Megan Whyte

From working for a supermarket for nearly a decade, Megan Whyte from Peterhead completed two degrees with the OU and is now in her dream job helping some of the most disadvantaged people in the criminal justice system.

Studying with The Open University (OU) has changed the life of social work graduate Megan Whyte and enabled her to follow her dreams. Having left school at aged 16 and worked as an administrative assistant at a supermarket for the next nine years, she started a new job at a homeless hostel and decided she wanted to achieve a better future for herself and her daughters.

She explains: “I had always a keen interest in criminal justice and wanted to pursue a career within the criminal justice system. I initially studied for an OU Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Criminology and Psychology degree to gain further understanding and increase my employability through the knowledge and skills highlighted within this course, such as analytical skills. 

“During my degree, I secured employment within a local Criminal Justice Social Work Service as a Support Worker working in the Women’s Service. Through this I was supporting women involved within the criminal justice system, both within the community and within custodial settings. After I completed my degree, it felt a natural progression to move onto the OU Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work, with the aim of working as a criminal justice social worker.”

The OU enabled me to balance work, family life and fit studying in where it suited me best.”

The flexibility offered by the OU was the perfect option for Megan from Peterhead to study, as she points out: “My children were primary school age and I did not feel that attending a ‘brick university’ would have been possible when balancing childcare. I also wanted to continue working during my studies and the OU enabled me to balance work, family life and fit studying in where it suited me best.”

She was able to double up modules and study full-time to gain an Honours degree and postgraduate diploma within five years.

‘Times where I would doubt myself’

When she first started university, she admits: “There would be times where I would doubt myself and question whether I was on the correct track with course work, such as ensuring I understood Tutor-Marked Assignment (TMA) questions. My tutors were always helpful and would be approachable and present to discuss any queries or concerns I had.”

It was while studying for her social work postgraduate that Megan discovered that she is dyslexic. She shares: “One of my previous tutors at the OU had questioned whether I had a dyslexia diagnosis after I submitted one of my TMAs. I spoke with her after and she provided me with information on how I could access an assessment. The OU arranged for this assessment, and funded it.”

Studying at the OU has changed my life. I feel that I have gone from working in a job to gaining a career.”

She had nearly completed her last module when she was diagnosed and says that if she had known earlier, she definitely would have welcomed the additional support the OU offers, such as extra time during exams. 

Megan also faced the additional challenge of studying for her social work degree during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“My first placement on my postgrad in social work was due to commence the same week as the first national lockdown was announced. It was stressful and because I was self-funded, I wanted to stay on track for the completion time. However, our placements were delayed until August,” she explains.

“During this time, we were able to complete a piece of work which was the equivalent of 20 placement days. This was really helpful and helped relieve some of the pressures associated with the delay in our placement starting.”

She also found the support networks formed with fellow social work students online “a huge source of support for me during this course, especially with the additional stresses of studying during a pandemic, and I have stayed in contact with the group chat.” 

Despite the challenges that Megan has faced, she went on to be awarded a First-class degree for her undergraduate degree and a distinction in her postgraduate degree. She is now working in her dream job as a Criminal Justice Social Worker.

‘Gone from working in a job to gaining a career’

Through the guidance of my tutors, I always felt that the studies I was completing was achievable and a degree was always within reach.”

To anyone considering studying with the OU, she says: “Studying at the OU has changed my life. I feel that I have gone from working in a job to gaining a career. It has enabled me to follow my dream of working within the criminal justice system, supporting some of the most discriminated and disadvantaged members of our community. 

“It has also built my confidence. Through the guidance of my tutors, I always felt that the studies I was completing was achievable and a degree was always within reach. The flexibility of studying at the OU is one of their greatest characteristics. I was able to study whilst balancing work and childcare.”

Megan says it now feels “surreal” to have been awarded both of her degrees from the OU and is delighted to be in a job that she truly loves.

“My career is such a privilege to me. I get to work with some of the most discriminated and marginalised people within our community and empower them to have a voice. They open up and talk to me and the importance of that could never be underestimated. 

“I learn and gain as much from service users I work with as they do from me and listening to them will make me a better social worker. They have so much value,” she adds.