OU

[Skippy]

I have decided at the grand old age of 32 that it's time I tried to better myself and I want to do a course with the OU. Would the OR have any objections if I was to use some of my surplus to fund this? It won't affect my IPA. My mum has agreed to pay for the course as long as I pay her back which isn't a problem (her terms are quite favourable!) and I will just set up a standing order to her account each month - is this likely to cause any problems? I don't want to wait until I am discharged as I won't be able to start the course until next October and I want to start in February.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[aguise]

I probabl;y sound daft but what is the course ?
Ang

Please visit my blog at http://aguise.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[Skippy]

Not daft at all! I want to do 'An Introduction to Humanities' - if I can pass that I get a certificate in humanities and then I can decide if I want to put the points towards a history or English degree. I don't know if I want to go that far but I want to stretch my brain a bit.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[aguise]

Good idea skippy. I did my nvq a couple of years ago and I think some of the others were surprised as i had been there 20 years and they thought I was past it at 40 . I really enjoyed it as you say nice to keep your brain going even if you dont carry on with anything else. All the best to you.

Ang

Please visit my blog at http://aguise.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[Skippy]

Thanks Ang. What did you do your NVQ in?

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[aguise]

I am an auxilary nurse in the nhs and did it in care. I did it more for me than them so that if i wanted to change jobs at any point I would have something behind me, though it did give me a small rise. It probably didnt teach me that much in how to do my job, but did give me much more understanding of the reasons why we do things the way we do and a better understanding of how the patients are feeling. It wa worth it and I did enjoy it. A lot of work but i showed myself that I could still achieve and wasnt past it.

Ang

Please visit my blog at http://aguise.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[Skippy]

That's how I feel Ang. Whatever I do won't help me at work, although it might help me to move on to a better job, but I want to do it for me. I started to do a law degree last year, but when I knew that I was in financial trouble I put the course on hold, and when I knew I was going BR I gave up altogether as you can't practice as a solicitor if you are BR - I didn't want to waste any more money.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[Soulgrowth]

Hi Skippy ... good for you. I have done three OU degrees and now lecture on two of the psychology courses and about to start my PhD with the OU next year ... and I left school without any qualifications! And I started when I was the same age as you!!

You will be able to open a OUSBA (Open University Student's Budget Account)... this is not credit checked or anything like that and will allow you to pay monthly over the duartion of the course. Do check to see whether you might be able to get some funding though as my son whose income is £17,000pa has just signed up for a course and he was entitled to a full fee remission. Certainly if you are in receipt of any benefits you should have some entitlement. You can do a calculation on the website.

I think you would be applauded for trying to "better" yourself ... feel free to email me if you have any questions [:)]

Debbie

www.babynamings.co.uk

www.soulgrowth.co.uk

[Skippy]

Hi Debbie, thanks for that. You've done really well. I'm being realistic, I want to get the Humanities certificate, and if I do ok I would then like to do either a history or English degree - they both look interesting, but at least I haven't got to decide yet! I phoned them about opening an account and as I'm a good girl I told them I was BR and they said sorry, no account! I then looked to see if I could get any help and again it was a no as I earn too much! Luckily my mum is coming to my rescue again! As soon as I move and have I'll get myself registered - I'm looking forward to it.

Good luck with your PhD!

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[Soulgrowth]

What a pain ... I didn't know that the budget account is credit rated!

Intro to the Humanities was the first ever course that I took and I finished up with a History degree ... enough to maybe get you into teaching possibly??

Aim for the moon ... you can only fall back to the stars!!

Debbie

www.babynamings.co.uk

www.soulgrowth.co.uk

[Skippy]

It sounds quite an interesting course, and I like the idea that I don't have to commit to a particular degree straight away as I really don't know what I want to do!

Are you doing your PhD in Psychology?

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[Soulgrowth]

I'm looking at the psychological effects on the bereaved of funeral practices and rituals (my other work) .... bet you wish you hadn't asked!! [:)]

Debbie

www.babynamings.co.uk

www.soulgrowth.co.uk

[kandh]

I have been studying with the OU for hte past 6 years on and off. I have completed the certificate in Health and Social Care and am one course away from the Certificate in Contempory Science. I love doing their courses. I haven't assigned any degree path yet, but am aiming for a Bsc. I will probably end up doing a va [:)]riety of Bsc lead courses to gain an un-named degree.

Kerri[:)]

[Soulgrowth]

Just as useful Kandh. My first degree is an 'open' degree earned before the OU started doing named degrees. I specialised in history and comparative religion though which was enough to open up a lot of possibilities for me. Having a degree cetainly increases ones earning power and great to plan for the future whilst you have young children. That's what I did anyway.

My PhD is coming under the school of Health and Social Care.

Debbie

www.babynamings.co.uk

www.soulgrowth.co.uk

[kandh]

I did look at doing a degree in Health and Social Care and actually got accepted at Portsmouth Uni to do this and they were going to take my Cert in H&S Care. This meant that I went straight into the 2nd year of the degree course.

However I wasn't sure what I wanted to after the degree and my youngest was only 2 at the time and I couldn't afford the childcare on a course that I wasn't sure what I wanted to achieve afterwards.

Kerri [:)]
PS Soulgrowth, I notice youare in Gosport. I'm in Fareham!!