Robyn Bateman's blog

I pride myself on being a part-time student; I think it takes a certain kind of person to devote themselves to part-time study. For starters it takes longer so is automatically a bigger commitment than its full time equivalent. Secondly, a lot of part-time students I know (me included) study alongside a full time job which means that we’re putting in at least 50 per cent more effort than a full time student – I doubt there are many full-time students who actually put in the 40 hour week they’re supposed to. Us part-timers are arguably more dedicated to our studies and I feel a certain hubris when I tell people I’ve studied part-time for almost 10 years because non-students see it as such an achievement of determination.

So now I’m confused. Why - if we’re such a shining example of educational excellence and self-improvement – do we get penalised for it in so many ways? I’ll explain because it probably won’t seem immediately obvious, but lately on a few occasions I’ve suffered penalties because of my part-time status.

'In all my time at the OU I never once felt downtrodden for being part-time'

I’m an Open University graduate – arguably THE best university in the entire country if you’re a part time student. Heck, the university was MADE for part-time students so everything it does is primarily focused around people studying part-time and doing something else – working, raising a family, enjoying retirement et al – full-time. In all my time at the OU I never once felt downtrodden for being part-time and, in fact, as just mentioned I’ve always been fiercely proud of the fact.  But now I’m also a brick uni student at a university designed around full-time study typically carried out by students of school-leaver age and things are all of a sudden different.

Example number 1
A few weeks ago, in an effort to further my knowledge and get to know the ‘industry’ a bit better I decided to look into joining a couple of sociology-related associations. I looked at two  – the Social Research Association and the British Sociological Association. Both offer a concessionary membership rate for students which is less than half the standard membership rate (£84 standard, £25 student for The SRA, and £108 standard, £52 student for The BSA). This very good value offer is, however, only available for full-time students; part-time students have to pay the standard rate. Why? We’re still students and, in fact, I’m part-time at two separate universities so does that make the equivalent of full-time? No, not in their eyes anyway. I checked.

Example number 2
Details of a foreign study programme were disseminated to students via the Durham Uni careers service today.  The programme offers a select few students the chance to spend three weeks over Easter studying in China where they will immerse themselves in Chinese language, culture, art, economics and so on. This sounds like a fantastic programme and when I saw it I immediately wanted to apply – who wouldn’t want to experience something like that! I clicked on the ‘eligibility criteria’ link thinking that it might only be available to undergrad students but lo-and-behold it’s available to every level of student from HND right through to PhD. Great! But then I saw the painful words “you must be a full-time student…” Why? What difference does it make that I’m a part-time student? I’m still studying the same level of material as the full-time students; I’m still as interested in cultural exchanges like this one as the full-timers so why am I not allowed to apply?

I have, of course, considered the possibility of finances playing a major role in this prejudicial treatment of part-time students but I simply cannot justify any of the possible reasons which have rattled through the cavernous void that is my brain. The most obvious explanation would be that since most part-time students also work they must therefore have sufficient disposable income to negate the need for student discounts or bursary programmes.

'It seems to unfairly penalise part-time students and I can’t fathom why'

Well that’s a load of codswallop isn’t it. Yes, fair enough I earn a full-time wage, but I also have a mortgage to pay, utilities to pay, and tuition fees to pay (no loans for postgrads or second degrees…) and of course all this is paid for after my whopping salary is taxed. So the argument that part-time students have loads of disposable income doesn’t really wash all that well. If - for argument’s sake – it IS because we have more money than full-time students, how do you consolidate offering discounts and bursary opportunities to full time students from wealthy families who supplement their studies financially but denying such ‘perks’ to part-time students who invest their disposable income in education? The Study China programme requires participants to pay their own air fare, so 180’ing for a second, the finance argument would work in favour of part-time students because if they really do have more available money than full-timers then they’re in a better position to be able to afford the air fare.

Whichever way the finance argument is viewed it seems to unfairly penalise part-time students and I can’t fathom why. Nor can I think of any other valid arguments as to why part-time students shouldn’t be entitled to the same opportunities and benefits as their full-time peers. Please do enlighten me if anyone knows of a truly valid reason because I’m at a loss.

For the first time in my academic life I feel downtrodden. I feel like all of my efforts are in vain because I’m not really a valid and worthy student in the eyes of anyone but The OU. Okay, okay so I’m over exaggerating somewhat but come on, it’s not really fair or just treatment of a group of people who are trying to improve their lives while contributing to society at the same time is it?

Maybe we should lobby for fair and equal treatment of part-time students.*joke*

 

My Facebook feed is awash with good news and celebration - that means it must be results day! Fellow Open University bods are status-updating their achievements left right and centre and, I tell you, there are some very happy people in OU land today.

I didn’t realise it was results day myself, so it was only upon seeing the proclamations that I thought it wise to check my own StudentHome page and lo-and-behold I’ve passed T227 which means I can now claim the Professional Certificate in ICT Practice. Yey me! A mini celebration is in order tonight I feel.

