To do a Masters while working full time as a lone parent?

For context I work in a Russell group university supporting students studying online, part-time, alongside often challenging jobs. We say 20 hours a week and most of them really struggle to fit this in, so as others have said I think 40hrs without dropping work hours is not possible and over 2 years (if an option) would be tough but more feasible.

depending on the structure of the course it’s all very well saying you do it in your own time, but it’s likely that you’re expected to have covered certain topics/assessments points by set dates in which case you can’t “save it up” and do more in holidays etc. I would really recommend trying to talk to the team supporting students on the course and see what they suggest - if you came to me I would strongly recommend against it as a working full time person, let alone also a parent! No point killing yourself just to get it done more quickly!

Also the Bolton course at least doesn't appear to be online. You'll have lab work, working with other pupils.

It's not just a case of ticking boxes, it's a full-on programme with a dissertation at the end you won't just be able to do in the 6 school holiday weeks.

I did my masters in a different discipline but there is absolutely no way I could have done it whilst working. It's not just about the hours to study, it's the extra bits that is not compatible. How will you do group work when your team meets at 10am?

Studying while working can be done but is not an easy route and requires considerable self discipline and time management skills. I was fortunate to be single and childfree and to live in a council flat so my living expenses were compatively low. I also had considerable transferable skills from my former work as a librarian.

I did my masters in Human Computer Interaction by research albeit back in the 90s. I did not have to attend lectures but I did meet regularly with my professor and subsequently went on to a Ph.D and became an academic (second career in my 40s).

It took me 2 years to do the masters. The first year I was p/t and self funding. I worked tutoring at my uni and dogsbodying for my prof during the day. I also taught evening computer classes in a local college, which is how I became interested in HCI. The first two terms I simply gathered data and prepared a strong research proposal. I was then fortunate to win a 3 year studentship from the uni and later from the state.

That's too much in one year. You might scrape through with a pass but you a) won't enjoy it much and b) won't be competitive for ed psych training.

Do the course over 2 years.

And also, conversion master's programmes are even more challenging than a regular master's. Set yourself up for a positive beneficial experience rather than just trying to rush through to tick the box.

In my experience the OU strongly advises people against trying to do that many credits (and therefore hours) at once on top of full time work. They are experts in distance learning around the rest of life and they see how many people succeed Vs fail or defer when biting off that much.

The guideline is 10 hours per credit. MSc is 180 credits, so 1800 hours of work. That's if you're already ready to work at post-grad level in the subject.

When would you sleep? Rest your brain? It's far too much.

You also asked about would you really need to do the hours advised. If you just skate through doing the minimum to pass, do you think you'll be getting as much out of it as you could? Will it be as beneficial?

Spread it over two or three years. You will get more from it without making yourself ill.

Also, if you're not planning to attend live lectures in person, why are you restricting yourself to local institutions? Find the institution with the best programme, that best suits your interests and aspirations, and where you can have confidence the support will be the best fit for your learning needs and method.

I totally get where you as I was in the same place 10 years ago. The thing is, it is pointless to do that conversion masters (and costly I assume) if you don't know if you can follow with the next step.

I decided that the requirements for the PhD were too much for me as a single mum. I wasn't going to move and the success ratio was too much of a risk. If I recall at the time, there was offer for 10 applications with applicants being able to show direct experience as psychology assistant roles. My job was related, but I knew I couldn't compete with younger, free to move, experienced applicants.

I've read the full thread. I think you need to work out whether you want to actually LEARN - or just go through the motiins and get the piece of paper

I have 3 (!) master's degrees. The first I did part-time in my 2nd and 4th years of teaching, age 24-26. Attendance 2 night a week was required and obviously, a lot of reading and essay writing, study for exams and the writing of a dissertation. I had no kids or responsibilities other than my (obviously term time only) teaching job. But I took it seriously and wanted to learn.

My second was an MBA, part-time over 3 years, also whilst a teacher. Still no kids. A big workload, but I took it seriously again.

The 3rd was for fun after I'd stopped working full-time.

I'll go back to my earlier comment - is it just for a bit of paper or to actually LEARN? Because frankly, you'll struggle to get through it, let alone learn and retain knowledge, doing it in one year. Which - given your circumstances, is unfeasible.

Do it part-time over 2 years. LEARN from the course.

I think you need to do it part time as realistically you're only totting up maybe 20 hours a week there. I know you mentioned you can work more in school holidays, but they probably won't correspond to when you need to work more for the course eg for assignment deadlines, exams, keeping up during the course etc. You really need to be able to regularly commit somewhere around the recommended 40 hours a week every week. You seem to be able to be able to find the 20 hours though so I'd do it part time - I think you'll get more out of it that way, be less stressed, feel able to take some time off over the weekend and do better on the course.

