Is it better to have a masters or a second degree (or part of one!)

[happinessiseggshaped]

So I'm unemployable at the moment after 4.5 years off work altogether and 7.5 out of teaching. I want to study a bit alongside doing what will have to be quite a lot of unpaid work experience to get back into work.

So do I do a part time MA, which I would find interesting but will add an extra lot of student debt that will limit my earning potential in future, and commit me to two full years. However the loan will give me a bit of money to live off as well as cover the tuition fees.

Or start a second degree which will essentially be free as it would be added on to my existing student loans which I will never pay back in full. Benefit with that is if I was in a year or so in a position to go back to work I could finish whatever unit I was on and then drop the rest.

Im not sure if either would help my employment prospects, I think it would vary with different schools what they prefer. Any ideas? I have a history degree and thinking about doing MA in history (that isn't a curriculum topic) or part of a degree in geography and environmental science.

Think a second degree doesn’t attract a loan, you have to pay up-front hence the reason Open University are struggling when in the past they relied on graduates signing up for a second degree.

If considering reinvigorating your teaching career, no one will be interested in your MA. You already have the subject knowledge from your first degree.

Schools are crying out for maths teachers. TSST provide training for people in the classroom - TA or teacher. Would recommend this route; as a TA to reacquaint your teaching skills without all the initial pressure of being a returner. Get paid, no additional debt. Highly employable.

I just looked at the TSST courses but only have Maths and Physics GCSEs, no science A Levels so you would have to be seriously desperate to ever employ me to teach Maths or science. I know they are, but I doubt that desperate.

The second degree would be Geography with Environmental Science, which does allow a second undergraduate loan, along with various other Environment and Engineering Courses. Obviously considered the shortage areas of the moment.

The degree/MA isn't so much about about enhancing my career (ha ha ha) as getting my brain working after 5 years of Thomas the tank engine.

Oh how can you find out which second degrees you can borrow more for ?

Sorry not helpful ! Personally unless the degree gives you a specific job ( like Nursing, teaching, midwife, dentist) I would think some volunteering would be better.

I love studying myself but working meh

www.open.ac.uk/courses/fees-and-funding/equivalent-qualifications

I am going to do volunteering as well but that will need to be long term, and I wont be able to start straight away anyway as my youngest doesn't start school until some undisclosed date in September. (School wont tell us for 3 more weeks!)

I also have to sort after school childcare to do the volunteering so it is going to be quite expensive. And beg someone to let me volunteer in their school without two references... because if I had two professional references then I could get A JOB in a school and not need to do the very expensive volunteering!

So I want something nice to start in September basically that doesn't cause a massive headache. I just cant decide what would be best.