How to do university placements while working full time?

Hi there

I work at a university as a Course Administrator managing the primary and secondary teaching degree programs.

A teaching degree in primary is 4 years full-time or 8-years part-time (2 subjects per semester) that is the reality of the situation that faces many mature-age students looking at wanting to train as a teacher.

It is a full-on program either way.

Studying is demanding at this level of education, but is doable.

Placements are arranged by the Placements Team within the Education Faculty that runs the degree.

There can be some negotiation as to when a placement can be booked outside the set timeframe, but you need to bear in mind that the demand is high because the university you are with is competing with other universities for the same places in school.

Once the placement officer has made the booking it cannot be changed.

Professional practice (aka placements) is a compulsory component of the course. A student has to demonstrate in a classroom setting, under the mentorship of the class teacher, that they are able to put into practice the principles and theories they have learnt to show that they are competent in that area for which will be assessed.

Without the above completed a student will not be eligible to graduate.

Depending on the structure of the degree placements in primary start off as observation sessions in a classroom and then becoming more involved as time progresses where skills and knowledge have to be demonstrated.

Because I do not know your exact circumstances, if you already have a recognised 3-year degree in any field of discipline there is the Masters of Education which replaced the Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary) it has recently been introduced by all universities and is about 18 -months to 2 years in duration, it still has placements in schools but not as intensive as the undergraduate degree in Primary.

I think you need to really discuss this with your employer about your intentions they might be amicable enough to come to some sort of arrangement with you that you can undertake the placements.

It is not like that the 84 weeks are all going to be in one hit. If you are able to explain this clearly and why, then the employer may be more open to this.

Put forward a proposal to them and see what they say, there have been one or two mature-age students that have done this and it seems to have worked for them all right.

There is no easy solution, nor short-cuts for your situation which is not uncommon.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Mr.Books