I'm doing a masters at the OU I started it last May and if all goes to plan I will finish it in 2012 so two years study and 1 year for the thesis.
Up until recently I was also working full time it's quite intense sometimes but its not impossible
When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty. ~Woody Allen
Is a chocolate muffin loving glitter ball
Yep and apparently in some ways they are regarded more highly because it shows you are commited, motivated and can manage your time effectively!
I don't know if I am any of those though!
When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty. ~Woody Allen
Is a chocolate muffin loving glitter ball
I started doing a part time Masters whilst working full time hours, but i was self employed so getting time off wasn't a problem. It was one day a week for two years but i only did a couple of terms - i guess other things got in the way.. i was in a very volatile relationship and had some other problems.
Where do you live? University of London has a college which runs during the evening.. Birkbeck College i think. Maybe that's of help to you.
I'm looking at doing it the other way around next year; a full-time Masters (all twelve hours of contact time a week) and part-time job. I haven't experienced it yet, but I've done some research into it and spoken to lots of people if you've got any questions.
I really want to do this. I'm not working at the moment, so can't even afford it at the moment. I think it depends on how focused and committed you are to it. It sounds like a difficult load to manage, but not impossible by any means.
It's good to hear people's views. I'm not working either at the moment and so would have to find a part time/ full time job first, depending on which way I wanted to do it.
How could I manage to make sure I schedule the work so I can attend lectures? Don't they ask how you intend to fund the studies? I thought they didn't like people who were going to self fund unless they had savings? Am I sure I'll be able to afford the fees?
After thinking about it I've reluctantly decided to take a gap year time thing and save up the money to do post graduate. Unless, I can guarantee I can afford it.
It's sad I'm having to give up on a dream in order to get the finances together as I bet when I start working the time will never be right again to go back into study.
A gap year can be beneficial, especially when it comes to getting experience and knowing that it is really what you want to do. University will always be there.
You should be able to get a hold of the class timetable so that you know when you are/are not available to work. Might be an idea to look for evening and/or weekend work for starters, as well as things like zero hours (if you aren't desperate for cash) or shift work.
If you say you can fund it then they will expect you to be able to. You will need to pay at least part of it up-front. Although I have never heard of any domestic student needing to prove that they can pay.
I did a postgraduate whilst working full time and the pressure made my MH worse. Lots of universities offer part time postgraduate degrees if you don't want to do the OU. If the degree is related to your job they might allow you to take an extra day off once a month. Worth asking.
Do Uni's worry if you take too much time out? Like 2/3 yrs?
A recent circumstance change means I need to take time out before post grad. I graduate next year (Scary stuff!)
No, they don't mind. Students are all ages. Taking a few years out can make gaining academic references slightly more difficult, but not an impossible hurdle. It can enhance your application greatly if you can manage to get some direct, relevant experience as well.
yes! though i am not currently working, i completed my undergrad degree by going part time and working about 50-6o hours per week. when i started my master's i was working a minimum of 40 hours a week, often more. i will be going back to work late fall or early winter and still be working on my master's as it is not going to be finished for a year and a half.
it takes discipline, but it's doable! just stay focused on the goal and remind yourself of the doors that will open when you finish!
they locked me up. they shaved my head. they fed me taco bell.
in 2010 i was hospitalized for approaching perfection...
I took 3 years off between finishing my degree and starting my masters.
I know others who did it with no gap and others who did it with a long gap.
Thats the joy of study!
When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty. ~Woody Allen
Is a chocolate muffin loving glitter ball
I did - I was studying with the OU who are fantastic - very supportive about health issues including MH. Although of course you still need to be able to actually do the work... Also, if you're on state benefits check out the financial support available from OU, I know they have various bursaries etc, especially if you aren't working because of health issues.
It helped that the MSc related to my job, so my employers were supportive - half a day off per week and a day off for exams. But of course, it needed a lot more time on top of that.
My advice is be very organised! And don't think you have to read/do everything. Plan your approach to the course, get past exam papers early and check out the assignments from the start - focus your work on what you need to do get through the course, and on the bits that interest you most. There will be too much material to cover everything (even if you weren't working) and one of the key skills from a Masters degree is being able to focus and select then analyse the necessary information.
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