Advice for career change

[Clmtrrtox]

Did anyone go back to uni as a single mum and how did you afford it?
Or has anyone changed career as a single mum?

I want to get into healthcare but there are so many barriers as I don't have experience and I need to be able to support me and my son.

Im already working part time and hes at nursery, Im also on benefits already too.

Its just impossible but I feel so stuck!! I cant stay in my current job as they cant offer me full time, and any other job in my field requires me to travel into London.

It's not impossible, and you're not alone in feeling stuck. A few things that might help:

• If you haven't been to university before and you live in England, you can usually get a Tuition Fee Loan plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs, and as a parent you may also be able to get the Childcare Grant and Parents' Learning Allowance. Those two are grants, so you don't pay them back. They depend on household income.
• Universal Credit is usually affected once you start a full-time course, but single parents are one of the groups who can still claim, with student income taken into account. It's worth doing a benefits check before you apply.
• Some degree courses for adults are taught on two fixed days a week, which makes nursery and part-time work much easier to plan around.
• Healthcare doesn't have to mean nursing straight away. Healthcare management is another route if you'd like to work in the sector.

If you tell us roughly where you are, people here can point you to local options.

(For transparency: I work in admissions at Omega Partners, a free admissions support service for adults going to university. Happy to answer anything here, no need to contact us.)

I’m surprised you had no responses until today, @Clmtrrtox. Have you browsed all the many threads here and found anything helpful?

Possibly no one responded because you’ve given so few details - your approximate age, existing qualifications, childcare needs, current and past jobs, location and preference for online or in person study if that’s the route you choose.