Thinking of going to Uni to study either Social work or occupational therapy or.....

[3andnomore]

Health & Exercise.

Well, with teh last one I have no clue at all, under what possible funding it would go, lol!
However, with Social Work and Occupational Health Therapy the funding of the actual studys seems to be covered either by NHS or that Social Work Body, is that right?
If you get accepted into the course, does that mean you will definately get the ocurse funded?
Also, would it be madness to even contemplate full time study at my age (37)?
I am a Nurse, btw...but not registered anymore, and well I trianined in Germany anywya, so completely different system. I truely don't fancy Nursing at all anymore...and by what I have read, etc... I really think that Nursing has become even harder then I remember it....and I think I would just be far to scared to do it, not feel prepared at all and well, teh return to Nursing courses seem to be well few across teh country now, which to me shows that they don't want to encourage more NUrses back into Practice...

I feel if I could now study, I owuld get far more out of it and well, dispite it being more difficult to study around family commitments, I just would be committed more to it.

I could not afford Uni (course fees)...but as I haven't really worked the last few years (only some relief work as and when, so, we are not reliant on my wage or anything), I think as long as it would be funded we would be o.k....

The Uni I am considering is the University of Northampton...anyone gone to it...is it good, etc...?

Anotehr thing that I would enjoy to study would be dietetics...but it doesn't look like they are offering that...

Well, any thoughts welcome...

BTW. Social Work and Occupational Therapists seemed to be needed in this area a lot...especially Peterborough has always OT Jobs going, and SW Jobs are all over Northamptonshire...so, I assume either would be good things to study. Not quite sure about Health&Excercise...but the course description does look fabulous.

Oh one thing that freaks me out, is the whole essay issue...english isn't my first language, and not sure I would be up to scratch...hm...

sorry so long and rambly!

I would say DO IT, trained to be an SLT a few years ago, straight from A levels, but there were plaenty of mature students.

I would suggest though that you go and train in the thing you actually really want to do, rather than what's funded, cos otherwise it'll become a bit of a chore maybe if your heart isn't really in it?

Lots of courses get an NHS bursary, usually tuition fees paid, then you apply for a means tested elemnt for living costs, dependants etc, pretty sure I got sent all the forms once accepted, I trained at DeMontfort in Leicester and loved it, don't know much about Northhampton.

Hope that helps and good luck!!

There was a thread yesterday which said 0T was super family-friendly, 9-5 with lots of part time work available - and that OT's were generally happy with their jobs.

Oh, those 3 things are most certainly all within my interests...like I said dietetics would be another thing I would like...but at this time I would NOT be able to say which of these I would prefer over the other...iykwim....
I have actually just called them for the prospectus and next Saturday they have an open day, so, I shall go to that, and probably that will help me clarify in my head which course is for me
I know what you mean that it shouldn't be down to jsut the funding...but it would make life easier...and I suppose I am lucky that those are the things that interest me.
Leicester would be another good option for me (as I live in Corby, so they are about the same distance...but I find their prospectus, the online one to complicated, lol)
Thank you for your reply...
dh is supportive of this idea...I suppose longterm it makes sense...although, to many it would probably make more sense to just return to Nursing and to be done with it...but I just can't see myself going back to Nursing...

Thanks Anna, yes, OT Jobs are, mostly good working hours...which is always a good thing, imo...and it does seem to be a really satisfying field...and I suppose my nursing qualifications would be helpful aswell, and give me some advantages .

my only advice would be to choose a subject you love and will be passionate about, and then look for courses and/or funding, rather than the other way round.

i teach mature & international students and there is plenty of support available for essays, etc, so i don't think you should let that hold you back.

good luck!

being passionate really is important...I do relaise that...I think that is one of the main factor why I don't want to go back into NUrsing...I don't feel passionate about it at all....when I did my training and the years after I did feel passionate...although, it lessened with time...and it probably was just that whilst the general field is very interesting...working on the wards can be so very disheartening

You could also go out with ot's and social workers on an observational basis. Although I suppose you have saw them in action since you are a nurse. I went out with a couple of ot's last year who seemed to love their job. Like you I struggled between ot and social work. I have picked social work, started the degree a couple of weeks ago, the reasons for my decision are too many too mention. Being honest, if I had been accepted onto both degree's, and job opportunities existed in both area's, then I would have picked ot.
You have until Jan to get your ucas application in so you still have time to decide. I wish you lots of luck in your decision.

Thanks colie....
I am hoping that the Open day will help me a bit....and because indeed I have a good idea what Social Work and Occupational Therapy involves, the 3. course that looks interesting, the Health & Exercise one will hopefully become clearer.
I have the feeling though that I won't be able to choose, lol...is it possible then to apply for several courses and then just see which one takes you?
Good luck with your studies...

Oh, somehting that sounds stupid, I know...but what does a typical Uni day look like, if there is such thing...is it one lecture after the other...or how does it work?

Oh, and it's a good idea to see if I can actually go with a Social Worker and OT, etc...because even though I have seen them in action, it was from another pov, iykwim...

