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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is a Masters worth it

35 replies

user87382294757 · 25/06/2019 16:26

I see quite a few people studying for a Masters, and then recently it was suggested to me by a friend. I've already got a degree form years ago and a PGCE. Quite a bit of student loans from then still owing.

So, I was wondering is a Masters worth it? I checked online and it seems to cost quite a bit. (my previous courses were funded partly- grant for the degree and bursary for the PGCE) If not the loans would have been much higher.

I'm not sure I could justify getting further loans for a Masters while teenage DC coming up for age of applying to university also and feel might need to save that money into their trust funds instead?

What do you think - is a Masters worth the costs time and effort.

OP posts:
Alarae · 25/06/2019 16:28

What is the masters in? Some will have more usefulness than others.

For example, I could get a masters in taxation but it wouldn't be any use to me as I have the chartered qualification.

Similarly, a masters in Law sounds fancy but it probably won't help you secure a training contract more than the next intelligent person.

If you are doing a masters for the sake of it, I would say you probably shouldn't bother.

5foot5 · 25/06/2019 16:28

I suppose it depends on what the subject is and whether the Masters is likely to improve your job prospects?

doesthiseemright · 25/06/2019 16:29

I think yes but I cant afford one myself.

Original poster
user87382294757 · 25/06/2019 16:29

The one my friend is doing is in English Literature.

OP posts:
Purpleartichoke · 25/06/2019 16:29

It is entirely subject and career dependent.

museumum · 25/06/2019 16:30

Mine was quite job specific. Whereas my BSc was quite general. So for me yes it was very much worth it.

MargotsFlounceyBlouse · 25/06/2019 16:31

Surely it depends on the masters and why you're doing it! I did an arts MA very specific to my career and it both helped my career and kick-started my social life and bench marked me professionally... I wouldn't have bothered if there wasn't something in it for me.

Confrontayshunme · 25/06/2019 16:32

If it is in finance or tech or something you could use unilaterally but have no qualifications in, maybe.

If it is further ed in something you are working in already, maybe.

If you have no experience or is totally different, no.

I have a huge amount of loans from my master's and while I could have gotten a good government jobs with it in the States, it is useless to me here. I would have to get a pgce or doctorate to do it as a career.

Original poster
user87382294757 · 25/06/2019 16:32

Well, I seem to see some SAHMs doing one as a way of getting back into the job market

OP posts:
EleanorOalike · 25/06/2019 16:35

Well, my MA meant that I was able to teach in Universities for better pay and conditions and it also helped me get more freelance work. It definitely depends on what your reasoning is for wanting to do an MA is. Your friend could go on to lecture in English in a university, for example. She could teach without a PGCE in an Independent School (as I did straight after I got my MA). If she wants to be, say, a florist then an MA in Eng Lit obviously wouldn’t be helpful career-wise.

Original poster
user87382294757 · 25/06/2019 16:39

Thanks. OK, so you can do a conversion masters I see. Does that depend on the previous degree perhaps. And you can do a masters from home too

OP posts:
theduchessstill · 25/06/2019 16:45

I find it odd that you are considering this without mentioning the subject or the potential impact on your career. How can people give a considered response without that information? People can get an awful lot out of doing a masters, aside from improving employability, but it's not something I'd be prioritising in your situation as you have described it

I don't think it's worth doing one 'just because' and I wouldn't be taking on a significant expense when you are still paying off other loans and are about to enter an expensive phase of your dc's lives.

I don't think it's w

EleanorOalike · 25/06/2019 16:48

What are you thinking of doing a conversion masters in? Law? Psychology? Are you wanting to change career or move up in your current career? Is it more of a hobby? To indulge a creative passion?

ShitArmBadTattoo · 25/06/2019 16:51

I have a masters degree, I don’t think it made that much difference to getting the job I have (same subject) but I enjoy saying it because I think it makes me sound clever Grin

wizzywig · 25/06/2019 16:53

It helped me think more critically, more professionally and i did a general masters (ie, not one linked to a career)

GeorgeTheBleeder · 25/06/2019 16:57

The one my friend is doing is in English Literature.

