CASE STUDY: AMANDA ROSS

For single parent Amanda Ross, taking the plunge and enrolling for a degree at the University of Wolverhampton was one of the best, but also most daunting, things she has ever done.

She explains:

“I chose the BA (Hons) International Hospitality Management because I have a wealth of work experience in the hospitality industry, but at a very low level. I had planned to gain a degree in that area so that I could re-enter the industry at a managerial level, however I fell pregnant with my son and so I deferred for one year and began my studies as a single parent.

“I was extremely nervous and unsure about it - I almost didn’t enrol in fact – but after a stern chat with my best friend I put my big girl pants on and have never looked back since. The whole experience of University helped me, not just in my career but personally too. My confidence had been knocked massively, but bit by bit University helped to build me back up again. I am now a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) in the Business School and studying a MA in Hospitality and Event Management.

“It was so beneficial for me to enrol on a degree at that time. Student finance coupled with housing support as I was a single parent allowed me to spend three years at University. As it was 15 hours contact time a week, this gave me plenty of golden time to spend with my very young boy. I completed my coursework at night time when he was in bed and my mum helped to look after him while I went to Uni. It was a perfect balance of feeling I was still contributing, and that I was upskilling myself, professionally and personally.

“My advice to anyone in a similar situation is to come along to an Open Day at the University – have a look at the kind of course you might like to do. Come and talk to the staff – everybody is very open and will answer any questions you have. There is also advice about finances and the sort of help that may be available to you.”

• For information about Open Days, visit: www.wlv.ac.uk/openday
• Further information about Faculty of Social Sciences courses