Masters degree - full or part time? Views please.

chocolate.buttons

I am nearing the end of my MSc and chose to complete it full-time. It has been a lot of hard work and, especially at the beginning of the course, I found myself contemplating whether part-time would have been a better option. However, in the end I am happy with my choice as:
1. living costs in my university's city are SO expensive; paying such extortionate rates for a shorter time is definitely a good thing!
2. I can now find full-time work in my chosen career so can begin gaining experience one year sooner than my part-time colleagues.

I have some friends who are taking the same course as me but on a part-time basis. They have found it difficult to switch between 'work' and 'study' mode during their weeks, and sometimes come home from work only to need to begin studying. This would be terrible for me, but only your son really knows whether switching between work/study is something that he can do easily.

They have also found that there is less cohesion between their modules due to the way that the part-time course is structured. Obviously this is very specific to each university and the way the courses are managed so this may not be an issue for your son.

A further problem which they have found difficult is the fact that some information/advice is perhaps given on a casual basis during one lecture which they don't attend for their part-time course structure, but is actually very relevant to work which the entire cohort needs to complete as it is a shared module. Although I try to mention any relevant information to those who might have missed it, it can be tricky to feel 'out of the loop'.

HTH, good luck to your son whichever route he chooses!

ripepear81

A late reply. I did my Master's full-time and it was pretty intense - loads of work required. I'm not sure I could have worked part-time too. If he really needs to work to support himself during his studies sounds like part-time is the way to go.

skint_chick

silvercar wrote: »

My son did it full time, he said it is very hard to get a good grade in the dissertation component without devoting yourself 24/7 to it. Even with more time proportionally. To get distinction in your masters you need a high score in your dissertation, so full time students tend to get the better grades.

I don't know that this is true at all - I have two part-time masters both with distinctions, first one I was working full time in a very demanding job and second one I was working 3 days a week and volunteering 2 days. I think it depends on how willing you are to put the work in in your free time, most uni libraries can be accessed online/evenings/weekends and any interviews that need to be done can usually be arranged around work or on days off.

If he already has a job then part-time is probably better, if he doesn't and has the funds to cover the year full time then that's probably the better option. Always better to try and get relevant work experience/volunteer positions/training while studying to add to the cv, a chat with the course director should help him find out if there are additional opportunities for this outside of course hours that being a full-time student would make it easier to benefit from, or if part-time study and part-time working would be an advantage.

Voyager2002

skint_chick wrote: »

I don't know that this is true at all - I have two part-time masters both with distinctions, first one I was working full time in a very demanding job and second one I was working 3 days a week and volunteering 2 days. I think it depends on how willing you are to put the work in in your free time, most uni libraries can be accessed online/evenings/weekends and any interviews that need to be done can usually be arranged around work or on days off.

Yours is not a typical experience! Obviously there will be great variation between different subjects and universities, and also between individual students (who will have differences in ability, study skills, time management and so forth). However, it is not usually possible to do well on a full-time Masters course while also working.

SomethingGood

I'm nearing completion of a full-time masters. For most of it I was working part-time too and managed to achieve distinction in 5 out of 6 modules.

It was incredibly hard and challenging, especially the first term as there were more modules that term. Burnout is highly likely. I was knackered by Christmas but managed to plod on and do pretty well anyway - perhaps that's due to age and experience (I'm 30).

I'm now doing my dissertation and technically have far more time than before but am doing less paid work because of the brain-power required to do the research, however I know people who are practically working full-time now while finishing their dissertations.

Despite working incredibly hard and very very long days at times I never wished I'd done this part-time. Everyone's different and it's impossible to really say what your son should do. Best wishes for whatever he decides on.

zagubov

I did my Masters over two years while working full-time. It was extremely demanding (I'd switched from Science to Humanities) but I felt energised doing it. Having said that I was 40 so my age made it easier.

i also tutored for the OU. Very much a fan of the gradual approach to learning.

Voyager2002

zagubov wrote: »

I did my Masters over two years while working full-time. It was extremely demanding (I'd switched from Science to Humanities) but I felt energised doing it. Having said that I was 40 so my age made it easier.

i also tutored for the OU. Very much a fan of the gradual approach to learning.

So if it is hard work to do a Masters part-time (over two years) while working, it is practically impossible to do it full-time (in a year) while holding down a job.

Double_V

I would say if he can afford to do it full time, go for full time.
I mean he has no bills, rent to pay then full time.

If he's got bill then part time.

I am also starting in September my masters part-time over 2 years.
But that is because i cannot afford to lose my job then I won't be able to pay all bills.

Good luck to your son.

Dinah93

I did my MSc in one year FT. I worked 14 hours/2 days a week as well. I got a distinction with an 81% grade. It was hard, and I only went out with my friends twice in the whole year, but if its your priority it's doable. I just wanted to get it finished so I could get to working really!