Degrees

*off topic* Are you only 24, Ducky?! I feel so old ☹️

I know I'm being thick, but how long does the PhD take? I thought BSc + MSc = 6 years? Or have you somehow skipped a bit out sneakily?

I don't have a degree. I didn't want to go to uni because I didn't know what I wanted to do and thought it'd be a waste of time and money. I've since got myself a good job and career and have a largely useless HNC funded by work. Unfortuntely in my line of work you have to have at least an HNC but not having a full degree wouldn't hold me back.

I do get annyoed by people that go to uni not knowing what they want to do and then complete a degree in something totally useless.

I would also say that both me and my best friend didn't go to uni and out of all our mates we have the most successful jobs and careers at the moment because we've got 7 years work experience and job related qualifications. This may well change in future I realise

I don't have a degree at the moment, but I am studying for one part-time through the OU (BSc Hons in Criminology and Psychological Studies). I do regret not studying for my degree when I had the chance when I had the chance after 6th form, but I guess I wouldn't be the person I am today if I had done my degree at that stage.

My degree was 3 years, but I thought all (most - I know the oxbridge ones are different!) masters are 180 credits? That's a hell of a lot of work to do in less than 3 years, especially when each of the modules in my MSc is 30 credits (4 modules + dissertation = MSc for my course). I suppose that'd be easier for full time though. You lot are too clever! ? Mine will probs take the maximum 5 years (30 credits per year in first 2 years, then a year out, then 2 x 30 credit modules this year, then hopefully dissertation next year)

I never went to uni - combination of not wanting to end up in debt/not knowing what I wanted to do/boyfriend at the time.

Part of me wishes I had gone, not for the qualification but for the experience.

Saisi, I did my degree in history and politics and did 2 political theory modules that I absolutely loved! I did my dissertation on Machiavelli and torture.

If I could have my time again though there would be no way that I would go to uni. I now sell advertising for wi magazines and earn less then when I went to uni...

Very common in science to go into a PhD straight from degree. I was a doctor at 25, and I was older than some by a year.

I loved doing my degree in English and American Lit. But I always knew I wanted to study the subject further. Obv I required it fo rmy job as English teacher, which I decided to do when I didn't really have a clue what lay beyond uni!

It is. My brother did a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science and then did a PhD in Computer Science.

My first degree which l did as a youngster was a BA (Hons) in Marketing Management and l then worked in marketing mainly in the food industry. I went back to University when l was 30 and l am now in the 3rd year of my BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing course. At some point in a couple of years l want to do a masters. They are 2 very different degrees but both very interesting. Going back a 2nd time was a very different experience as l am older and settled. I don't regret doing either degree and both have been great life experiences.

Hi, am I ok to pm you? - have a couple of career questions.

Bugger. I should have studied Cell Biology like I'd originally applied for. I could have been doing something amazing.

I didn't do a masters. I went undergraduate-graduation-summer holidays-PhD.

It is ironic that you say you should have done cell biology, I wish I had done pharmacy or nursing! I don't hate what I do, but I would like a job that had more interaction and 'making a difference'

I have a medical degree (MB BChir) and an intercalated BA in pharmacology. Took me 6 years - I graduated at 25 (I had a gap year pre-university).

I knew I wanted to be a doctor from my early teens, so university was always part of the plan. Both my parents are graduates, and very keen on education, so would have wanted me to go to uni even if I hadn't been so dead-set on a career for which a degree is essential. Absolutely worth it, for obvious reasons.

I loved my time at university. I didn't always love my degree, especially in the early years when it was quite dry and non-clinical, and when drinking/rowing was far more interesting than the Krebs cycle, but overall it was good and I'd make the same choice again. I still owe the SLC ~£20000 but I'm not really bothered about that tbh.

Pfft, like that time ever comes.

