Doing a second degree... - Page 2

Charlicat · 12th April 2007, 10:03am

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Colossus

How much do you aim to have before starting? What else are you doing to finance the thing, if you don't mind me asking?

I spend most of work today checking out Uni's again, I think I'll take a stab at clearing.

Over £3grand squids was what I thought I would need to go back to uni if I did decide to go back to uni in the UK, cos tution fees are just over a grand a year for most courses, so I wanted to be able to pay them up front then just work to pay my living costs.

Until a few weeks ago when I got my office job hours cut back to 25 hours a week, I was working 40 hours a week in an office, 16 hours a week doing weekends in a bar, and was doing a part time uni access course which is 6 hours a week on Tue and Thurs nights + study. Also did a wee bit of flyering on a casual basis if it suited. When I think back to how little time uni actually takes up, I could easily work enough hours to fund myself through completely. It will take more than just 16 hours a week weekend job, but I don't think that will be that taxing. I seriously reckon I could work a full time job while a full time student. I wont though. Maybe about 25 hours a week, I can live on £600 easily enough.

I also have the other option of going to Oz, getting my tuition fees pretty much paid, getting fortnightly student benefit payments and studying a nice environmental science BSc in the Ozzy sunshine. In which case I would just spend that £3grand squids on flights back to see family during holidays.

Benefit of dual citizenship, international student debt-setter~!

Withnail · 12th April 2007, 11:36am

Dear god... is that even a choice!? Why are you still here? If i had that option you wouldn't see me for dust...

Charlicat · 12th April 2007, 11:43am

I'll miss my kitten

sylvianorth · 12th April 2007, 11:46am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlicat

Over £3grand squids was what I thought I would need to go back to uni if I did decide to go back to uni in the UK, cos tution fees are just over a grand a year for most courses, so I wanted to be able to pay them up front then just work to pay my living costs.

Until a few weeks ago when I got my office job hours cut back to 25 hours a week, I was working 40 hours a week in an office, 16 hours a week doing weekends in a bar, and was doing a part time uni access course which is 6 hours a week on Tue and Thurs nights + study. Also did a wee bit of flyering on a casual basis if it suited. When I think back to how little time uni actually takes up, I could easily work enough hours to fund myself through completely. It will take more than just 16 hours a week weekend job, but I don't think that will be that taxing. I seriously reckon I could work a full time job while a full time student. I wont though. Maybe about 25 hours a week, I can live on £600 easily enough.

I do two jobs and I'm a full time student and still manage a solid four hours of tv a day. The only problem is when it comes up for exam time, cutting back on the hours and making adjustments.

I'm not even nearly finished my first degree and I'm already contemplating a second. Maybe I'll just keep going to Uni forever, like Van Wilder.

Trip · 12th April 2007, 11:48am

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoddamnElectric

Most banks will offer a 'career development loan', if the course you apply to has a decent chance of getting you a job. These loans often wont be repayable until a couple of years after you graduate, when hopefully you're working. It's certainly a risk though and don't let them tell you otherwise!

You should also try your hand at bursaries and grants. The SAAS can give you a form to fill in and check if you're eligible for any of the random funds out there. I'm not sure if they can give you a similar form for non-Scottish sources...

Or you could ask the uni department you want to go to. I'm at the law school at Strath, and they get grants from all sorts of places but rarely bother to advertise them outwith campus. If you don't ask you don't get

I'd imagine this line of study is going to cost you a fair whack, probably no way around that...

Quite a few of my friends have got career development loands...they are easy enough to get although I don't like having any sort of loans so I didn't get one...

As far as I know, they SAAS/SLC are fairly lax with paying out loans to postgrads...most people I know have got a loan...although I'm not sure if its different if its an actual second degree you want to do.

I'd go for it though! Its totally different if you really want to be there and you're paying for it...although 4 years is a long time!

Charlicat · 12th April 2007, 11:57am

Quote:

Originally Posted by sylvianorth

and still manage a solid four hours of tv a day

Obviously watching Buffy repeats is an important priority.

TheEdgeCrusher · 12th April 2007, 12:17pm

Fuckin' tax dodging gypsies the lot of ye.

Later Edge

sylvianorth · 12th April 2007, 12:19pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheEdgeCrusher

Fuckin' tax dodging gypsies the lot of ye.

Later Edge

I pay 25% tax on my second job!

Elmo · 12th April 2007, 12:19pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlicat

I also have the other option of going to Oz, getting my tuition fees pretty much paid, getting fortnightly student benefit payments and studying a nice environmental science BSc in the Ozzy sunshine. In which case I would just spend that £3grand squids on flights back to see family during holidays.

Benefit of dual citizenship, international student debt-setter~!

oh my god, WHY hadn't I thought of that?!?! *plots*

Charlicat · 12th April 2007, 12:23pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elmo

oh my god, WHY hadn't I thought of that?!?! *plots*

If you hadn't thought of it, maybe you're just not University fee dodging material.

Elmo · 12th April 2007, 3:43pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlicat

If you hadn't thought of it, maybe you're just not University fee dodging material.

indeed! although my biggest hurdle is just getting the money to go over there, once i'm THERE i can scrounge as much as i can off the aussie government

System_Star · 12th April 2007, 4:04pm

I never finished my first degree, I completed the first 2 years though and was pretty worried about going into something new due to funding etc.

Thankfully because it is nursing I get a bursary and I have just found out they will pay all my tuition fees for me again, happy days!

Sort of worried about going into a new year and being "older", but with nursing I am sure there is a diverse age range.

Now just to get back into study mode again

Charlicat · 13th April 2007, 12:01pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elmo

indeed! although my biggest hurdle is just getting the money to go over there, once i'm THERE i can scrounge as much as i can off the aussie government

I'm worried about having nae pals and sitting in the house myself day after day with the internet as my only companion.

*

* Same worries that plague my daily life here

Be my Aussie flatmate please. Where are you from? Me = Perth.