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Mature study and retraining

Talk to other Mumsnetters who are considering a career change or are mature students.

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Original poster

Has anyone done a second undergrad degree?

22 replies

littlebluetrain · 21/01/2022 13:49

Anyone with experience of completing 2 (or more?!) undergraduate degrees in order to change career?

Just looking to hear your experiences on how you managed financially, with kids etc.

I'm in Scotland so tuition would be manageable (under £2k per year with the possibility of a waiver for the first 2yrs due to the subject) but it's just daunting thinking about leaving paid employment (there'd be no scope to also work part-time as the course is very intense, with placements etc).

Interested to hear your insights... If anyone has actually done this!

OP posts:

TheCanyon · 21/01/2022 14:02

I went back to do a second degree at 30yo. I didn't return to work after having our twins so wasn't missing out financially. Was sometimes tricky if one of the dc were off sick or school holidays etc but it was manageable. Lockdown and exams were fun...

I got full funding, can't remember why though

Original poster

littlebluetrain · 21/01/2022 14:05

Thanks for your reply! How did you settle in to studying and doing assignments again? Are you still working in the field you studied?

OP posts:

LoveMae · 21/01/2022 14:07

BRB, moving to Scotland! I would LOVE to do a second degree but at 9k a year there's no chance for me.

I'd do it if you can OP, it's short term in the grand scheme of time.

Original poster

littlebluetrain · 21/01/2022 18:38

Yes we're really luck up here tuition-wise!

It really is a short time in the grand scheme of things, considering that even after I were to finish, I'd be 45 and still have 20+ years of working life to go

OP posts:

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 21/01/2022 18:41

Yes I did and it is what I now do and am building a career in. I did an arts degree first time and then a Bsc. I didn't have fees second time because it was nhs funded at the time, just spent every penny I had on childcare!

Now doing a Masters because everyone loves taking out a 3rd student loan don't they?

Original poster

littlebluetrain · 21/01/2022 19:10

@OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea

Now doing a Masters because everyone loves taking out a 3rd student loan don't they?

Sounds like you made a good decision and enjoy your career if you've gone on to do a masters now!

My experience would be similar - arts degree first time round and now looking to retrain in an allied health profession.

Ugh, student loans! The trick is just to never earn over the repayment threshold

OP posts:

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 21/01/2022 20:08

I have a plan 1, a plan 2 and a postgraduate loan. Collecting a full set.

It is worth doing. Lots of people come into health related careers later.

Notbluepeter · 21/01/2022 20:20

I did it in Scotland at age 30. It was cheaper to do the the four full year undergrade than a one year post-grad. Plus I was burnt out from my job and so was happy to take my time (requalified from solicitor to accountant). As a student I found employees immediately open to my applications, that I would need training etc. But when I briefly tried to change career while skill practising in law, potential employers dismissed me immediately as some weird unknown entity. People always harp on about transferable skills but in my experience no potential employer wants to train an employee from strach unless they can do it very cheaply (i.e. like a new graduate)

quiteathome · 22/01/2022 22:32

Doing a second BSc now. Health related. Trying not to think of the loan.

It has been manageable. And lockdowns have sort of helped as DH is working from home most of the time now. So the children are supervised after school. They are secondary age now. So it is getting easier

GettingItOutThere · 22/01/2022 22:38

yes mid -late30s and almost 100k of student debt (3rd degree).

Well worth it, hard work at this point in life but the debt is just another bit of tax you pay really so if thats your issue i would not worry.

we are a long time from retirement so crack on!

Original poster

littlebluetrain · 01/02/2022 19:23

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences!

This would be my 3rd degree, as I have an undergrad and a postgrad, so I'm glad I'm not alone on having a huge amount of student debt already... And I've only in the last couple years started earning over the threshold for automatic payments to start... It's never getting paid off... May as well add to it

I can't spend the rest of my life in a career that strips away any semblance of feeling alive. I've missed the application deadline this year but will keep an eye on clearing or apply next year.