A day like today is especially nice when you know some of the other students and have met them in person because you’ve had a chance to hear their stories and you know what they’re going through. A particular student I know has finished her BSc now - having received her final results today - and is moving on to do an MA which is superb news because she’s got the intelligence and drive to do really well. Another student has just finished his third - yes THIRD - BA and is moving on to do a BSc in his lifelong learning quest. Such amazing students and some incredible achievements floating around the Facebookosphere today.

It would be utterly heedless and negligent of me, however, to prattle on about all those students who have passed without mention of those who haven’t had such fortunate today. There will, undoubtedly, be students today who have either failed modules or simply not ended up with the grade they either sought or needed.

It has happened to me before - any regular readers will know that I failed a module only last year which just so happened to be the final module of my BSc. That sinking feeling upon realising you’ve not passed is just utterly engulfing. I use the words ‘not passed’ because ‘fail’ is such a negative way to look at it, and if there’s one thing I learned from failing it’s that it’s far from the end of the world. Given a bit of hindsight I find things always make more sense. When I failed that final module I thought my world was caving in, but I got the chance to resubmit and now it’s something I can shrug off and put down to experience.

I feel for any student who hasn’t achieved what they planned for today. This is not always an easy thing to do so I tip my bonnet to each and every one of you who has had the guts to at least try - it’s people like you who inspire me, not the natural super- academics who always get first class everything but those who are putting in the graft and really trying. There’s a motivational motto I picked up from running which is really appropriate here when put into a studying context: “No matter how slow you go, you’re still lapping everyone on the sofa”.

Grades aren’t everything; they count for something, obviously, but don’t fixate on them. After all, you’re doing far better than anyone who thought about registering but didn’t.

 

The time has come. Applications for PhD places are about to open up across the nation and I want one.

When I first ‘decided’ that I wanted to strive for a PhD I was a bit clueless about how they worked. I knew the basics: three (ish) years working on a doctoral thesis, full time job equivalent, and hard work. What I didn’t know – or more accurately consider – was what would be involved in ME doing one.

The sole reason I started studying with The Open University in the first place was because I was working full time, had a mortgage to pay and didn’t have the educational requirements to go to ‘traditional’ uni even on a part time basis. The OU fitted my needs fabulously and so in my head, when I neared the end of the degree and decided on the next logical progression of a Masters, the OU was my first and only choice (as much through habit as growing devotion to the establishment I must admit).

My well documented departure from the OU to carry out my Masters was both unwanted and inconvenient – attending Durham Uni for my Masters has been financially damaging for me in terms of the costs involved in getting to lectures as well as the loss of earnings associated with doing so, however it is a well ranked university which will provide me with a very respectable qualification at the end of it so as a compromise I’m certainly not complaining.

'Do I limit myself to universities within commuting distance of my home, or do I widen my chances by considering moving?'

But now that it’s PhD proposal time I’ve come unstuck again. Just to clarify one point straight away though, I’m not even considering applying to do a PhD on a part time basis. Much as I have enjoyed studying part time I don’t think I have it in me to do PhD level work part time too, it’s just a different kettle of fish entirely. Because of the need to do it full time the realisation has struck that this could involve the biggest decision of my life so far and one I hadn’t given consideration to when I first started thinking of aiming for a PhD – location. A full time PhD will involve being in the permanent vicinity of my supervisor so a big decision has to be made – do I limit myself to universities within commuting distance of my home, or do I widen my chances by considering moving?

If it were just me then I wouldn’t hesitate – I’d happily move if it meant a better chance of getting accepted and quite frankly I’m desperate to move anyway but the trouble is it’s not my sole decision to make. My better half has an equal say in the matter – he’s got a job he loves, loads of friends nearby and we’re surrounded by a playground of mountain bike trails for him to enjoy. It wouldn’t be fair to uproot him and leave all of that behind just because of my desire to do a PhD.

I would dearly love to get my PhD through the Open University as I’m sure anyone who has read anything from my blog before would guess in an instant – I’m a true OU devotee and would be so incredibly proud to do my PhD with them too. The trouble is, in order to do that we would have to move to Milton Keynes so I could be near the campus. This wouldn’t be a problem for me – I have a few good friends in MK now who I’m sure would help us settle in but getting Gordon a life equivalent to the one he has now would be tricky, I’ve been to MK dozens of times and I’ve never seen a mountain nearby...

I intend to apply for a place at Durham, that goes without saying now and it would be hugely convenient if I got offered a place there, but it’s not my first choice.

So, what do I do? Am I thinking too much about it at the minute? Should I broaden my options by applying to more than one place and cross the bridge of decision if and when it arrives? What if I only apply to one place and don’t get an offer? Maybe I should make sure I have as much chance as possible and hedge my bets. Can you even DO that with PhD applications?...