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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

Getting A Degree As A Parent

13 replies

xyzbear · 04/03/2022 13:38

I'm sure this is around in all forms of threads but I wanted some direct advice!
I was a grade A student and I love learning but when I was studying my A levels I got very depressed and mixed with the wrong people and eventually dropped out of college. I'm 23 now and a mum to a 6 month old. I'm currently on maternity leave but I really don't want to go back to my stressful, demeaning hospitality job.
I want to be doing something more fullfilling for a career and I want to learn. I've been looking into doing an online access course so that I could study midwifery at university but it seems that the degree would have to be on campus.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing because I realise that instead of debating going back to school for years, I should've just done it - but now I have my daughter.
I guess she would be a toddler by the time I can complete an access course, and I'm wondering how possible it is to manage a degree and a child...
My partner is supportive but worried that I won't be able to balance motherhood and education and that I'd leave us in debt:/ He works a minimum wage job too.
How doable is this? Is the qualification and stressful midwifery career even worth it?
I know I'm very young and it's not too late for a new career but also the mum guilt is eating me up - I want to be around my daughter, and there for her, as much as possible!
Does anyone have any advice or experience (good and bad!) they can share with me?
Thank you,
Sorry for the essay - good practise I guess😂

OP posts:

Original poster

xyzbear · 04/03/2022 13:40

Long Story Short: How do you balance motherhood and univeristy!!?

OP posts:

dollymuchymuchness · 04/03/2022 13:42

It's the very best thing I have ever done. Returning to study as an adult is a gift, you enjoy it so much more and you get so much out of it. My kids are well proud of me and I feel like I've been a good role model, as they've seen me studying.

Go for it, you won't regret it.

pupcakes · 06/03/2022 17:16

Hello. I started my access course as a single mum to a 6 week old baby and it was the best, best thing I've ever done for myself. I went on to do a degree a year later and now am super grateful for my education and the life it has given us. You can absolutely balance motherhood and university, if you are dedicated and have a support system.

Good luck! Go for it!

AwkwardPaws27 · 06/03/2022 17:54

Midwifery is a challenging degree with a young child as you will be expected to complete postings, these are usually both hospital and community settings so likely to include periods of working shift work, including night shifts. If your partner is working during the day then you'll probably need childcare while he's at work or wraparound care if you started the degree once DD starts school.
There are plenty of great access courses available but, if you are going to want to go to a local uni, I would suggest contacting them to see if there's one they recommend or that has higher application success rates. It's a popular course.

TheHumanSatsuma · 06/03/2022 18:04

I went to uni at 29. Had my daughter at 31, took a year out and went back for my finals. Did my PGCE with a 5year old and a 1 yr old. Husband worked away.
It was tough but do-able. Mine was science degree so lots of contact time but not so much background reading.
My son (2nd child) hardly slept until he was around 15 months, not sure how I would have coped with degree with him.

I had a lot of emotional back up snd very good friends who stepped
up immediately in a crisis.

TheHumanSatsuma · 06/03/2022 18:06

@TheHumanSatsuma

I went to uni at 29. Had my daughter at 31, took a year out and went back for my finals. Did my PGCE with a 5year old and a 1 yr old. Husband worked away. It was tough but do-able. Mine was science degree so lots of contact time but not so much background reading. My son (2nd child) hardly slept until he was around 15 months, not sure how I would have coped with degree with him.

I had a lot of emotional back up snd very good friends who stepped
up immediately in a crisis.

Have to add, I have never, ever regretted it!

quiteathome · 06/03/2022 21:07

My kids are older 9 and 10 when I started. However it has worked well.

Also a healthcare course. However hours are better than midwifery. It is also worth looking at other AHP courses.

It is doable, so good luck. Just look at getting support in place.

Hairyfairy01 · 10/03/2022 07:17

Lots of parents do healthcare courses as a mature student, it's definitely possible. However during placements you would be expected to 'work' 12 hour shifts, day and night, so would have to make sure you had good childcare. The fact the your partner is on minimum wage may work to your advantage as you are more likely to get financial support.
I would get yourself on the access course (check with the admissions team of the Uni you want to go to that they will accept it first), and spend that year really looking into different careers, speaking with people who do them etc. I would also carefully consider other health related degrees such as dietician, speed and language, OT etc which may provide more family friendly hours in the future. Good luck!

tealandteal · 10/03/2022 07:41

Both myself and my husband are studying at the moment with a 4 year old and another on the way. We do have degrees and have gone back to education whilst working. It is doable!

You could consider a

tealandteal · 10/03/2022 07:42

Oops!
You could consider a midwifery apprenticeship if any are offered in your area but will need to juggle working shifts alongside study.

mdh2020 · 10/03/2022 08:19

I went to university when my DC were 9 and 6 and never ever regretted it. It was hard work but they learnt to be independent and saw that I was happy and when I qualified as a teacher we had a better standard of living. I also went on to further study while teaching full time. What you are suggesting is doable if you are determined to make it work and if you have the full support of DH.

Edmontine · 10/03/2022 10:08

Nothing useful to add - but I’m just so glad to see the responses here.

(FWIW both my parents were studying and training for their respective professions when I was a baby / toddler / pre-schooler. They must have spent huge portions of their combined incomes on childcare. But they were making the life we went on to have as family - and their children grew up thinking it was completely normal for both parents to be fully engaged in jobs they loved.)

SallyCinnamon3009 · 10/03/2022 11:52

Currently on an access course and got three offers to
Study midwifery in September. I'm 38 and will turn 39 two days after starting uni for context.

I started access whilst on Mat leave from second child and I do face to face in college which for me has definitely been better than online.

Uni will be hard with two kids but I do have a very supportive partner and wider network to help out. I'd say go for it but I'd also say you're still only 23 and there's no rush if now doesn't feel like the right time. NHS and unis love mature students for healthcare courses as they have so much life experience.

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