AIBU to not do an MSC ?

[houseuponthehill]

Need some urgent-ish advice.

Graduated two years ago in a subject that I love but at the same time, I’m finding it very difficult to get a job in the field. I’m currently working as a freelancer for a company but the pay is shit and I predict it will take me a few years to get a stable career in the field I graduated in.

Whilst studying for my degree, I became interested in a certain vocational subject. The job prospects are very good and I took it upon my self to get additional experience in this new field. Volunteering, studying short courses.

I’ve applied to do an MSC in the vocational subject I wish to study in. I also applied to do the BSC in this too. I’ve been invited to attend interviews from the Universities I applied to. This doesn’t really mean anything as the course is very competitive and they take a small intake of potiental students.

However, I’m thinking not to go for the MSC. The reason being 1; It’s very intensive (9-6pm everyday, including placements). 2; DS (8) needs help with his learning and I’m afraid the intensity of the course would hinder that. The BSC is much more do-able, the timetable is very flexible, early start, early finish. Wouldn’t need to worry about childcare and I’ll have time at home helping DS with school work and his learning.

The downside is, the BSC is three years (I’m 23 but will be 24 when I start the course. I don’t know if I can do another three years at Uni. Whilst the MSC is two years. Also, speaking to friends, the MSC is a higher qualification than the BSC so the MSC will be better. Also, my family are advising me not to waste anymore years in education and to try extra extra hard in getting a career in the degree I graduated in.

I have

I don’t know. What would you Mumsnetters advice ?

I personally would do the condensed MSc, but I’m just giving you my personal preference.

No one can decide on this but you. You’ve weighed up the pros and cons and now you need to choose.

I would do the MSc. Lots of people have a BSc. It's only two years and not that different from a full time job.

I'm currently doing a PT MA while working FT and I have three youngish children. It is doable if you really want it.

What would the employers of the vocational job prefer? Can you email companies or look at current requirements in job adverts?

The Universities don't offer a part time MSC. The one which does, which is very far from me, is 6 years part time ! That's how intense the course is.

What about DS learning. I also want to waste anymore time on his youth.

*miss out on his youth

Crisp It doesn't matter. I just need a certain certificate which will allow me to practice in the field. But I can only get the certificate by either doing the Degree or the Masters.

You can do a masters degree over a few years. I took three and a half years to do mine, because I was busy having babies at the time. It was remarkably easy to do once I decided to take just one main unit a year (there were three units I had to do, plus writing up time: I took one unit each year and split my two lots of writing up over the three years, if that makes any sense).

It worked for me. I had two babies during my masters degree and already had one when I started, they didn't go to nursery or anything: I just was very disciplined about working while they napped and working every evening once they'd gone to bed (that's a laugh, they never slept) and using the weekends when their dad was at home to look after them.

If I were you I'd look into how long you're allowed to stretch your masters degree out. See how flexible you can be. Masters degrees are far more in demand than batchelors, and you're more likely to get a better job with an MA than a BA.

OnTheRise Was you able to do this even if your Master's didn't offer a part time option ?

I'm a single parent too.

I’d check the content of the 9-6 as well. For placements it probably is close to full time working but you might find the way the modules are structured it isn’t quite as intense. I did my msc part time while working. In theory the uni has said to plan for 20 hours contact time per week as a part timer but it was nowhere near that as I basically tried to avoid any module that required group assessment (and the hours in uni that would have gone with it) and didn’t go to any of the nice to have things. I did have some weeks where contact time was 15-20 hours but also some with just 2-3 hours. I know you say your course is intensive but if it is similarly up and down, you might find you have more time with your son than you might think.

I’m assuming you are considering something like I did (msc in a healthcare profession).
I’d do whatever is easiest and look at term and placement dates. It’s only about 9 months longer for the bsc and you get more holidays.
In my profession you spend more time on placement in bsc which can be an advantage but childcare might be an issue as people may have to travel a long way to placement and the hours have to mimic your educator.

