Anthony negotiates a First Class Degree

Anthony Wood wanted to enrol on a part-time degree course, but realised that shift work as a Police Sergeant would make it difficult. He found a solution, by enrolling on the University of Teesside’s Negotiated Learning Scheme. The move has paid off, for Anthony has now graduated with a First Class BA (Hons) degree in Business Management.

Father-of-three Anthony, 39, from Peterlee, first joined Cleveland Police 15 years ago, progressing to the rank of Sergeant in 1997. Anthony said: “I’ve enjoyed every single minute of the job. It’s so varied.”

Anthony started to think about a degree to help progress in his career. However, he didn’t think it was possible to combine study with family life and varied shift work. Anthony then saw an advert for the University’s Negotiated Learning scheme. The scheme is designed specifically for mature students and offers them the opportunity to study around their job by focusing on areas relating to their career. Credits from previous courses can also be transferred.

Anthony said: “I’d already completed several courses, including two at Teesside, and found out that the credits could be transferred. It meant only having to complete two years of part-time study instead of four. Through the scheme, I was able to negotiate my own pace of learning with my tutor. Also, I only had to attend certain tutorials, and the tutors were helpful and readily available, either in person, e-mail or telephone.

“I’d recommend the negotiated learning scheme highly, it’s so flexible. You can balance your home life, working life and being able to transfer your credits is very important. I could never have done the degree any other way with shift work. The University is very accommodating towards mature students. And the course modules, such as managing people, managing information and managing finance, will be invaluable at work.”

The First Class degree proved the icing on the cake for Anthony. He said: “Getting a First was fantastic, it made all the work worthwhile. My wife Carole is delighted, and she’s now enrolled on an Access to Social Work course, with the aim of going to University.”

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