Re: Masters Course

Louise B — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 08:29:02 GMT

Hi, no worries. Glad to help a fellow traveller on the path of studying

Re: Masters Course

Jennifer Marshall — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:12:05 GMT

Princess Ophelia Hermione MacBeth- Thank you so much for taking the time to send me such a lengthy and detailed reply! It has really helped and given me a lot of food for thought. The practice I currently work in has a very good relationship with it's reps so I think this may be the place to start! Again, thank you so much and I will get in touch I have any questions

Re: Masters Course

Louise B — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:25:44 GMT

[quote user="Jennifer Marshall"]

Does anyone know if there is any kind of funding or financial support available for the new Harper Adams MSc vet nursing course? I would LOVE to do it but I think its possibly a bit out of my price range!

[/quote]

[quote user="Paulette"]Or 'Princess Ophelia Hermione MacBeth' may be able to suggest something? (One of the MSc tutors). [/quote]

Hello, just seen this post and am replying at this stage, not as a tutor on the MSc course (although I will have some involvement - probably supervising some of the masters research projects), but as some one that has spent her life combining work with study

Well these are my thoughts:

It can be incredibly difficult to obtain funding to undertake masters courses. It is always worth contacting the institute concerned to see if they offer any partial or full scholarships. Where they do, these are often competitive and often you don't know if you are successful until very close to the start date of the course (in my experience). But, if you don't try, you have no chance!

There is a scheme available called the Career Development Loan, which I believe quite a few people use to fund their studies. I have no personal experience of this though so cannot comment any further on this. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/FinancialHelpForAdultLearners/CareerDevelopmentLoans/index.htm

These are all lateral approaches that I would try as a would - be student. Again, I just emphasis these are all my own scheming ideas and not those of Harper Adams as I have no idea of the legality or otherwise of some of them!! My comments apply to anyone thinking of doing a masters and not just the Harper one.

When I did my masters course (part time, block release) I applied with a view to self-funding (the fees were about £5000 then). I managed to get my employer at the time to pay £1000 of this instead of salary and I *think* (but cannot remember) I managed to get my CPD allowance used against the course. The course was Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare. I let out two rooms in my house to raise the money to pay the rest of the fees.

it is worth looking to see if VAT is chargeable on the course (I haven't a clue but I can find out). If it is, then I would try to find a way to get the employer to pay as they can claim the VAT back (or not pay it - not sure how this works) which would save 20% of the cost Worth seeing if they can do some kind of salary sacrifice scheme.

If you have RVN status I would investigate the possibility of claiming back some or all of the fees against 'necessary CPD to stay registered'. We have to do 15 number of hours but there is no stipulation on how, or how much money you can spend on CPD, before it is classed as un-necessary expenditure. Got to be worth investigating. Might be worth finding a forum for human nurses and finding out what they do as they have had to do CPD to saty registered for years.

If I was a locum, I would try to find ways of trading work for contributions to the MSc.

If I wanted to do a masters fulltime I would investigate opportunities for free accomodation at the uni - e.g. through being a warden on site - or at a local vet practice in return for being on - call X evenings a week, agree to check inpatients at 7, 9, 12pm (or something like that). Alternatively (and this is one mad idea but I have seen it work) - check out "The Lady" magazine online. They often have adverts looking for people to act as companions to elderly people (i.e. somebody living in the house so that the person isn't living alone) and these are usually bills and accom free.

I would approach relevant organisations and see if they can provide some funding. Try to make it worth it for them. I.e. offer something in return. E.g. If you approached Petplan then offer to write a column for them in the magazine they send out to owners. Taylor it closely if that is appropriate - e.g. I am undertaking an advanced couse that includes significant emphasis on oncology - would you like me to write a regular column on cancer in the pet: reflections by a vet nurse (or something less trite).

Take things one step at a time if you are part time. Most masters courses have multiple exit points (certificate / diploma / masters) so focus on the first section and cross the other hurdles as you go along. Circumstances change. I started the masters course with the full intention of completing it part time over three years but within 3 months of starting it I was offered a PhD by one of the tutors on the masters course. I ended up leaving the masters at the end of the taught section (diploma level) and so my fees were reduced by about £1500 and I moved on to the PhD (which was funded with living costs included). Often doing a masters is as much about an opportunity to network as it is about the studies.

If you are doing a masters full time and therefore living near the university ALWAYS ask about casual or part time opportunities to earn extra cash. Most (all?) universities recruit post graduate students to act as scribes / provide amneuresis (sp?) support for students with dyslexic or other learning issues. The pay for this is normally £8 - 12ph. Sometimes you can get part time work in the bar or library. Sometimes postgraduates are paid as demonstrators or tutors and the pay for this can be as high as £40 per contact hour. Be aware though that when you are offered a job that pays by the 'contact hour' that they expect all preparation for that contact hour to be done in your own time and this can take ages! But it is great stuff to be able to put on your CV - particularly if you then decide that you want a career in academia and go on to do a PhD.

Vets Now will probably become your best friend if you are a fulltime!!! I funded myself through my undergrad degree by working for Vets Now Nottingham every other weekend.

Goodluck. If you have any questions feel free to ask :)

Re: Masters Course

Jennifer Marshall — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:40:47 GMT

Thanks so much for all of your ideas guys! That's really helpfull. I was quoted about £7500 for the whole course and as far as I know it is only Harper that offer the MSc in vet nursing

Re: Masters Course

Suze — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:47:56 GMT

anyone know which colleges do masters in vet nursing at present?

Re: Masters Course

salliee5 — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:54:07 GMT

There is no government funding for masters course in general from what I understand - I am not sure if there is any particular VN funding available. I am just applying for a masters now too (although not in nursing) and I am looking at scholarships and applying for my own funding and grants through any organisations I can think of (I am appying for a primatology masters).

However there is a loan available called a career development loan, which is available for post graduate studies. It is a bank loan but the interest is paid for you whilet you ae studying and for one month after you stop.

Hope it helps, Good luck!

Sally

Re: Masters Course

Angiy Michael — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:26:18 GMT

I think most people self-fund I know three VN's with masters and only one got funding and that was from a non clinical employer . You could defo apply for all the awards BVNA have going ..also worth speaking to the uni directly for any suggestions and then another option would be to see if your employer would consider allowing you to use some of your CPD allowance ( if you get one) towards it ..not that that would go far but nevertheless may help. Also if it is a modular MSc the uni may be happy for you to pay on a module by module basis ..always worth asking..go for it if you can though XX

Re: Masters Course

Paulette — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:50:37 GMT

Hello :) Not sure but BVNA do some fundraising things you can apply for - not sure for MSc though but could try them? Or 'Princess Ophelia Hermione MacBeth' may be able to suggest something? (One of the MSc tutors). Or could see if Harper themselves have any scholarships you could apply for? They have various ones-some are regional. At the minute they are my only ideas I'm afraid. Good luck! :) Out of interest how much is it? I did my degree there and although am not currently considering it-I could be tempted to think about it!!!