Fee-paying uni for a year or free uni for 3 years?

[Munchcrip]

Hi everyone!

I have 10k in savings and wanted to go back to my studies.
I have two options, either go back for a masters course that lasts 1 year and costs 9000 pounds. (I dont have a traditional bachelors degree but got accepted because of previous work experience)
Take a bachelors degree for 3 years, but for free and save up/invest the 10k.

What would you do?
Both courses are remote so they wont rrquire any relocation

My studies would be in computer science

How much income would you miss out on in years 2 and 3 if you did the 3 year option? Ie because you’d be studying instead of working

Assuming you are in England you can get a postgrad student loan of just over £11,000 towards a masters fees and maintenance.

@Forestwalker82

How much income would you miss out on in years 2 and 3 if you did the 3 year option? Ie because you’d be studying instead of working

I'll be on maternity leave for 18 months from the month my studies start. I work as a freelancer so my clients don't really look at my diplomas, just my portfolio, so my salary won't be majorly impacted per say. Thing is I want to have a diploma as a safety net if I decide to work in an office or contract based job with a more stable income. (Mine varies month to month). Which I will probably want to do when the baby starts going to nursery full time etc

@Comefromaway

Assuming you are in England you can get a postgrad student loan of just over £11,000 towards a masters fees and maintenance.

Thank you, I will have a look at that xx

Would the courses be full time? I'm doing a master's part-time alongside full-time work and even that is very hard going. I know you won't be working, but I think doing it with a baby would be just as intense, so it might be worth keeping that in mind when considering.

That aside I think I would go with the master's, if not having an undergrad won't affect your job.

You're going to be on mat leave, and working, and studying all at the same time?

If you earn less than the cut off for repaying the loan, I'd take the loan.

@Justkeeppedaling

You're going to be on mat leave, and working, and studying all at the same time?

If you earn less than the cut off for repaying the loan, I'd take the loan.

That’s a lot. Dh is studying a part time masters alongside working as a teacher and there are times leading up to submission deadlines where he disappears from the rest of the family at weekends.

Dd is doing a full time masters. She manages to work part time about 20 hours per week but she has no family responsibilities.

How would the undergraduate course be free? If you have been accepted to the Masters it doesn't make a lot of sense to do an undergraduate course. But I agree with others, check if its one you can do part time if it gets too much.

Thank you all for your feedback, your replies are very helpful.

@Fabtasticfanatic

How would the undergraduate course be free? If you have been accepted to the Masters it doesn't make a lot of sense to do an undergraduate course. But I agree with others, check if its one you can do part time if it gets too much.

I could do the masters part time, it would take 2 years instead of one.

The reason why the undergrad program is free is because it's from another European country (dual citizenship)

I would also factor the quality of the course and the universities into this equation. If equal I would definitely prefer the Masters. If very skewed, not so much

Ah the imaginary study time you get whisky on maternity leave...
I felt like you. Said I was going to finish my degree note I only had to finish it.
I did not. I then brought a nanny in when dc was 6 months old and felt relief I no longer had to look after baby so much and then dithered once more
I have finally completed a newly started masters.
Dc is aged 8.
I'd wait until baby is here to apply if I'm honest!

Whilst* not whisky although you may need a drink to contemplate using maternity as dreamy study time

I started a PHD whilst 5 months pregnant to keep me busy during nap times. My daughter’s now 2 and I’ve just put it hold. I’ve finished the research phase so only have the final push to finish the last couple of chapters but I’m exhausted and can’t push on any longer. I’m going to come back to it when she starts nursery in Jan.

If I were in your shoes, I’d use those savings for when your LO, or LOs depending in your choices, are both at school