OP posts:

Original poster

littlebluetrain · 23/08/2022 09:42

Just revisiting this thread to say I'm still on the fence about this! The thought of taking four years out of (well) paid work is really daunting. 😩

And then there's the issue of getting a reference for the application - the only suitable person I could ask is my current employer and I don't know if I can bear the awkwardness. I know this is just a small hurdle though and I shouldn't let it be the reason for not pursuing a new career.

I've been doing so much reading about/around the career (an allied health profession) and I just find it so fascinating. I'm under no illusions that it's perfect, but I feel like it could hold my interest and has a lot of scope for development.

I've signed up for the uni open day and I've also registered for a virtual event about the career in general.

I'd love to hear about more experiences of second degrees if anyone wants to share!

OP posts:

BadgeronaMoped · 23/08/2022 11:15

I'm about to start my 3rd year of diagnostic radiography as a mature student, i did a BA the first time round as an 18 year old (great fun, not so great in terms of having a stable income after uni).

I had to do an access course before I could get into uni, that was the toughest bit due to the lack of a maintenance loan (really enjoyed the access course though!). With a student loan and the NHS learning support fund, the degree part has been fine financially (although I'll be paying both my student loans off for years and years...). I LOVE the degree course, its been fascinating, challenging and there is scope for progression. Placements have varied, some sites are excellent, others are less so.

I have a friend who also retrained in his 30s, from engineering to physiotherapy, he found the course hard but really enjoys his career now.

Original poster

littlebluetrain · 23/08/2022 16:01

Thank you, that all sounds so positive! I half wonder if student loan amounts are going to rise due to the cost of living rising so steeply. This is another worry!

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MakkaPakkas · 23/08/2022 17:04

I taught a mature student last year who was doing a second undergraduate degree and she was one of the best students in the class (she'd done a BA the first time and was doing an MSc). Other lecturers comment that mature students and careers switchers are often the best students. So from the pov of lecturers - these students tend to be great.

quiteathome · 23/08/2022 18:33

I have just finished my second one. I start my new job very soon. Best thing I ever did.

Original poster

littlebluetrain · 24/08/2022 09:03

@MakkaPakkas I have heard this - I can see myself being much more motivated as a mature student and not embarrassed to ask questions!

@quiteathome Congratulations! What did you study?

OP posts:

annoyedneighbour1 · 24/08/2022 09:19

I did this, to do midwifery.
I pay my half of mortgage and bills using student finance and the nhs 5k bursary. I had to make sure student finance classed me as an independent student for me to get the maximum amounts though.

In 3rd year now and only very recently got a flexible part time job, I do about 12 hours a week at £15 per hour. Just gives me a bit more freedom.

quiteathome · 24/08/2022 11:22

I did podiatry

MuddlerInLaw · 25/08/2022 10:04

Glad you’re moving forward, OP. And it’s interesting to read of others doing the same.

However … For people living in England and not taking a vocational course that comes with a bursary - it’s always going to be easier funding wise to start a Master’s degree rather than doing a second BA/BSc.

Anyone in England with a first degree can apply for a

Government Postgraduate Loan

for postgrad study. Pretty much every course and institution is eligible.

burnoutbabe · 28/08/2022 09:22

I would counter that the post grad loan is capped at £11,500 or so?

My London masters was £16k just for fees. No living costs covered.

(I just paid myself up front as interest rates far higher than what I get on my savings)

As a graduate I did a second degree that was just 2 years so that saves costs. They do them in a few subjects. Accelerated degrees.

KittenKong · 28/08/2022 09:28

I did my second part time when working full time, then part of a 3rd when working and pregnant (didn’t pick up this one but did a professional course when he was tiny as I was also a trained therapist so did some additional training).

My company paid for my second degree and post grad (one of them) as they were work related and I paid for my therapist training and the 3rd degree (part). I’m about to do a one day a week training (something practical that I’ve been dabbling in) and that will take a year.

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