Advice please! Second degree + NHS

Hello. Hope you are well.

I need your advice please.

- Single mum of 2 , one is 18.
- On universal credit and lwcra.
- Not working at the moment.
- Live in Wales.

I did a 3yrs degree in Early Years Education and Care. Graduated July 2023, and I had student finance loan.

I started a 3-year mental health nursing course in September 2023, receiving an NHS bursary and they pay for my little one childcare. I also received a maintenance loan from student finance.* However, I had to leave university early in my second year due to health issues and mental well-being concerns. I hope to return in September.* My NHS bursary, childcare support, and student finance have been stopped while I am taking a break.

I have been thinking of not going further with the course again as I feel the course is too much for me and alot to take in.

- If I stop the course, will I have to repay any payment I received from the NHS bursary, including tuition fees they paid?

- If I decide to do a Master's postgraduate course in Children and Young People, will I still be eligible for funding? If so, what are the disadvantages of a postgraduate loan? I heard it is difficult because it is counted as income, and tuition fees must be paid from the funds provided. The course am looking at to do is a 3yrs full time course.

- Will my universal credit be affected too?

- I need calculation please on how postgraduate is calculated.

Your help in enlightening me would be much appreciated, as I truly want to do these things to give back to the community.


Many thanks

Hi, I’ve just been scrolling through and my story is very similar. I did a degree in education and early years, graduated in 2022. Ive just been offered a place for mental health nursing in September. Also a single mum. What made it too much? I’ve been pretty excited till I seen this.