Occupational Therapy Masters Degree or UG Degree Apprenticeship

[Naturesmuse]

I am looking for advice from any Occupational Therapists or OT's in training.
I have started a well-paid job as a 'Social Care Worker' for the council working under qualified and experienced OT's. I will be trained and working mainly in Disabled Facilities Grants and Assessments, and issuing equipment, as I shadow members of the team, with an aim to have my competency signed off.
There may be an opportunity to complete an UG degree in OT in the future, which would take 4 years, and would be funded by the council.

Alternatively, I can leave employment and become a full-time student and complete an MSc Pre-registration in OT at the University, which would take 2yrs and would need to be self-funded via student loans.
As a mum I need to factor in work hours, childcare and income.

Any thoughts please on which option would provide a better quality training opportunity/experience overall?

Personally, I think it would be better to get some experience under your belt and a salary then be sponsored to do the degree. You won’t have any debt, your kids will be older so you’ll have more time to study and you’ll still be being paid. Placements will give you an opportunity to try out different areas to your usual work setting.

The only thing I’d want some certainty on though is that your employer will definitely offer sponsorship for a degree. However, if they don’t , then you can go to Plan B at that point.

Do they offer it as an apprenticeship near you?

Given your parental responsibilities are you up and ready to study at Master’s level? They can be a hell of a lot of work, with higher demands than a first degree, and you’d probably receive far less support from an academic institution than from your employer. There is almost invariably (judging from my own experience and that of countless posters on this board) a point, often in the spring term, where a mature student reaches peak exhaustion and feels they cannot carry on. Throw in any unexpected family concerns and the student may find themselves having to take a year out, or withdrawing altogether. So those two years take on a different and protracted shape. (Not saying it’s impossible, at all - just that you really need to be aware that it might be hard.)

You definitely need to pin down the may be an opportunity in the future - but if that looks reliable I would take the job.