I want to stop professional study

[wowfudge]

I've been studying for four years for a professional qualification which work is funding. The first level of it was fine; enjoyable, useful and I passed.

I'm now doing the second level modules and it's a real leap up in terms of sheer volume of material you need to cover and know. The professional body states the same amount of study is required in terms of time. I am really struggling. I passed one subject at the third attempt. I have failed another subject twice and recently found out I failed a third one. If I don't pass first time I have to fund the fees myself.

The study is making me miserable as sin - I ended up on sleeping pills I was so stressed and was prescribed anti-depressants after the last module. I don't want to go through that again. I get one day of study leave per module - the day before the exam. It's ridiculous, but I signed up to it. DP advised me at the time not to do it because it would probably be too much.

The agreement I have signed states that if I leave work I have to pay the company back. Once I have passed everything I need to work for them for twelve months to be released from this obligation.

There is nothing about deciding to stop the study. I don't know how to deal with this now. My manager will be pissed off and I think I could end up in massive debt and jobless.

Can you do the job without the qualification?

Thanks for replying - yes and I did, but with the part qualification I achieved the job title changed and I got a pay rise. My manager has been pretty good with giving me more interesting and challenging work to do. The flip side of that of course is that my manager does more of what they want and need to do too as I'm more useful. I asked about the study initially - now I'd be looking to get out of it.

Could you defer for a year? Or ask your manager if you could take some more time off as the workload for your course has changed so much?

I almost fell apart earlier this year and had terrible anxiety trying to finish a course. In the end I withdrew and can always go back, your health is more important but if you feel you can get some stability back and have a break it might help?

I did defer a module this time last year. I don't want to make a rash decision but I am seriously questioning whether the whole thing is worth it. My worry is that my manager will not be supportive and that they will want the money back.

"My worry is that my manager will not be supportive and that they will want the money back."

The two aren't mutually exclusive. It wouldn't be "unsupportive " of your employer to want the money back, in fact it would be completely astonishing if they didn't.

Can you speak to HR to clarify exactly what the position is? At least then you know even if it is that you would have to pay the money. I did with a course I did (different situation though) and they checked and confirmed and I have an official answer as official policy was vague in terms of dates.

Thanks flowery - really helpful. I should clarify that they are my two worries, 1. my manager will not be supportive; and 2. they will want the money back.

The agreement I have signed only mentions paying back the fees if I leave. Tbh I am pretty pissed off about the study leave situation as a colleague is getting a day off per week for a course they are doing.

But hey, my stupid fault for agreeing to the bloody thing.

You know, for the past three years I have used holiday in order to revise. I am absolutely shattered and I wanted some advice and support, not snarky remarks flowery. My job is demanding. Trying to study as well has brought me to the brink of a breakdown.

It's totally normal when undertaking professional study to have to use annual leave for it and to get just a day of paid study leave (although some employers are more generous). The fact that they are funding it for you is a huge benefit and effectively part of your package as it gives you skills to be able to fulfil a higher level of duties and earn more.

However, it is very demanding and not for everyone. I've known people to make the decision to stop studying after repeated exam failures and they haven't had to repay anything, but it's up to your employer. If it's causing you this much grief, the first step forward is to talk to them and tell them you don't want to continue with the studying. Have a think before talking to them about what direction you want to take your career - do you want to stay with the company but in a junior role without the progression that qualification would bring? Do you want a change of career entirely? Yes your employer may not be pleased as they've invested a lot in you and it's possible they'll want that back, but if you can't continue the way you are then you have to open up the dialogue with them.

I do sympathise. I only did two degree modules (as stand alone modules) and found studying so difficult when trying to balance it with daily adult life - so different from when I did my initial uni course. I was surprised at how difficult I found it.

You wanted advice, I gave you advice. Apologies if advising you that hoping they will be happy to write off such a bit investment is unrealistic counts as being "snarky".

I assumed by advice you wanted accurate, realistic and knowledgeable rather than the opposite.

Hopefully people will be along in a minute to tell you what you want to hear, i.e. that your employer will no doubt be happy to write off the money they've invested.

Thanks Wonder and TooStressy. The money they have invested in me isn't that much to them; it's a lot to me. I now wish I had self-funded so I wasn't in this position, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

I'm happy to stay in the role I'm in. I am not particularly ambitious - I can't see myself doing my manager's job and wouldn't want to as the hours and pressures aren't for me. I'm happy I got the first level of the professional qualification.

flowery do re-read what you posted: you could have been much less harsh. My fear is that I could lose my job or that my working life could be made really unpleasant as a result.

