Any Psychology Graduates out there?

[goldenticket]

I really want to study for a degree in Psychology but work 15 hours pw already and I can't drop that. My local uni offers this course but I'm wondering realistically how many hours pw I would need to be studying? I'm struggling to get a feel for whether this is practical or not. They also offer a part-time (5 year) option - do you think that might be more do-able?

TIA

[Niecie]

I did psychology via the OU so very much part time. They expect 16 hours a week average for undergrad courses over the 9 months of the course. This isn't 16 hours every week, more like 25 some weeks and nothing or very little on others but you could be better organised than me and do the steady 16 hour a week!! In fact I did that at the beginning, just couldn't keep up the discipline.

That might not be an issue with a more traditional university where you have to attend classes.

Presumably the 5 yr course would involve very little contact time too?

[goldenticket]

Well, self-discipline (or lack of it) was the reason I was looking at a trad uni rather than the OU (plus I work by myself so would run the risk of becoming a complete hermit if I did the OU I think).

When you say 9 months, is that for each module?

[muddleduck]

I teach on a psycholofy degree.

15 hours per week is (IMO) too much to combine with a full-time course. You'd miss out far too much of the background work that is necessary to do well. I have had students who do paid work for one full day a week and they find this tough.
Combining this amount of paid work with a 5-year degree should be fine.
Find out exactly how they divide the 3 year course into 5 though.

[goldenticket]

That's really useful muddleduck, thank you. Will get in touch with them and find out about the 5 year course.

[LondonMother]

I would agree. I work in a university with postgraduate students and several have come a cropper by trying to combine full-time study with substantial part-time jobs. It affects grades as their attendance has been poor, they haven't had the time or energy to do as much background reading or make such an effort with their coursework.

Having said that, one new student told me recently that she worked 26 hours a week all through her undergrad years and she got a first from a top university! She said never again, though.

[webwiz]

I'm studying for a Psychology MA part time with the Open University and I work part time from home as well (yes I'd love to sneak into a lecture to get me out of the house!) mostly its a lovely balance but I find life has more of a habit of getting in the way now than when I did my undergraduate degree (many years ago now!).

My next course starts in a few weeks and I'm a bit twitchy about having to study quite hard in the run up to Christmas and also I've just developed back problems that are making concentration difficult. It isn't the work/study that make things difficult its the other things - kids being ill, me being ill, christmas shopping(!), having to find someone to fix the loose guttering at the back of the house etc etc. I personally wouldn't be able to study full time and get the most out of my course.

[Niecie]

Goldenticket - Yes it is 9 mths for the main psychology modules (4 of them). They usually run Feb to October with couple of weeks off in August and the last 4 weeks or so free for revision before the October exam. The start times are getting a bit more flexible since I did the undergrad stuff so don't hold me to that but you get some idea of the commitment.

Being a hermit is an issue - not ideal for a course that is very people focussed.

Webwiz - I have just (last week) finished my MSc Psychology with the OU. I am sooooo looking forward to not having a TMA deadline in the week before Christmas for the 1st time in 4 yrs. You have my sympathy!!

[alicatte]

I honestly think you should go for the part-time option.

My first degree was in psychology (science side) and then I somehow morphed into linguistics via my M.A. which started out as one thing and ended up twisting itself into another - I had to have externals to mark and moderate and found myself sliding between departments. BUT THEN I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN and I went out constantly and felt completely on top of it all.

When I retrained as a teacher I was heartily grateful for the part-time PGCE I managed to get a place on. As it was I found myself a virtual hermit - It is just so difficult when you have other responsibilities and children who do piles of extra curricular activities. Be kind to yourself. I've never done an OU but I reckon that the modular structure might fit better. You can work at your own/your family's pace.

Just my experience.

[goldenticket]

Thanks ever so much for these replies - I'm going to speak to the uni re the part-time option and look anew at the OU I think. It's so tempting to try and do it quickly but I think I'd regret it if it took up too much of my "free" (ho ho) time.

Thanks again

[rpt53]

hi Golden ticket,

I think you have a big advantage in being a mum - I have a psychology first degree and masters which I did while working 3-4 days per week with kids. My expereince is that knowing the importance of time is an advantage - I use every 10 minutes available and it really adds up so that while I do find exam times particularly stressful, I think that if you can finad a place to study that is all yours, you may have more time than you think when all the 10 minutes add up - worked for me, although obviously it may not be for everyone.