Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Original poster

Bursery on midwifery course how will it effect my exisitng tax credits?

12 replies

slushy06 · 23/06/2010 10:44

Will It effect my tax credits. I am tossing and turning between a maths degree or a midwifery course. One of the considerations is the fact that I get a bursary with midwifery. Will it effect my tax credits thus canceling out one of the bonus about doing midwifery?

Dp works we are on a lower post graduate training wage that increases yearly if that helps. TIA to anyone who is kind enough to help me out.

OP posts:
lilly153 · 23/06/2010 15:06

i dont no if it depends on where your studying but when i phoned tax credits to find were i stood with my tax credits and studying they said they dont included burserys so it doesnt effect your tax credits
i would just give them a call though to clarify it

Original poster
slushy06 · 23/06/2010 15:16

Ok thanks a lot I may just do that. It is obviously not the main reason to choose midwifery but I am weighing pro's and con's of either option.

OP posts:
DaisyMooSteiner · 23/06/2010 21:24

Sorry, this is OT. Have you actually got a place to do either course? It is very, very difficult to get a place on a midwifery course and you have to be incredibly dedicated to stand any chance of getting through it. If you're really struggling to decide between that and a Maths course I would be surprised if you would be able to stick the course to be perfectly honest.

Original poster
slushy06 · 23/06/2010 21:50

I have spoke to both tutors both said they don't start booking places till open day so to go to that on 30th June. I am very good at both science and mathematics so I don't see why I shouldn't look up jobs and do research on both subjects before I choose between them it seems perfectly reasonable IMO.

I am weighing up the pros and cons of either career before I choose a degree so that I will stick at it there are two I am interested in Teaching or midwifery I intend to look long and hard and decide which one will be best for me. As it is I have decided to go for Maths teacher my reason being after speaking personally with the tutor today she told me that I would have to do a lot of work experience that would involve nights on the midwifery course which I can't get childcare for.

You know absolutely nothing about me to doubt whether or not I am able to do a degree, I actually got a A-level in law over a year when I was 15 and that took a lot of commitment so yeah I think I can do it.

As for this comment 'If you're really struggling to decide between that and a Maths course I would be surprised if you would be able to stick the course to be perfectly honest.' well I am guessing you were only good at one subject and never had to choose between two subjects. I am a all rounder, good at most things, so yeah I had to think about what subject to choose.

OP posts:
DaisyMooSteiner · 23/06/2010 23:47

All right, calm down. I wasn't suggesting you couldn't cope academically. What I meant was that unless you're 100% certain that you want to be a midwife you're unlikely to get on the course and even less likely to get to qualifying, because it is incredibly difficult in many ways, not just academically and you have to be totally committed to being a midwife. You weren't certain and chose Maths. Sounds like a good decision. Hope it goes well.

Original poster
slushy06 · 24/06/2010 08:52

Really sorry daisy moo, I have very bad support from family I virtually flew every subject, Particularly maths. My uncle has a 1st doctorate in maths and when my teacher started quoting the word genius I was pushed way to hard by some, but my nan always put me down saying I would never get a degree so I jumped on the offensive, my crap support meant I dropped out after being pushed to hard.

I really wanted to do midwifery to be honest, but it is not suitable and I don't have the support to do it I was using the bursary to try and talk myself into believing I could do it, but I have to face facts I can't do nights it is not fair on my dc .

I will love being a mathematics teacher though, I am nervous I have hidden all this from family, because I am scared to tell them. Thanks for answering even though you got a mouthful for your trouble .

OP posts:
DaisyMooSteiner · 24/06/2010 11:19

That's OK, I was probably a bit brutal. Good luck again, hope your family are supportive.

tellmewhy · 24/06/2010 16:52

slushy06 my DD1 is doing childrens nursing at uni.The uni is close enough to home so she doesn't have to stay in halls.Anyway what i was going to say was she has just done her first year.While she is on placements she does have to work shifts but it hasn't been to bad.One week she might do 2 morning day off and 2 nights.Each week has been different.Each block of placement have lasted for 8 weeks at a time.DD's friend who is on the course said nights worked better for her.She would drop DC at school then go to bed and get up in time to pick them up.

I know you most likely know all of that anyway,but i just wanted to point out if you want something enough there is away round it.

Original poster
slushy06 · 24/06/2010 18:10

Thanks tellmewhy I was not going to speak to the midwifery tutor but I think I will, and take dp with me so we can discuss whether between us we can manage thank you. Good your dd has you for support .

OP posts:
tellmewhy · 29/06/2010 11:36

slushy06 have you decided yet which course you are going for?
I think i'm going to do a access to higher ed course.Its been over 20 yrs since i did any studying.

lovechoc · 29/06/2010 11:45

midwifery is a very difficult career path to go down esp if you already have a family. You will work shifts (do alot of nights aswell) and the bursary isn't that great to survive on.

I'm sure academically you would manage fine, but it's the practical aspects that may be more challenging (esp when it comes down to finding childcare). You will also be expected to complete coursework and submit this whilst on placements. It is very draining emotionally and physically.

I went down the nursing route but didn't have children at the time so it was much easier to complete the course.

Not trying to put a downer on it, it's a great career ofcourse if it's something you are passionate about, but just warning you of some of the challenges you will face along the way.

lovechoc · 29/06/2010 11:48

I also second what DaisyMoo says about the difficulty of getting a place on the midwifery courses. It's very competitive.

I know our local nursing and midwifery school only has an intake of 20 student per year for the midwifery course. And there aren't enough jobs for them once they qualify after the three years. Many newly qualified midwives I've spoken to have to do bank work until a full-time post comes along. Not great when you are relying on a post to give you plenty post-reg experience.

Just another few things for you to think about...

New posts on this thread. Refresh page