Also my msc was 9-5 every day. It was intense

User I wish that was true. One of my friends is currently doing the MSC, she said she finishes at 6pm or even later (if it's group assignments). There's also tons of essays to write up. I'm not sure if it's intensive in the first term, then it dies down,

Potters It's more towards Occupational therapy.

Potters Do you have children ? Was childcare an issue ? Did you get to spend time with your children ? How were the holidays ?

I did OT!
I didn’t have children then but a couple of my colleagues did. It was hard without good childcare options and family to support but they both managed it.
It’s hard work but worth it.

Just out of interest where have you applied?

It sounds like the BSc would fit better with your life, but have you checked if the degree is eligible for a second student loan? Some health based courses are, but if not you might not be eligible for a SFE loan since you already have a degree (assuming it's an English uni of course).
Maybe another uni further away has a similar MSc course PT distance learning?

*Potter it's not Ot but along the same lines. I will private message you.

Tiger Yes the degree is eligible for a second student loan. It's on one of the lists.

Ok. So it’s a pre-reg masters. The clinical/placement work is at BSc level, as you can’t assess the difference in competency at MSc level. That’s also the registration requirement.
The written work is however at M level.

We find our MSc pre-reg students go onto more senior leadership roles, and get involved in teaching, supervision and research work, as they’re better prepared for that.

You’d have to check the (I’m guessing you’re talking HCPC) requirement. Most have a maximum time in student registration, which is why they’re mostly full time. It’s for currency reasons.

I’m not an AHP but I do work in their education. Give me a shout if you think I can help.

Oh- I’d go for the MSc....

Fab! If it were me I'd do the BSc then. Better work-life balance, and once you've got the official qualification you need you can always do a less intense PT MSc afterwards to get the higher academic qualification if you want.
Ultimately it's got to be your decision, but it's not crazy to choose the BSc if that's the one you want to do :).

Thank you Holla However, they do not offer the post graduate diploma in the subject. They now only offer an MSC and yes I do need the HCPC requirement.

If it's ok with you. Can I private message you ?

Tiger I can do the Masters after the BSC. But it's an additional year, so totalling to four years.

I did SLT BSc (as my first degree). Sounds like you are looking at something similar. I'm sure you are aware but the courses are usually different to standard ones. You can't do it part time, except where they specifically offer it and you probably can't choose any modules, as the course is set. The BSc isn't much longer (probably finishing in May/June rather than the previous Aug/Sept. You would have two long summers (plus other breaks) when you might be able to work. There were lots of parents on my BSc (mine was 4 years). Having been working now for some time, it makes no difference who has a masters/BSc in terms of progression etc.

That’s a shame then. For mine, I was happy to do essays etc late in the evening and weekends and could manage that but I needed to minimise the time I was actually at uni as I didn’t have enough study leave from work to cover the full hours they said it would be. Maybe see how your friend finds the second term. Also if you have a dissertation, you might suddenly find there is a long period of no lectures. And some unis do very long periods with limited tuition to cover exam revision as well. Maybe see if your friend could get you a full course timetable (even if it’s from the previous year) and then you’ll have a better idea of modules. It would just be a shame if you had to pay for 3 years if there is a small chance that 2 could be feasible particularly if you’re doing unpaid placements and finances are stretched. But, if the BSC is as flexible as you think it is, it might be worth the additional outlay for the easier life. Only you can decide that though and not your family. It is your life and if you think this path will make you happiest then do it unless it will make your financial situation unviable.
You’ll be working for decades- setting yourself up for a career you think you’ll enjoy will hopefully pay off in the long-run. Whatever you choose, I’m sure you’ll make it work. It can’t have been easy doing your first degree with a small child so you’ve shown a huge amount of determination already. Best of luck with whatever you pick!

Yep. Happy for you to DM me - see if I can help. :)

Bending That's the course ! This will probably out me. Oh well. The Masters/ BSC won't make any difference then ?

Thank you User . I'm going to ask my friend to give me the full timetable. She is currently struggling in the course due to the intensity and the work load.