I started teaching undergrad medics this semester. All the dry, non-clinical stuff

I have a degree in Medicine (MBBS) and a BSc in Medical Sciences with Tumour Biology and am studying for a Masters in Psychiatric Practice. I had toyed with the idea of doing English as a degree because I really enjoyed it, but went for something that I thought was more likely to get me a job in the end. Feel like I've been doing exams forever, but I think it was the right decision! Like Helenia, I still owe a lot in terms of my student loan, but to be honest I don't keep track of it. It just comes out of my salary each month and I don't really pay much attention!

Haha But I applied for uni a few months after Dad died, and chose cell biology at UEA because I wanted to discover a cure for cancer. High hopes, no? Haha

I came to my senses the next year and applied to do nursing via clearing. I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't have swapped. I wouldn't have met OH though

I have a BA (Hons) in Primary Education. I enjoyed the 4 year course but found the last year hard work as we spent the beginning of it on placement and it made you realise what having your own class would be like. I origionally considered doing a degree and then the pgce but I'm glad i did the 4 year course as I feel that i gained more expereince and had the opportunity to explore/observe different classroom techniques. i know my friends who have done the PGCE said that it was hard work and when they got thier first job it was a case of sink or swim.

I have a BA combined Hons in English Literature and Performing Arts. It did nothing to help me at all but was easily the most fun years I've ever had, and I made my lasting friendships at uni. I dont regret going at all. I went before fees started so I may take a different view if it were my time to start now!

I have to relearn it for my exams this year. ☹️

But teach it well and they will love you for it! IIRC the university you teach at has quite a hands-on, touchy-feely course right from the start, so they are getting some clinical exposure when not with you. I got virtually zero for the first three years, which was mostly ok, but did sometimes make me struggle with motivation in places. With hindsight I should have chosen a different intercalated degree - probably something pathology-related. Oooh, and did I tell you that my cousins' grandpa actually worked with Krebs on the TCA cycle (amongst other things)?

Cinderellabella - are you a psych trainee? How are you finding it? One of my best friends went into it recently; she always used to love psych but is struggling at the moment.

I'm currently studying a BA in Business at night, my final exams are in January.

I'm on my phone so can't really quote very well, but someone (Nursey, maybe) questioned whether a Masters is 180 credits? It can't be surely? That could be completed in one year at a push!

A full-time Masters usually is a one-year course for most subjects.

OH has just completed a part-time one which should have only taken 2 years (it took him 4, but that's another story!) - if he wasn't working as well he could easily have done it in a year.

I have an MSci Physics. I loved my undergraduate, the classes and the social side. It didn't cost me much because our fees are covered in Scotland and I lived at home for those 5 years.

I didn't want to do a PhD so took a year out with the intention of applying to the NHS to be a medical physicist. I was somehow persuaded that I was better off doing a doctorate first and ended up doing an EngD in Medical Devices. I chose it over a normal PhD because it was supposed to be spilt between academia and working in a clinical or industrial environment, in reality I'm 99% in academia and I hate every minute of it. I don't feel like I've learned any valuable skills to apply in the workplace and can't wait to finish and get a normal 9-5 job. I do still have a general interest in my subject area but working in academia just destroys my soul.

I have a BA Hons in Modern Languages that I got 16yrs ago, cost me very little, left me with £3k student debt that I haven't paid, and didn't do anything for me career wise.

I also have a DipHE (Paramedic Science) that I got today that cost nothing, work sent me, I was doing the job anyway, but it's good for recognition and will help if I ever change jobs.

I don't think vocational stuff like nursing, midwifery, paramedic stuff etc needs a uni course though. Used to be a case of work your way up on the job, and still should be.

I have a BSc in Psychology and a Primary PGCE (specialising in science).

I loved my days as a student. My course wasn't as good as I'd hoped it would be but most of it I found really interesting. I've heard other people say, and I agree, that Uni is 40% about the degree and 60% about life experience. It certainly did more for me as a person than it did for my career.

