Doing a second degree...

[The Colossus]

I’m looking more and more into the possibility of doing a second undergraduate degree at the moment as its been two years since I finished the first one (dear lord, two years - life ed.). Just wondering if anyone on here has done so before, or are in the middle of doing so and if so how you’ve found it compared with the first one? How are you managing it financially? Were you still able to get funding? Are there perks of being a more ‘mature’ student? All that sort of jazz.

Ta.

[GoddamnElectric]

I've done a second degree, albeit on a fast-track route due to the content of my first degree. The cost was minimal, but entirely self-supplied (the SAAS wont help you with this). I found the Uni very helpful in allowing payment in instalments though, should I have wanted to do that.

Maturity-wise I found it a different experience - I was too old, and paying too much money, to be afraid of asking questions in lectures and to be afraid of approaching the staff for follow-up questions and reading. You certainly appreciate their time more when you're actually paying for it! It was a rewarding experience, and although I'm sick to the back teeth of uni now (6 years without a break) I'd recommend it to anyone who wasn't nicely settled in a nice wee career already.

[bikuki]

Ask DJToast - he's done about 5

[The Colossus]

Not quite that mature.

[Kenny]

Haha. Can't say anything about a second undergraduate degree, but a masters has been awesome. Totally true about appreciating it more and putting more into it, too. Only now do I understand the phrase youth is wasted on the young.

[The Colossus]

Originally Posted by GoddamnElectric

I've done a second degree, albeit on a fast-track route due to the content of my first degree. The cost was minimal, but entirely self-supplied (the SAAS wont help you with this). I found the Uni very helpful in allowing payment in instalments though, should I have wanted to do that.

Maturity-wise I found it a different experience - I was told old, and paying too much money, to be afraid of asking questions in lectures and to be afraid of approaching the staff for follow-up questions and reading. You certainly appreciate their time more when you're actually paying for it! It was a rewarding experience, and although I'm sick to the back teeth of uni now (6 years without a break) I'd recommend it to anyone who wasn't nicely settled in a nice wee career already.

I could well imagine thats how I'd approach things. “Move it kids, I’m here to LEARN”. Or not.

The money is slightly more my concern. Alternatives to SAAS? Giant bank loans? I don't want to do the thing in Scotland, which may hinder things perhaps.

[GoddamnElectric]

Originally Posted by The Colossus

I could well imagine thats how I'd approach things. “Move it kids, I’m here to LEARN”. Or not.

The money is slightly more my concern. Alternatives to SAAS? Giant bank loans? I don't want to do the thing in Scotland, which may hinder things perhaps.

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...

[The Colossus]

Yeah, I figured there was no total way around the big whack factor, but minimising it as much as possible was my aim.

Are you still eligible for any kind of basic funding for a 2nd degree, or do you have to be seen as going 'up a level'? i.e. doing say a PhD.

I'm fully willing to badger whoever possible to get small amounts of money. Tin can outside Burger King is not out with the realms of possibility.

[GoddamnElectric]

To the best of my knowledge you'll get sod all for a 2nd degree, but you'll only get a definitive answer from the awarding bodies themselves. Give them a phone and explain what you're after

[The Colossus]

Definitely. Its just easier to post on an internet forum when its 10pm.

[Charlicat]

I've saved up about £3grand squids so far to go back and do a second degree.

[Woolies]

Originally Posted by Charlicat

I've saved up about £3grand squids so far to go back and do a second degree.

Remember you owe me a pint so don't go recklessly spending that ALL on school books.

[Adele]

what's with the third degree?

[djtoast]

Originally Posted by bikuki

Ask DJToast - he's done about 5

Only one, sadly. My mother has two BAs and a BEd; my uncle has a BA, an MA, an MLitt and a PhD, my sister has an MTh and a PhD; Marie has an MA and a BSc. But I've just got one bog-standard run-of-the-mill MA.

Originally Posted by The Colossus

Not quite that mature.

I never actually was a mature student; you're only classed as one if you start your degree after a certain age; I was 18 when I started.

I was certainly never a student who acted maturely either...

[The Colossus]

Originally Posted by Charlicat

I've saved up about £3grand squids so far to go back and do a second degree.

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.