But you’re not asking about your friend!Confused

PeonyPink0 · 25/06/2019 17:07

Which vote is which?

Where’s the AIBU?

Original poster
user87382294757 · 25/06/2019 17:09

Well, I am kind of asking in general to be honest. As I see it mentioned quite a lot on here. For getting from being a SAHM back into the workplace, I guess.

OP posts:
GeorgeTheBleeder · 25/06/2019 17:11

OP a Masters is a lot of work. What is the subject you want to study at this level and what would you hope to do with the qualification?

mypityparty · 25/06/2019 17:17

If your career involves doing research and writing informative documents, then a master's may help you with the discipline to do just that.

If you want to boost your career generally, look at doing qualification certification in the field your in.

Tbh I don't really get to name drop my Msc anymore, I don't think I have in years, it's too out of date. Btw they can get out of date pretty quick depending on your field

I personally don't really think it gets your CV to the top of the pile anymore, employers are looking for specific skills where they don't have to pay the cost to train someone.

Also I don't think they really enable someone to career change in later life, because you'll only just be above entry level and there you have to weigh the cost benefit
If on the other hand, you want to do it for fun and spend time with academic peers full time as a hobby - go for it.

I personally feel you should do a master's directly after your degree, as you've got it over and done with in your early 20's prior to entering the workforce at an entry level.

But if you want to become an academic then it's the start to your PhD and professor-ship.

Without knowing how you want to use it it's a bit difficult to recommend

KatyaZamolodchikova · 25/06/2019 17:18

I’m hoping to do a Masters this year. Work have encouraged me and it is in my work area (Human Resources, if anyone is interested). I am qualified to degree level but this is an academic reflection of my job role and experience. It will help me move up in my company and outside I suppose, if I choose to. It’s expected by a certain level, so it gives me the opportunity if I want to. Future-proofing my career. I wouldn’t do one for the sake of it! I wouldn’t have done my degree for the sake of it either though, I did that for my existing career too.

EleanorOalike · 25/06/2019 17:18

Well you say you have a PGCE so are you looking to teach again? What age group? For a primary school a MA might not make a difference whereas for a college or university it would.

If you want to change career to something totally different, a more vocational qualification might be of better use. It’s very difficult to advise with so little to go on.

I’d suggest you speak with a careers adviser.

BadnessInTheFolds · 25/06/2019 17:20

I would say anyone considering a master's should have a very clear idea what they want to get out of it. It doesn't sound like you do?

In terms of making the transition from SAHM I would have thought there were other things to think about getting on your CV that would be more helpful as they would show recent experience of the workplace which you might be lacking (e.g. volunteering, temp work, you mention a pgce would you consider supply?)

However, you could use a masters to demonstrate your interest in a new area or to move into HE, if it was vocational you might use it to negotiate a higher pay grade.

If you didn't have much writing/research experience recently and wanted to go into a career where that was important then you could use your dissertation as evidence of that- but equally you could get other writing experience for free. It's very subjective.

It could also be a great personal investment in terms of exploring new learning and thinking about yourself and your time differently (but that's slightly different than what you asked and it isn't a cheap way of doing it!)

Would it be worth instead, making a list of what you want in an ideal job and what you feel you need to get the things you don't have at the moment and seeing how a master's would fit in with that?

Rowennaravenclaw · 25/06/2019 17:21

I think it's only worth it if it is a gateway to a step on the way to a career. Some people just love studying and want to do it for the joy of learning. Well, if you love learning enough to pay £9,000 for a year or it, then fine. But unless it also led to an increased salary or desired career that wouldn't be worth it for me. I'd rather spend 9k on holidays!

mypityparty · 25/06/2019 17:21

If you want to shift from being a sahm to a job, look at doing entry level vocational quslifications, they are cheaper, faster and get you in the door