Single parent wishing to do a degree, advice please...

[returningstress]

I have spoke to careers advice so know how to go about getting the information I need.But just wanted to speak to other single mums or mums in a relationship to know how they manage it all.

I have heard that if you are not working and are on benifits then if you do a degree parttime you can continue to recieve your benifits including housing benifit. And will recieve help with course fees. Just wondering if anyone one else has done this and if it does work that way?
But if you study for your degree fulltime then you will not be entitled to benifits and all course fees and living expensives will come from student loans?

Just wondering if this is correct and if so do you find you mange ok on student loans?

Also wondering if you find doing a degree through OU works well for you and how you keep motivated? As seen from lurking on here that there will be little fees to pay if you study that way...
But cannot really get the whole thing of doing a degree that way as seems like you have to teach yourself...

Any advice welcome... I am looking forward to hearing other peoples points of view...

Bump... Anyone?

I'm a lp and have studied both with the OU and at a 'brick' University full time.

Whilst I studied with the OU;

• I did not pay course fees
• had a one off grant every year for any materials etc.

I continued on Income Support, Child Tax Credits, Child Benefit and Housing Benefit/Council tax benefit.

I was motivated to do it because for me it was a means to an end, and the material was interesting. There were a number of (optional) tutorials that I was unable to attend (no childcare), the online chat was there if needed, and in all honesty I was grateful to have something non-child centred to do on an evening.

I am now a full time student at a brick Uni and the funding is slightly different. Through the student loans company I have;

• a student loan to cover course fees (paid straight to the University)
• a loan for maintenance
• a grant to go towards living costs
• a grant to help with childcare
• the parents learning allowance to cover books etc.

I'm obviously still entitled to child benefit, and I also get a level of child tax credits and housing benefit based on my 'income'. Due to my student status I am exempt from paying council tax, and at some point I will also be getting a grant from the University as I get a full maintenance loan.

From a purely financial perspective, once everything is paid etc there is very little difference. We're certainly no worse off.

I think that you're best to look at what style of learning you think you will get the most benefit from, what you are wanting to do with the degree, and what timeframe you think will suit you.

The one thing that I will say about the two methods is that they are very different lifestyles. Even doing three OU courses simultaneoulsy I was very much a SAHM who did OU stuff as well, these days it's much more of a 'job' iyswim?

Best of luck

Do it!
Its not impossible by a long shot.
Deal with all the issues that arise over childcare and benefits etc because it is worth it. I promise, I did and I know I have so many more choices because of it.

The alternative will be so much worse. I'm not trying to scaremonger but the simple fact is that you need to do what you can to help yourself because the benefits system is going to change, drastically.

Regardless of the coalition backdrop, we have a tory government now. Fact.

Look after numero uno because no-one else is going to.

Thank you to everyone for the advice.

I want to do a business studies degree, I am very new to this but think it would be a great thing to do. I am going to have to do a access course first, are there any shorter then a 1 year course? Or can you do an access course through OU?

Also it looks like I could do a foundation degree now as I have alot of work experience but do not have a levels or anything, highest qualifaction is level 2 NVQ.

What is the difference between foundation degree and batchelors degree? How are they different timewise?

And am I correct in thinking if I do either a foundation degree or batchelors I still have to go on to do my masters?

I really think I would prefer to be in uni that I am attending, as not sure if I would be unmotivated doing it at home.
Thanks again for all the advice...

I believe the foundation degree is a level 5 qualification. A BA (Hons) is a level 6 qualification. You need a level 6 to do an MA as far as I know.

I didn't know that you didn't need to do an access course for OU, thats usefull information.

Thanks for that info FranSan...

So learning with OU, how long has it taken any of you who have got a degree to complete it? I'm sure it will vary alot but just to get an idea...

Thats a good idea, so to get into a conventional university how many points would you need? Perhaps that would be quicker for me to do, rather then wait untill sept to do a access course whichs takes a year, then start my degree sept 2011.

As Prolesworth has said, you're best to find a course that you'd want to apply to and speak to their admissions office.

The thing to bear in mind is that the start/end dates for OU courses are fixed, so it will not necessarily be any quicker than taking an access course through your local college.

I took science courses, but all of the 60 point courses were 9 months in length and all started in September so it's still a full academic year iyswim? Also, though it is possible in theory to do 120 points/year with the OU, it may well not be feasible due to their scheduling and the difference in levels.

If you have a look on the UCAS website it will give you some information about business studies degrees, and there is a box for entry requirements for mature students. This might give you a starting point.

I did my OU degree before I got pregnant. But I did it while holding down a full time job (and my employer paid my course fees), and I completed it in 5 years. It's hard work but worth it.

Thank you all again for the responses, very helpful info...

Am currently doing an access course. Its excellent basis for returning to education. Was a lone parent up until last few weeks when my DP moved in.

I have a place on a Social work degree in September.

Agree speak to admisssions and find out what they want.

Wha do you want to do afterwards?

onadietcokebreak - will you be doing your degree full time or parttime? And now you are living with your dp, will you have to pay full course fees?

I want to do my business studies degree, then after that teach business admin courses in colleges while my little gil is at school. Then maybe when she is older will find something else I can use my degree for.

I will be doing my degree full time. As partner earns less than £25,000 we will be eligiable for the full support pckage (hopefully)

As a lone parent you will be too - check out direct gov. Financially there is alot of support out there. It wont be caviar and champagne but its not poverty either. If you rent you may still get some housing benefit as you are a student parent.

I didnt pay course fees for Access course as I was a lone parent. However they are lots of reasons why you dont pay for further course fees...check with your local college if you need this to get into uni.

Also you need to check out pathways to teaching at your local college. You may need to upskill your maths fo example.