Taking two degrees one after the other

Original post by Brad387

Not sure if this is the correct sub-forum, but I was unsure as to where this belonged and so apologies if this is the incorrect place. I am not sure if this is something I would want to do at the moment, seeing as I haven't even started sixth-form yet. However, for future reference, I was wondering whether it is possible to take two degrees one after the other. How would it work out in the financial department, with regards to student loans the like?

For the most part you can only get student loans for one degree. The only exceptions are if the second degree is a PGCE or a health degree (in which case you get an NHS bursary and reduced rate student finance funding).Plus in the majority of cases doing two undergraduate degrees is largely pointless anyway.

Reply 2

OP

Original post by jelly1000

For the most part you can only get student loans for one degree. The only exceptions are if the second degree is a PGCE or a health degree (in which case you get an NHS bursary and reduced rate student finance funding).Plus in the majority of cases doing two undergraduate degrees is largely pointless anyway.

Thanks for the very swift reply. So, to put rather basically, a second degree would have to be entirely self-financed? I suspected as much, but just wanted to check. What makes you say that two undergraduate degrees are pointless anyway?

Reply 3

Original post by Brad387

Thanks for the very swift reply. So, to put rather basically, a second degree would have to be entirely self-financed? I suspected as much, but just wanted to check. What makes you say that two undergraduate degrees are pointless anyway?

Yes it would do. And because the second degree won't help you get a job, its experience plus the first degree that helps, if you want to go into academia you need a Masters & Phd not a second degree and if you decide you want to study something different there are postgraduate conversion courses such as the GDL which work out cheaper and take less time.

Reply 4

OP

Original post by jelly1000

Yes it would do. And because the second degree won't help you get a job, its experience plus the first degree that helps, if you want to go into academia you need a Masters & Phd not a second degree and if you decide you want to study something different there are postgraduate conversion courses such as the GDL which work out cheaper and take less time.

Okay. Thanks for the information. I have though, believe it or not, heard of a fair few taking multiple undergraduate degrees one after the other which is why I asked. Are there really no circumstances in which it is useful, because there are even a fair few threads on here with users who have taken succeeding undergraduate degrees? But, if I were to go with what you were saying, you should take an undergraduate degree and then pursue postgraduate education or aim for simply getting experience in your chosen workfield?

Reply 5

Original post by Brad387

Okay. Thanks for the information. I have though, believe it or not, heard of a fair few taking multiple undergraduate degrees one after the other which is why I asked. Are there really no circumstances in which it is useful, because there are even a fair few threads on here with users who have taken succeeding undergraduate degrees? But, if I were to go with what you were saying, you should take an undergraduate degree and then pursue postgraduate education or aim for simply getting experience in your chosen workfield?

What were the degrees they took? I've not heard of any cases as most people can't afford it. I've seen people go from undergraduate to Masters to Phd or to start again if they didn't like the first course or drop out. And in most cases undergraduate education + work experience is sufficient.

Reply 6

SilverstarDJ

18

Original post by Brad387

Okay. Thanks for the information. I have though, believe it or not, heard of a fair few taking multiple undergraduate degrees one after the other which is why I asked. Are there really no circumstances in which it is useful, because there are even a fair few threads on here with users who have taken succeeding undergraduate degrees? But, if I were to go with what you were saying, you should take an undergraduate degree and then pursue postgraduate education or aim for simply getting experience in your chosen workfield?

I know vet students who have had previous degrees - usually because they decided they wanted a different career than their original degree could provide. But at the end of their second degree they have no more job opportunities than someone who went to study that subject straight away. So it's pointless to aim to do two undergrad degree but it might be something you would do if you made the wrong choice first time round.

Postgraduate education is about enhancing your career options. E.g. if you want to teach you need a PGCE, or if you want to become a lecturer you would need to do a masters than PhD.

Reply 7

OP

Original post by SilverstarDJ

I know vet students who have had previous degrees - usually because they decided they wanted a different career than their original degree could provide. But at the end of their second degree they have no more job opportunities than someone who went to study that subject straight away. So it's pointless to aim to do two undergrad degree but it might be something you would do if you made the wrong choice first time round.

