OT

[MumVUnicorns]

I am looking at retraining at 49...am I being completely ridiculous at considering this and starting a degree in OT?

I already have a degree in Social work and I don't want to go back into that (I know that probably seems the most logical thing to do), I just feel I need a new direction and OT has always interested me.

Has anyone else done this or something similar?

Hi, just graduated at 45 and was far from the oldest. Go for it! Happy to answer any questions.

Hi thank you for the reply.
Im just trying to work out whether to go down the masters route or try to do undergraduate, and then it's working out how student finance and NHS bursaries works too - getting myself in a complete pickle here.
I am right in the middle of three uni's all 90 minutes drive away (I will have to commute as small family). I don't know if I am talking myself out of it, or whether it's just not practical?!

I'm sure academically you would be more than able to do a masters, however it is very full on I believe, with little time for much else which is obviously difficult with a family and a commute. I did an undergrad despite already having a degree and found the full crime course to actually only be 3 days of uni and 2 days of 'self directed learning' (where I did paid employment). One thing to bear in mind is the placements will be full time. Maybe ask each uni how many placement s you get, for how long and how far you might be expected to travel for them. As a parent it was no more than 1 hour at my uni. You could also ask how much of the course is online, this varies greatly.

Hi, current PGDiploma OT student here. The postgrad course is very intense whereas the undergrad one is less intense as you have 3 years to do the same modules you do in 2 years on the postgrad course. Placement-wise, you can request to go as close to home as possible due to your family (I also have kids) but it's also likely that you will be commuting a long way to placements. My furthest has been 1 hour 15 min drive each way and the shortest has been 30 minutes, but I managed to arrange my own placement closer to home for that one. Teaching blocks are usually 2 days in Uni in the first year and 3-4 days in Uni in the second year. Good luck xx

Forgot to add... finance-wise, I got the full tuition fee paid and the full maintenance loan plus NHS bursary of £5k which everyone gets plus an extra £2k as I have children (you sent them a copy of their birth certificates).

I started in 2021 during Covid so a lot of the classes were online and gradually moved to a combination of online and in-person as the cohort preferred this.

Lots of people train in OT as a second (or even third) career. There are pros and cons to both routes.

BSc is longer so less intensive. If you already had student finance for the SW training you may not be eligible for degree level funding again.

The job itself is brilliant, very diverse but obvious you’ll have to do placements in the whole range of areas (but you’ll know about that from your SW training).

If you have any questions, ask away.

It sounds like the undergrad route sounds better for me really, thank you that is really helpful advice.

Thank you for all the replies.
I have lots to think about and three universities to go and look at and speak to now - for undergraduate.
However, I think I will also look at the postgrad route too, and see if this is something that may work again down to student financing really.
It needs to be the right balance for me and life and thank you again for your insights!