just fine financially just about 😀

I have completed a degree at uni this summer.

It was three years of exceptional hard work, I worked part time in the evenings and in the day uni and study.

I got a full maintenance loan and a small amount of UC on top.

I got a grant for my childcare which covered 80 per cent of the cost.

It was hard work but the best thing I ever did. I now have a professional career and a degree and it was a team effort for me and the kids.

Word of warning depending on what you are studying there may be work placements my course had 2 one five months and one six months. This is where I came unstuck financially as I was working full time for free and then only able to do minimal shifts in the evening. Here I used a credit card, not ideal but keeps us fed for those months and now I'm a paying it back. In the long run it was worth it. But I had to cut back massively financially, think 50 per week for food for 5 of us. It was dire at times but we came through it and I'm so glad I did.

I considered ou but for me it was better to be in uni. I studied social work.

Other universities offer remote courses now. Take a look at the Uni of Hull