Postgraduate education is about enhancing your career options. E.g. if you want to teach you need a PGCE, or if you want to become a lecturer you would need to do a masters than PhD.

Okay. Thanks for the information. I intend to take an undergraduate degree in journalism, so I'm not particularly sure of how much benefit a Masters, PhD or second undergraduate course would benefit me - unless I realise that said course choice was a mistake. It's still two years off, but I like to be prepared. I just need to start looking at the different courses then, since there are a few different journalism degrees. There's JH with Literature, etc.

Reply 8

OP

Original post by jelly1000

What were the degrees they took? I've not heard of any cases as most people can't afford it. I've seen people go from undergraduate to Masters to Phd or to start again if they didn't like the first course or drop out. And in most cases undergraduate education + work experience is sufficient.

I've heard of some taking the arts and then afterwards the sciences, on these very forums if I remember rightly, but it doesn't matter too much. I was mainly just curious, yet it seems now to be pretty unanimous in it being a silly idea unless you're unhappy with your first course. Speaking of courses, I really want to begin deciding upon a course. I want to get into journalism, but even with a journalism degree there are a few options. Most are JH with Literature or Sociology, whilst others have cultural studies, etc.

Reply 9

ageshallnot

Original post by Brad387

Okay. Thanks for the information. I intend to take an undergraduate degree in journalism, so I'm not particularly sure of how much benefit a Masters, PhD or second undergraduate course would benefit me - unless I realise that said course choice was a mistake. It's still two years off, but I like to be prepared. I just need to start looking at the different courses then, since there are a few different journalism degrees. There's JH with Literature, etc.

Given the career choice you are considering, you might want to think about doing another subject at undergraduate level then a Master's in journalism.

Reply 10

cambio wechsel

20

The only first degree that is at all commonly taken as a second bachelors is Law (typically done with senior status).

Reply 11

Original post by Brad387

I've heard of some taking the arts and then afterwards the sciences, on these very forums if I remember rightly, but it doesn't matter too much. I was mainly just curious, yet it seems now to be pretty unanimous in it being a silly idea unless you're unhappy with your first course. Speaking of courses, I really want to begin deciding upon a course. I want to get into journalism, but even with a journalism degree there are a few options. Most are JH with Literature or Sociology, whilst others have cultural studies, etc.

That's because most journalists don't do journalism as a degree. They take a subject in an area of interest like History, Economics, English Lit e.c.t and then do a postgraduate journalism diploma. And that is what I would recommend you to do. Means if you change your mind on what you want to to do as a career you have a more versatile first degree.

Reply 12

OP

Original post by jelly1000

That's because most journalists don't do journalism as a degree. They take a subject in an area of interest like History, Economics, English Lit e.c.t and then do a postgraduate journalism diploma. And that is what I would recommend you to do. Means if you change your mind on what you want to to do as a career you have a more versatile first degree.

How does a Masters work exactly, since I've never really heard much about it, with specific regards to financing?

Reply 13

Original post by Brad387

How does a Masters work exactly, since I've never really heard much about it, with specific regards to financing?

This is considered one of the best universities for the diplomahttp://courses.cardiff.ac.uk/postgraduate/course/detail/p169.html

There is no student finance system at postgraduate level, there are sometimes scholarships and bursaries or you can take out a career development loan if you have a good enough credit record.

Reply 14

OP

Original post by jelly1000

This is considered one of the best universities for the diplomahttp://courses.cardiff.ac.uk/postgraduate/course/detail/p169.html

There is no student finance system at postgraduate level, there are sometimes scholarships and bursaries or you can take out a career development loan if you have a good enough credit record.

As appealing as a Masters degree is, the idea of having to take a bank loans and whatnot isn't. I don't quite see how I could ever afford it...

Reply 15

Mathsz0r

11

Get your A-Level's and degree first kid, then talk about doing your second degree.

Another word of warning, don't to journalism/English Language etc if you want to actually be employable.

Reply 16

Mathsz0r

11

Original post by Brad387

As appealing as a Masters degree is, the idea of having to take a bank loans and whatnot isn't. I don't quite see how I could ever afford it...

Your Masters is covered by student finance.

Reply 17