Study options for young mums

Just because you have a baby young, it doesn’t mean you automatically hate studying. In fact, there are a lot of young mums who choose to go back into education. We love that for them (and/or you) and are here to help. So, take a look at our guide to study options and part-time courses for mums.

We’re not going to beat around the bush here, qualifications are even more important if you have a child to support. But when you’re a young mum it can be so difficult to juggle. Sapphira, 22, was determined to finish her education, despite having her son just a few months before her GCSEs. “It’s good to have a focus; I really wanted to become a nurse,” she says. After taking a year out, she started a Health and Social Care GNVQ at college. “It’s not like you have a child and suddenly you have no life. You need to get out, be around like-minded people who have ambition. It’ll help boost your confidence, if nothing else.” she adds.

Part-time courses for young mums

If you’re a young mum and have no idea how you can manage going back to school, don’t worry.  There are plenty of full and part-time courses for young mums. They can help you with learning new skills and developing your career. Most courses now offer some degree of flexible working which can be really useful in general. Especially when trying to balance family life and childcare with study. 

Or, you could check out some online course options. This is one area where the pandemic has helped. Now there are few things that you can’t do virtually, which means you won’t have to worry about sorting out a sitter. Plus it’ll cut the time working and commuting in half. Remember, you’re far from the first person to be in this position. A majority of colleges and universities have systems in place to help you. All you have to do is ask.

I’m pregnant and in the middle of my course, what shall I do?

If you get pregnant while on a course, your school, college or university will help you figure out next steps. Lindsay Wakefield, 20, didn’t even need to take a year out. Her daughter was born at the beginning of the second year of her graphic design degree; she went back just three weeks later. “My uni was very supportive and let me take her in if I didn’t have childcare,” she says. “They also gave me a bursary that provided a Mac so I could do work at home. All in all, we made it work.”

Can I get help with childcare?

Financial help is available for working mums, provided you use a registered childcare service. Unfortunately, this means that family and friends don’t count. Entitlement will depend on your individual circumstances. To figure out what that means for you, contact your student welfare team.

Sapphira completed her college course with the support of the Care to Learn scheme, which pays up to £160 per week (£175 in London) towards childcare. Of course, this is with the condition of you being on a further education course at school or college. To qualify, you have to be under 20 at the start of your course, or when you return to it after a break.

If you’re over 19, you could be entitled to a similar amount via Learner Support. Higher education students can qualify for a Childcare Grant, which can cover as much as 85% of childcare costs during term-time and holidays (up to a maximum of £179.62 a week for one child or £307.95 a week for two or more children).

If you’re on a full-time undergraduate course you may also be able to get a Parent’s Learning Allowance on top of your student loan. You can also try to find work to help pad your income. Just remember to check their policy on maternity leave beforehand.

Other financial help for young mums

The 16-19 Bursary Fund, or EMA is for young mums under-19 outside of England. There are also various other sources of financial help for parents in education. For example, student parents may also be entitled to Income Support. You can find out more about benefits from your student adviser, Jobcentre Plus, or Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).

No matter what your situation is, if you decide to return to work/school, there are always options available to you. 

Living in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?

A lot of the info above only relates to England, but there are similar schemes in other parts of the UK. We’d suggest speaking to your student advisory service to see what’s available to you. The National Union of Students (NUS) website is also pretty useful. It gives an overview of how financial support for student parents differs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Making friends after having a baby

Being a student parent can be lonely. “I remember being in class and thinking about the fact that I have to run home and be responsible, while everyone else gets to be a student,” says Sapphira. We know it can feel like you’re the only one, but you’ll probably find that that’s not the case. Try asking your college or university if there’s a student parents’ support group in the area.

“I had really good friends who would come over and work with me at home. They would even play with the baby,” says Lindsay. “You do have to give up some things, but I ended up having a great time.”

Both Lindsay and Sapphira are glad they continued with their studies. “I never wanted to be a stay-at-home mum, that’s just not who I am,” says Lindsay, who recently started work as a primary school teacher.

And Sapphira is well on the way to achieving her ambition – she’s now studying for a nursing degree. “I’m not just defined by being a mother,” she says. “I’m also a woman in my own right.”

If you’re looking for more information on part-time courses for mums, check out Working Mums.