I did this, but with a part time masters that was in person over 2 years and it was hard going. I condensed my hours down to 4 days, but ended up reducing to 0.8 fte as it was just overwhelming amount to do on top of my job. I don't have any kids either. I had next to no social life at all during the second year with all of the deadlines falling very close together, so my biggest piece of advice would be have a look at when all the major deadlines fall as it requires seriously careful planning, and probably taking time off work. Good luck though, it is doable and I don't regret it at all!

What is your ultimate goal? To be a psychologist, you need to do a PhD. Places on PhD courses are very competitive. You'll need some work experience. Are you prepared to move with your family to go wherever you are accepted for a PhD. Will you be able to fund it? You won't be able ro work FT AND do a PhD.

Slightly off thread but it’s a bit crazy isn’t it. Not sure I could manage an MA but I’ve started with reading a back log of books I’ve been meaning to read - 4 down so far this summer!

I did a PhD part time (six years) as a working single parent. It helped that I worked in the institution where I was registered for my PhD, but it was still a lot of juggling. I had to have rigid routines, kids had to be quite independent and share in household chores, school holidays involved holiday clubs and the goodwill of family and friends. I did much of my writing up late at night after the kids were in bed. They missed out in some ways, but they did get the message that working hard academically was quite normal, and all of them grew into very successful independent students through school, uni and professional qualifications.

What are your goals for this MA? Do you just want to pass, or do you want a top grade? Are you thinking that you will study further after this, or is this it? I would think over what you want for this study before you decide. If you want to do really well, don't sabotage your potential by trying to fit too much in too quickly.

I can't imagine this being doable full time, but part time over 2 years would be manageable.

I am 49 and halfway through a 2y distance MA in a subject related to work. It is HARD. My situation is not the same as yours so just to clarify:

I work 4 days a week
2DC 11 and 13, eldest has ASD but both need parenting in many ways: emotional support, monitoring phone use, homework, having friends over, 5 activities between them
DH works ft but has only just returned to work after having resigned from his last job and being off with depression. Doing OK but I am supporting him of course and cannot lean on him hugely, although he does a lot of lifts and fair share of housework
DH and I both have elderly parents who need support so one of us is away 2 out of 3 weekends

Energy wise, I am not 100%, possibly perimenopause and also stress due to the problems with my parents and DH over the last year.

Points I would consider:
My MA is supposed to take around 15 hours a week. I thought as a fast reader I could do it in less, but I cannot. It is intended to be rigorous and it is. I did a masters 20 years ago and don't remember struggling, but that was pre kids when my mind was much fresher!

Be realistic about how much you can do . If I've been up since 7, busy with kids and work the whole day, and by the time chores are done, it's 8/9 and I am tired, can do a couple of hours maybe but I do need some downtime. That's just me though - your energy levels may be better. And sometimes my kids are rattling around and want to talk to me at this time. I get little uninterrupted time.

In a normal week, I can manage. However, plenty of things interfere with this, eg school holiday, illness, group projects, family birthday / other weekend plans - you get the picture. Even with turning down plans, it's a struggle. Before coursework deadlines, it takes a lot longer. I have used annual leave to study. I do get 6 weeks annual leave from work then another week as study leave. Even so, I have only managed a one-week holiday this year.

So I would say you need some flex in the system. It sounds like your life isn't that busy apart from work and your kids are not demanding, so it sounds like part time would be ideal and you'd have no problem doing it in that time.

I should say I really enjoy the study, which is important as you need to drive to keep going!

Ive just completed an MA full time, tho a humanities rather than science one.

I do work but probably 25 hours a week rather than full-time. And have a ds who was 10 when I started. The course info said Id need 40 hours a week, for 46 weeks I think it worked out at. The reality was more like 15 to 20, with 40 around assessment times.

I also think it depends if you have prior, relevant experience and knowledge. I did and it helped massively. Some on my course didn't and they have found it a lot more challenging.

I would check to see if it is possible to potentially drop down. You may not need to, but don't underestimate how much work your thesis will be, especially if you want to do well in it. In my experience (I work in academia and supervise MAs), students often underestimate this before they start.

I did it. It was a hard slog, but definitely do-able. The recordings are great - I often listening to these whilst driving to work and cooking dinner. Often on 1.5/2 x speed to get them over faster! Go for it!

I did a masters over a year when a single parent and working full time. It was a MSC in Psychology too. I did need an extension for the final research project though, as I was unexpectedly moving house and couldn’t fit it all in. It was tough and a lot of work, but it is doable. To be fair though, I now work 55 hours a week and I’m still a single parent, so I’m used to a heavy workload.

I personally wouldn't. You have too many competing priorities. Now is not the time. Don't give yourself a nervous breakdown trying to spin too many plates.