ETA- My PGCE counts as a third of a masters which I can convert to a full masters within 5 years from qualifying if I want.

I have a BSc in Psychology too, which seems ironic now!

I aimed to do a PGCE and train in Educational Psychology but I started working as a behavioural therapist in my final year and carried on doing that for some years as I enjoyed it so much. I then did some work in schools and realised that I hated the paperwork side of teaching so went back to behavioural therapy. Then I got pregnant three times in a row and never made it back!

I have a BA in Sport and Fitness that I have managed to do sod all with.

OH has a degree in life and seems to be SSE's shining star... (please tell me it's not true Mini!!).

I have to say, our students with the best grades tend to be the ones who are horrible and we wouldn't like them to be our nurse even if they do get As!! The paramedics we get are ALL nice though regardless of their grades.

Helenia- yes am a psych trainee. It has it's moments but generally I think it was a reallt good choice. I had wanted to do Oncology but then ultimately decided it was more important for me to do something that would allow me to spend a lot of time at home, particuarly if and when we have children. I decided that I enjoyed the time I was not at work considerably more than the time I spent at work, and then opted for something that means I wouldn't spend most of my life stuck in hospital. I'd always been really interested in psychiatry, and did a GP rotation as an F2 which I hated, so psych seemed the best choice! I enjoy it (most of the time) and still think it was the right choice for me, As an SpR all the on-calls are from home and it's easy to go part-time so very family friendly! I know I made the right decision when I see my OH who is doing CMT working all hours.... What speciality are you working in?

I can see why people are doing degrees as nursing is now a nursing profession. For me l wanted to become a mental health nurse and doing the degree was a way to get there rather than me wanting another degree. There are lots of great nurses out there without a degree.

My best friend who is a nurse and recently became a ward manager has said the ones who are the best academically often don't have the best nursing skills a lot of the time... They can write an essay on something but when it comes to interacting with patients etc they are rubbish. Some introduce themselves as "hi , my name is X and l am a degree nursing student". Which made me giggle. Who would do that?!

do you have a degree(s)? Yes, A BA (Hons) in History and a MA in Historical Studies (which for the record is NOT the same as history, it is far more research based than a history degree. I was basically training to 'be' a historian and researcher rather than 'learning about' history)

Did you enjoy it? Yes, I enjoyed both of my degrees because I love history. There were boring aspects to both of them, things I wasn't interested in studying but had to for the credits. I didn't necessarily enjoy student life much though. It was nice having my own space, being with friends all the time etc but then when that started to go b00bs up I didn't enjoy the uni experience anymore. My time spent studying was good though and very interesting and I have made some lasting friends which is important to me.

Was it worth it? Yes and no. No in the aspect that it cost a hell of a lot of money for little financial gain now. I'm still paying my overdraft off now and i've not even started repaying my loan yet. History degrees aren't everyone's cup of tea employment wise, and I have struggled to get into work. The degree itself didn't give me much practical work or business experience. On the other hand Yes it was worth it because I LOVE history and learning about the world from all angles. I have a thorough education in lots of different disciplines such as research, project management, problem solving and assessment. I also learnt about medical, political and legal history, national identities, personal identities, big periods of change in history etc. I really enjoyed most aspects of my degree and so on a self indulgent level, yes I think it was worth it to do something I love.

Did you feel you made the right choice? I think I made the right choice in going to university. It helped me grow up and also grow as a person. I also think History was the right choice for me. I don't think I could have done something like business just for the sake of getting a job, although I do wish my degree had had some more practical elements to it. I did also apply for archaeology and heritage management courses, but chose to go for straight history instead because I enjoy it (and i'm not keen on mud, which doesn't go hand in hand with archaeology really!) Sometimes I do think it would have been better employment wise to go for one of the other courses, but there is always the option in the future for me to do another Masters in either of those degrees so its not a lost cause.

So is it only 180 credits then?