Advanced diploma or degree?

23-Aug-2009 12:08 pm

One thing I would say is look at what you want your career path to be. Bear in mind, that eventually, to progress to the more senior roles, you will need to have a degree. Would it be easier to get this all over and done with in 3 years? instead of doing it after qualifying when you are working full time and having other pressures?
I agree you get more of a bursary when doing the diploma, but I would strongly suggest that if you can find a way to afford it, then do the degree first as you will have more time and it will make things easier on later in your career.

30-Oct-2009 5:15 am

I am new in this field. I don't know much about the topic but what I have learned from your post is that degree course is better.

10-Nov-2009 10:51 am

Hi Ruth,

Although I can't advise directly we are holding a Live online Q&A session tomorrow with a panel of experts from within the NHS and from Universities around the country - they might be able to offer you some useful information.

Check it out here - http://tiny.cc/KuidE

Although it goes live tomorrow between 1-4pm you can post early as it's open now.

Hope this helps

Guardian Careers

14-Feb-2010 2:25 pm

Personallyi think the best option is to do the diploma in years one and two as you get the bursery (non means tested) and work is identical to degree students and then in year three change to degree.
This is not a problem and easy to do in most universities as long as the university thinks you have the ability- and normally they encourage this change over,so should support you even if you didnt have the grades to enable you to swap to degree.

The qualification you get at the end is identicle to those students who were on the degree program the whole three years.

The only thng i should point out,is that if you take this route bare in mind that you will no longer be eligeble for the non means tested bursery in this third year.