If I was your employer I wouldn't be happy 4 years in that you want to quit. Also I imagine you will have to pay back your fees as you haven't competed the course. It also won't reflect well to management

Are you studying to be an actuary?

If so plenty of people give up part way through. It's a hard slog and not everyone makes it to qualification.

You need to speak to your manager, I'm sure they will be sympathetic.

My health is worth more to me greendale. Carrying on would destroy me. I have been brought really close to that.

trixy no, not to be an actuary. I don't want to say, as it will probably out me. I work bloody hard and am doing another role alongside my own, which has been the situation for the last nine months.

They can be as unhappy with me as they like, but I have tried and tried. After the first level I thought it was manageable, but it hasn't turned out to be.

flowery do re-read what you posted: you could have been much less harsh

Flowery's post isn't harsh or snarky at all.

Have you had any help with study skills? It's really tough - I studied for several qualifications as a single parent working full time. I found there were some techniques that really helped, as well as having some "buddies" doing the same qualifications. We all supported each other when we got close to chucking it - which all of us did at different points!

I kept a pile of index cards with bullet points in my bag that I could look over when I'd a spare minute.
I had a flip chart on my stairway with a list of terms and definitions I had to know
I used different colours to mean different things
I used commuting time for studying. Also got up early weekend mornings to fit in an hour or so.
I also forced myself to drop everything and go for a walk, have a break, rather than just stare at books with nothing going in.

Have a break, and make a decision when you're more clear headed.

I think flowery's post was positive! You may well get the support of your manager on a health/mental wellbeing even if they ultimately ask you to pay fees back.

Can you have an honest chat with your manager about how you're coping? What's your workplace's wellbeing policy like? I know my work (large company) would much rather see people healthy and happy than flog themselves. If you've already achieved a partial qualification that's recognised enough to warrant a step up I can't imagine they would ask for that bit to be paid back - is it possible they'd only ask for the second bit back that you haven't completed?

Can you do part time study for a while, so complete it at a pace that you can fit in better?

You won't know your options until you ask. Can you speak to HR about terms without involving your manager yet?

I am clear headed. I don't believe I have an issue over my study skills - there is much that you list Olly that I do and other things too. The pressure of fitting everything in is too much for me. I don't want the qualification enough to make the strain of studying as well as working worth it for me. I need time for me as well, but it isn't possible and that has affected me detrimentally. The thought of going through that again makes me feel sick.

Yes, I know why I failed the modules, but it's not as simple as addressing those things.

The issue of support is that I don't believe my manager will be supportive of me putting my mental well-being above this qualification. My manager will have to tell others I have given up and it won't be pretty.

First, talk to your supervisor, and see what options they have, e.g. if you gave to complete modules within a certain number of attempts or timescale, and how others have handled it. Are there any partial qualifications you can get, for what you've completed so far? A certificate rather than a diploma, or something?

Then go to HR with this information and discuss the financial implications if deferring or quitting, and the risk to your well-being of carrying on as things are. Also discuss your worries about your manager's possible reaction, and how to deal with that, depending on what you choose to do. He shouldn't be allowed to put you down about it.

Here, we have to pass to get reimbursed - but we have to pay upfront and can only claim it back when we pass, so it sounds like a different system anyway.

Thank you Ebearhug. I have the partial qualification already. There are no timescales or restrictions on how many times you can retake, as far as I am aware. I don't think I can take having to go through the study and exam process again. It all comes down to a three hour exam and you cannot retake other than at one of the two annual exam sessions.

I am concerned about talking to HR. I don't believe they will keep my discussion with them confidential. If the head of HR finds out I am thinking of stopping studying before my manager does that will be an issue. The head of HR is not someone I trust. I work with the senior management team and I see and hear what goes on.

I should probably add that I have mentioned my health concerns to my manager in the past - I did when I took a break last year. If I go to HR I guess that these will at least get documented.

Professional study is really tough alongside work, commute, family life. I got pregnant halfway through doing my qualification and it was such a slog to get to the end.

I can't see how they can take the money off you if it was for gaining the partial qualification.

After putting in so much work it would be a shame to not see it through. I would see if you can get work to support you more at exam time