Starting a masters in my 40s?

[despicableshe]

I've recently completed by bachelors and surprised myself by doing really well! I'd like to do a masters as it can boost my career development, am interested in the topic and also for personal goals. Lots of people think I'm bonkers to study again...though it can be stressful, I do enjoy study and managed through several personal challenges.

As usual though, I'm having a bit of a wobble as if I want to apply for next year, I'll be 42 when I start, and I'd have to find a part time role to keep some money coming in. Anyone else start their masters in their 40s? I'm thinking I'd like to do this before my DC reach SATS/GCSE age, which they will in about 4 years or so.

[Mumsmet]

Go for it! Good luck!

[DottyDotAgain]

Hi- I'm 48 and have just completed and passed an MSc - am graduating in December!

I work full-time in a very full on, stressful job and I have two teenage boys, but also thankfully a very understanding, brilliant dp who bore the brunt of the cooking/housework/ds entertaining while I was deep in dissertation hell..!

I dropped out of college many years ago so the MSc is the first formal qualification I'll have to my name - am very proud for having stuck it out (it was a 2 year course) - so it's definitely do-able, just a bit of a slog and I needed to be very single minded particularly in the last few months....

Good luck!!

[stinkingbishop]

I did a Psychology MSc at 41 and am about to start the clinical doctorate at 44 . It's ace. Yes, you have to be even more hyper organised, and yes, there are a few lonely nights at 1am staring at a blank screen and wondering why you ever thought this was a good idea...but the self-respect is huge, I think it's good for the DCs to see Mum learning and putting in the hours, I appreciate education, the lectures etc so much more now and just find it an absolute privilege to be sitting listening to someone who knows their stuff, and you get to hang out with the yoof and it rubs off a bit...

In terms of money, I searched around for grants, including obscure Victorian ones for the betterment of gentlewomen in Parish X...eventually I applied for and got a Santander scholarship which at £5k paid all the fees. Worth looking into.

[sweatylemon]

I will be starting an MA next year.
I will be 51.
Am doing it purely for the love of the subject.

[despicableshe]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone :)

[badgerhead]

I'm just starting a MA next week in Childhood & Youth with the OU, I'm 58!

[YellowPrimula]

Just about to start the second year of my MA , at 52.Go for it, I have loved it .

[Spasm0dic]

I’m in my late thirties doing a masters and I’m one of the babies in my course. Also, if you don’t have a masters degree already there is a non means tested postgrad loan, which always helps. Good luck!

[blacklily3]

Hi, I am 37 and in first year of uni, I plan on doing at masters after my 4 yr degree ends, I will turn 42 on it. Never too old.

[Herts19]

Hi,

I’ve just found your post as I googled starting an MSc at 41. Interestingly I’m also about to do Psychology with a view to doing a Doctorate afterwards. I have 3 kids and I work and I’m generally very scared about juggling it all. It sounds like it’s possible reading your post! Are you working as a clinical psychologist now?