3andnomore-like your name. I have probably confused you with my post as confused myself.
I should have explained I only applied for social work but during the summer was thinking of deferring for a year, but meanwhile sneakily applying for the ot degree. Not sure if this would have been possible, never actually checked it out with ucas.
I geared my personal statement entirely towards social work but I suppose you could try and gear it towards both and apply for both courses. It is just much easier writing a personal statement just for the one course though.
Any extra experience you could get I am sure would stand you in an even better position of getting on the courses. Although I am sure you would get accepted onto both with your nursing background.

Hi Colie, don't take much to confuse me, lol!

I just had a look, because, I had to drive through Peterborough earlier, lol, and realised I had no idea if there was a UNi...well, there is a college/Uni thing, that does Social work degree courses, and it mentions that fulltime you would be attending 2 1/2 days a week for 3 years...is that normal....i.e. I always imagined that full time degree course would mean you are sort of 5 days either at Uni or at a placement (depending on the course)...as you can see, I really am clueless, lol...

Also, would it be worht applying to different Uni's...like , in my case, Leicester, Northampton and Peterborough, forinstance?

You spend 50% of your time on full time placement and 50% of your time at uni. The first year is generally a shorter placement. I am at uni 2 days a week until end of March and then on placement 5 full days a week until end of first week in June. My second and third year I start out on placement straight away, in the Sept and don't finish up until mid/end Jan. Then at uni for rest of academic year. The placements are full time unpaid and you still have academic work to do on top of your placement.
I think ot is similar, your time is split 50/50.

I applied to all the uni's within travelling distance of my home that did the social work degree. That was 4. Soon there will be 5. Strangely enough there is only 1 uni within travelling distance that does ot.
Have you looked at any of the social work student sites or ot sites. I will get the names of them and post them on here.
I know you said there is another course you are interested in. Hope your decision isn't too taxing.

I am considering applying for a social work degree, but I am a single motther and really worried about childcare - is any of the child care funded, or do you have to debt yourself up to the hilt for that?

can only go by what I read on the Northampton Uni website and they give you a link or number to contact to discuss childcare needs, etc...so, I would think there is some help!
Luckily, my ys will start full time school next September, so, for me childcare isn't the major issue...!
But probably best to go to teh websites of your local Uni and see if there are any addresses/numbers where you can get info about it!
And thanks Colie

thank you 3and

Excuse me why would it be madness? I am in thrid year of my degree (am 34) and have no intention of stopping yet, Dh is planning on hsi degree asap as well and he is a few years older than me.

funding is easy to sort ime, what iwnould say though is that thre's a Mum on our course who started the SW course and really wanted it but couldn't manage the hours around the kids (she does have 5 though and is a single mum). Its notoriously hard work but of course management depends on the university.

Mature students traditionally do well, and in facta re more likely to get a first apaprenlty (I won't, but IF I can keep up alst years performance- taking pg into account- shouldn't miss it by much).

Good luck!

IMHO I get a childcare grant of 85% of the costs of our CM, and as am not a single mother and have a working dh, I assume you would qualify!

Gosh that would be fab if I did!

UCN is a nice university (I was there for 2 years) and the personal tutors/offices were all very approachable - if that helps in swaying your decision. Parking is a pain though like most unis so you need to get in early to bag a space .

Hi...the madness part was...i.e....I am 37 now...and 3 Kids...and well....I am not teh brightst button, really...although of course I did pass my Nursing many moons ago...
of course, personally to me, I suppose, t actually would be more mad to consider returning to Nursing, with the way it stands, and well...I just really don't fancy it one bit anymore....so, I don't think I would be happy...and seeing that well, once I am in work properly, I probably spend a lot fo time doing it...I might aswell enjoy it, right?

Bookworm...was just saying to dh how I might have to get a little car though, if I do it, because well, it wold be uneconomic if I was going to use our Multipla all the time, and he told me that I should do as he does and get a motorbike , not sure about this one, lol

BTW....with the Social work degree....do you, at any time, have to specialise on a certain sector...i.e. working with Kids or working with adults?

DD2 finished her 2nd year of the SW degree at Manchester this summer and is taking a year out because she is a) shattered and b) skint (mind you the skintness is down to her own idiocy with money so don't let that sway you, she should have been OK)

Her tuition is paid and she also gets a bursary of c£2500 from the GSCC (General Social Care Council) on top of her loan.

She was very motivated when she went in and enjoyed the first year very much; she wasn't over-burdened with lectures etc and was able to work 20 hours a week at a call centre.

The first term of the second year was similar to the first year, but from Jan-Jul she was on placement; 9-5 Mon-Thu + full day lectures on Fri, plus about 8 major pieces of written work to hand in. This meant she didn't have any time for paid work and felt stressed most of the time and she doesn't do stress well at all

She knows people doing SW at Manchester Met and Salford, and their essay requirements during placement were much more reasonable. Also although she really enjoyed the placement (at a day centre for SN adults) she didn't get much practical knowledge from it and felt she was just free labour.

I think she would say look very carefully at the way the courses you are interested in are structured, eg how placements are divided out in the 3 years and how much written work is required and when.

HTH. If you like I can ask her when I see her (she's not here atm) if she has any more specific advice!

(Incidentally part of the stress was down to the fact that she was house-sharing with fairly affluent students all doing academic degrees and we all know what lazy sods they can be - obv this wouldn't apply to you!)

that would be great if you could...anything helps

lol, Wendy, no, I just have to put up with the usual slobs I am living with ( my 3 ds's and dh, lol )