to think I could work and study?

I did an 8 hours per week course on top of a FT job while pg, and then did FT study for - year with a 9 month old, followed by needing to do a 40(+!) hr/week jobs while writing a thesis with an 18 mtg old….

Once you add DC into the mix, it’s much harder. I have found it almost impossible to do proper study since then, as the needs of DC got bigger and I needed my brain working for work rather than study or extra reading.

so it depends on how organised your life is generally, and how intense your job is (particularly - is it a “follow the procedures” job or something you need to do a lot of thinking and decision-making in.

it is possible, but it is hard work - and needs a lot of planning/organisation.

Yes I did this 3 times. A degree, a post grad and then the professional qualification degree level that my job requires. The first two I did with part time work and it was ok. Stressful at times but manageable.

The one I did when working full time nearly bloody broke me. I did it but have sworn off studying again.

I did my first degree with the OU and had I not, I would have still been in dead end work. So absolutely go for it OP, it’s not easy but can change your life.

Im doing a psychology degree with the Open University plus working 40 hours a week with 2 kids. There have been tears but its manegeable

Does the masters have to be from a local university though? No idea whether your bachelors has any potential to link with a relevant masters elsewhere but if you didn’t have to do another bachelors you could use those years for your phd instead ;-)
Just asking because I lived in a country for a while where you needed Latin to access university so I had to get creative.

I did my OU degree in 4 years while working 5.5 days a week. I was childless at the start but not by the end. After a full time PGCE I've subsequently completed two Masters degrees while working full time and raising children and now DC are grown up I'm halfway through my EdD.

I did a masters level course for a year whilst working part time with 2 primary age kids - it was hard work but doable as long as I kept up with the course content each week and actually used my planned study time to study! It was a professional qualification sponsored by my workplace so they were obviously supportive, which helped too.
I'm not sure I'll ever go on to complete the full masters degree though, a year was enough!

I did it. I was working full time as a TA (37 hrs pw). I did a BA(Hons) Education with Early Childhood Studies. The Uni were brilliant and let me attend all my lectures after school. It was hard work, I also had the most supportive DH and 2 children who were 14 & 19. I was knackered most days but I did it and the day I graduated was fabulous. Go for it I say xx

Absolutely possible but you will need to be organised and disciplined to make time for study and writing your TMAs. I’ve studied with the OU while working full time and managed it , both a Bachelor and Masters ( and neither subject was related to my job ) - you can do this !

Completely possible, did my masters, distance and part time, over 2.5 years with 2 x5 year olds when I started. You can nail this.

I think it's doable too. I'm currently doing a masters with the ou while working 40 hours a week and having a 9 and 11 year old that do lots of activities. It takes a bit of discipline but I am enjoying it too. I also find that the estimated study time is generous. Go for it

Definitely doable. I did a professional qualification when working 32hours a week with two kids.
It's supposed to take 3 years but I took about 4.5 and I'm not going to lie, it was hard! I also have a very supportive husband who was invaluable in the run up to exams. But I did it and it was worth it.
If you really want to do it then go for it. X

Is there no way to go directly to a relevant masters from your existing bachelors, depending on what it’s in?
If you’re abroad anyway there are probably easier and cheaper online degrees than the OU available to you.

Yes you can. People work 35 hours a week and study 15 hours with the OU, so why not the other way round?

You'll need good time management and dedication, but you can do it!

I do. I work full time but my dc are 10 and 8 so a bit easier with them being older. I am doing a degree over 6 years, currently finishing my year end assignment for year 4. I study in the evening and bit at the weekend, some weeks I do less than I should but it cant be helped. Dh takes the dc out for a weekend afternoon sometimes when I have an essay deadline. I'm doing arts and humanities with religious studies so it's mostly reading and notetaking in my own time.

I would say at level one if you have a fairly good grasp of English and you can follow written directions then you should be able to do level 1 in one year. Level 2 is a bit more demanding. By level 3 you will probably enjoy it more if you do it over two years. You can vary the intensity as you progress through the degree.

Obviously as you go up the years it gets harder but for first year it’s fairly easy, I basically ignored it until the weekend before the TMA and banged out the essay/whatever was required. As you go further along you have to be more organised but all perfectly doable and lots of others in the same boat

Without a doubt you can if you’re committed! We have a 3 year old and a 6m old, both work full time (I’m on mat leave atm though) and my wife is coming to the end of a masters that she’s done over 2 years. It’s minimally impacted the family to be honest other than the online lectures/face to face which always has to be on weekends. She mostly does her work in the evenings after the kids are in bed. Good luck op it will be a great achievement!