Starting a Degree is a significant undertaking both in time and effort. As each of the 360 credit points that you will need to gain your degree will take a notional 10 hours of learning. Although any prior learning you can claim will reduce this. Nevertheless, you must expect to be studying for 4 to 5 years. Frequent OOA commitments may extend this although certain deployments, for example to the Falklands, may allow you to steam ahead. Nevertheless, the flexibility of the scheme provides meaningful qualifications at intermediate exit points: at 120 credit points a Certificate of Higher Education and at 240 credit points a Foundation Degree. Both of which are nationally recognised awards that will provide a spring board to future development.

The support of your family is vital and the acknowledgement of your boss will enhance your annual appraisal. Finally, do you have access, either through work or at home, to the tools needed to study? A PC will almost certainly be essential. With all these in place, this is the right time to begin.