How hard is it to do a masters by research?

[MasterOfCaffeine]

I'm currently completing an honours degree part time and have been offered an opportunity to do a 2 year masters by research once my degree course is finished this year. Obviously there is a shit ton of work involved in a masters, but just how hard is it?

For context, I have 4 dc (including a young baby). I was doing freelance work until my latest baby was born but have taken a break and am in no rush to go back to it if it means I can get the msc instead.

I am at home with the baby while the older 3 kids are at school until the afternoon, so I am aware that most of my work will have to be done in the evenings/at night (which is when I do my current college work and when I used to do my freelance work anyway).

I am passionate and excited about my topic, and I love the research process, but don't want to bite off more than I can chew

I didn't find it that difficult but then I didn't have 4 kids.

Where, when and how will you do your research? Will you be expected to attend seminars and other department events? What about meetings with your supervisor? In other words, how much of it will you not be able to do at home in the evenings, and how will you manage it?

Why do you want to do it, and how much will it cost?

I never did one (I did a taught MA), but I have done research postgrad work and I think something that's really hard is keeping your focus on one subject for such a long period, especially when you have interruptions from family commitments.

I did one, but didn’t have any children. I was, however, working two part time jobs so for me, the hardest thing was being motivated when there’s very little in the way of contact time. I was very committed to my topic though, which helped, and had a great supervisor.

I completed on time after two years and it’s been really important in shaping my career nearly 20 years later.

I have supportive parents and in-laws so should be able to attend seminars and meetings. I'm also willing to pay for childcare if necessary.

It won't cost me anything to do it because it's a fellowship, and I may actually qualify for a bursary which could go towards childcare.

Apart from loving research and being really interested in my topic, the main reason I want to do it is to improve my employment prospects. I am planning on returning to employment when all the kids are in school and the job market is quite competitive where I live.

Can anyone tell me how many hours weekly they needed to put in for their masters?

Do it!

They are hugely interesting. I have done one. Two years is part time isn’t it? Honestly it depends on the seminars. As much of the work can be done from home, but the expectations of the dept are worth asking. They might like you ‘in’ college.

I’d say 20 hours is max for part time.

If it's part time over 2 years, then it's similar to a degree, just needing to pass at the 2:1 level. I'm guessing it's not a subject where you need to be in a lab with someone around, which would be hard to do in the evenings?

I'm currently doing a taught masters part time (only my dissertation left to do) and including lectures, I spend around 12-16 hours a week on mine

Oh, wow, it sounds like a wonderful opportunity, if it's funded! Go for it!

It's really hard to know in terms of hours, but if it's two years part time I would guess around 20, maybe a bit more when you're getting close to the wire. But it might be possible to manage on less - depends how efficient you are and how much you're bothered about the final result.

I'm currently doing one FT, lone parent with 2 children (13 and 6). I love it, but the thing that helps is a) having a genuine and enduring interest in my subject, b) loving research generally, and c) having a strong and supportive PG research community at my institution. I'm lucky in that I can go to the research offices when my DCs are at school, but that online resources make it easy to study from home.

I've found you can 'get away' with whatever you put into it, but that you'll enjoy it much more if you do as much as you can manage. Be prepared for not being able to 'switch off' though - I find myself waking up to write down ideas that have crystallised in my sleep!

What is your subject? Sounds like a great opportunity especially if funded!