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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Starting a degree at 35

65 replies

Gem8701 · 21/08/2023 08:32

Hi,

I not sure if this is the right place to post?

Ok so i work in admin at the moment, I have pretty much just had office jobs, I did do a HR course L3 a few years ago but then found it hard to gain any experience in this sector.

I am now at the point where I want to better myself and get a better job, as I have no GCSE'S I am thinking of doing a course/degree with the Open University but I feel a bit old?

Has anyone started at this age and its been a success?

Any advice appreciated.

Gemma

OP posts:
Flipflipmania · 21/08/2023 14:18

So all the advice to get gcse in maths and English given you have none - in one ear and out the other

titchy · 21/08/2023 14:22

Flipflipmania · 21/08/2023 14:18

So all the advice to get gcse in maths and English given you have none - in one ear and out the other

Tbf Access colleges usually also require students to do FS in M and E if they have none.

Given OP only posted at 8.30 this morning it doesn't sound like a long considered plan though! However, Access courses are very good and maybe OP will focus as a result.

Bunnyannesummers · 21/08/2023 17:03

A reminder here that you must pay for access courses, funded by an advanced learner loan. You can have this loan wiped if you then go on to a degree.
You can only do one access course, so important to be on the right one.

FlamingYam · 21/08/2023 20:23

It's wonderful that you want to better yourself and get somewhere and you're definitely not too old but you need to work out your goals/plan.

I say the rest with love... You already did HR but it hasn't amounted to anything... what's to say that a degree won't do the same? Could you refocus on the HR? Could you do an entry level HR role and get the experience? Could your current employer support this move?

As someone who has a psychology degree... don't bother! Out of my whole cohort and everyone since, only one works as a psychologist and had to do many years more studying.

Original poster
Gem8701 · 22/08/2023 07:48

I really appreciate all your advice, my plan was to do an access module with the OU in Psychology, social science and wellbeing Access module, then while I'm doing this I can decide A) What I want to do and B) if I want to do a degree.

I need to do distance learning as I work FT.

OP posts:
Original poster
Gem8701 · 22/08/2023 07:50

The OU don't do HR Courses :(

After everyone's advice - I wont be doing the Phycology degree, thinking maybe teaching or something children related.

OP posts:
Cornishmumofone · 22/08/2023 08:06

I'd strongly recommend getting your English and Maths GCSEs at college this year. They'll be beneficial whatever you decide to study.

There are also quite a few HR related courses on FutureLearn. FL Unlimited is about £200 and allows you to get certificates for the courses you complete. https://www.futurelearn.com/subjects/business-and-management-courses/human-resources You'll then know how much motivation and commitment you have to studying online. You could also try courses in other areas that interest you.

You could do a Level 5 in People Management online: https://www.icslearn.co.uk/lp/cipd/cipd-hr-courses/

Original poster
Gem8701 · 22/08/2023 08:58

Ok - i am going to book an interview with the local college to see if i can get on evening course to do the GCSE'S. Like you say, they will be beneficial, will i still need to do an access course?

OP posts:
trevthecat · 22/08/2023 09:04

I'm mid to late 30's and just completed a degree is children, young people and families. I really enjoyed it and lots of jobs locally. I got a part time job during the course and have just gone full time

Flipflipmania · 22/08/2023 09:11

Gem8701 · 22/08/2023 08:58

Ok - i am going to book an interview with the local college to see if i can get on evening course to do the GCSE'S. Like you say, they will be beneficial, will i still need to do an access course?

You won’t need to do an access course to do GCSEs

but with just two GCSEs, yes you will still need to do an access course in order to do a degree

Flipflipmania · 22/08/2023 09:11

Well done op

Original poster
Gem8701 · 22/08/2023 09:11

Thanks :)

OP posts:
Flipflipmania · 22/08/2023 09:13

It will be a challenge but you sound motivated

gcse maths and English isn’t easy. But it says a lot about you and your commitment to get a better job if you stick to it and get them

Flipflipmania · 22/08/2023 09:14

And even if you decide after doing the GCSEs that you don’t want to do any further study - having maths and English gcse will open your job opportunities

Original poster
Gem8701 · 22/08/2023 09:18

yeah i am defo motivated - my only worry is it feels like a longggg road, GCSES, access course, then degree, just feel like by time i qualify i'll be old and struggle to get a job at that point?

OP posts:
titchy · 22/08/2023 09:21

Gem8701 · 22/08/2023 09:18

yeah i am defo motivated - my only worry is it feels like a longggg road, GCSES, access course, then degree, just feel like by time i qualify i'll be old and struggle to get a job at that point?

It'll take seven years. You'll be 42. That's not old Ffs.

Original poster
Gem8701 · 22/08/2023 09:23

@titchy I might be 43 - i'll be 36 in oct.

OP posts:
FleetwudMac · 22/08/2023 09:24

I did a degree without GCSEs in English and Maths (well they were grade E!). Mine was a computer science degree. First of all I did an Access Course in Computing and was on my way.

I did do functional skills in maths as part of the Access Certificate. Highly recommended. 😊

Turns out I'm crap at maths but shit hot at coding. A welcome surprise!

FleetwudMac · 22/08/2023 09:26

Dont bother with GCSEs! Just focus on Functional Skills.

When applying for work they ask for GCSE or equivalent. Functional Skills will suffice at the right level! And you'll be given support to do them alongside your studies. No need to do it separate

Youdontsay87 · 22/08/2023 09:31

I'm 36 and starting a law degree with the open university in October.
I was never able to sit my exams due to health issues but was predicted all A*s and have been working in a very law based heavy job for some time now.
Personally I say go for it.

VaggieMight · 22/08/2023 09:32

Hi OP, speak to the college. You can do GCSEs alongside your Access Course. Depending on what degree you want to do, you could even do GCSE equivalent (although some degrees like nursing require actual GCSE).

Definitely not too old. I know lots of people who got their degree over 30/40 and it opened lots of doors for them.

Youdontsay87 · 22/08/2023 09:33

@Flipflipmania you don't need any qualifications to an open university degree.
OU degrees are just as valid as a degree from a brick based uni.

Shinyandnew1 · 22/08/2023 09:59

Gem8701 · 22/08/2023 07:50

The OU don't do HR Courses :(

After everyone's advice - I wont be doing the Phycology degree, thinking maybe teaching or something children related.

I would thoroughly research teaching before heading down this path; I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Recruitment and retention are at rock bottom, morale is low, work is pointlessly time-consuming, micromanaged, highly scrutinised and inflexible.

It’s not the easy option with 9-3 days that some people believe. If you are serious about this-search for some posts on here (or the ‘Exit the classroom and thrive’ Facebook group) about people wanting to start (and leave) teaching and read the replies carefully; so many people do the degree, PGCE and the don’t even make it through the training years!

YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake · 22/08/2023 10:17

You don't neee GCSEs or an access course to do a degree with the open university. They didn't even ask which GCSEs I had when I signed up. Look at the open degree, you can pick and choose modules to suit your preferences. They also have free courses through open learn, you could try a few to try and find a direction to go in.

Original poster
Gem8701 · 22/08/2023 10:28

@YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake what degree did you do?

Yes thats what I thought, they dont have access courses per say, they have access modules..

All this is sooo confusing...

My head is officially scrambled as to what to do..

OP posts:
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