Full time study Questions

[Doing my best]

Approx how many hours a week are you expected to be on campus (ie lectures, tutorials and whatever else is required at uni).

DH really wants me to do nursing while I am not working (my dream career since I was little).. Am I required to be there 8 hrs a day the same as if I was working full time?

I have looked at a few options and financially lead to dead ends. I cannot afford full time study at tafe for enrolled nursing as I can't get hecs to cover fees, but can for Uni courses, but my area is not offering it part time which I could've afforded.

If I was to study full time, and the hours were the same as being at work, then that also defeats the purpose of me staying home to be a Mum, but if a lot of the 'full time' is study time, then it might work.

TIA in advance for any tips..

[CharlieBrownGirl]

Hi,
Each uni operates differently, so its difficult to give you a straight answer. Also, I haven't studied nursing, so I'm not sure of the structure.

Generally speaking tho, there are the possibilities of:

* online lectures, so you can listen to them at home and therefore only be on campus for tuts
* some students manage to pack all their lectures and tuts in a few days, however this might mean extended hours at uni to make up for it.
* I completed the majority of my degree externally - is this a possibility for you for some subjects?

I would speak to the student advisor for your course to understand the structure and requirements.

All the best in your studies.
CBG

[~Jo~]

Full time nursing at uni is 4 units each for 3 hours, (12)made up of one lecture for three hours and a two hour tutorial/lab. They generally try and make it fit over two days. Pracs occur from year 2 for two weeks at a time.

Jo

[Marydean]

You need to check with the course coordinator as it can vary from uni to uni and course to course.

It's highly unlikely that you will need to be there 8 hours every day, although it's possible to have a couple of long days a week of classes broken up with free time. They do usually say though that you need to factor in approx 40 hours a week (which is study & reading time on top of your actual class contact hours).

These days there is often more flexibility as many more people need to work while they are studying so if you have a choice between a couple of unis, find out how flexible each course is. Flexibility is pretty important when you're combining studying and parenting.

[Doing my best]

Thank you.

I will do some ringing tomorrow. I have found 2 unis within an hour from here that offer it part time, so going to check whether I can enrol part time now (and do maybe 2 years p/t), but then change to full time to complete in a few years..

I could handle a few long days a week, but don't really want to be going 5 days a week for long periods IYKWIM. If I was to leave the kids all day Monday to Friday, I would go back to work in the field I am currently in.

[skeetaboat]

With 'full-time' study the idea is that the classes + assessment requirements add up to full time. TAFE courses usually have more contact hours than Uni courses, and Uni courses usually require more out-of class reading. My last uni course was 2 contact hours per subject per week = 8 contact hours full time. It's the workload outside of the school hous that can be hard to manage.

Sometimes at uni you can be enrolled as 'full-time' but just select 3 subjects rather than 4 per semester, so it's a 3/4 workload.. I found that managable, but check with the uni if they allow it.

[skeetaboat]

oh and as of 2010 TAFEs will be bringing in a FEE-HELP (HECS) scheme for the fees. Maybe it is that they'll join the current FEE-HELP scheme, I'm not sure.

[Kate07]

When checking out the unis, check out the child care facilities on campus. They are often good prices and you can check on your kids if you have a break, and often they also accept shorter periods of care (if you only have one lecture).

Like the others said, full time uni does not have the contact hours that full time work does, but you have to be organised and prepared to put in the work at home.

good luck, i love studying.

[Doing my best]

It was the contact hours (just didn't know the words) that I was more concerned about. I have studied while working full time, so I have a bit of an idea what is required at home (although not with children )

DH now has better shifts that would allow me more time to commit to study but being at home would be less stressful on him and the children..

Will have a think over the weekend, then apply next week (already having to pay late enrolment fees so want to make sure we are both happy with it)..

Skeetaboat- thanks for that advice on Tafe with fee help. Will look into that before I make my final decision..

Kate - I enjoy studying too.. At least my time away from the kids will be helping do something to give me more flexible work when they are at school..

[Doing my best]

I am going to apply next week when I have the money to pay for late application fee