To consider doing a Masters with two young children?

[IdiotSandwich05]

I graduated with a first in biochemistry last year. Did plan to do a MSc right after but fell pregnant with DS just after graduating so went to work instead. DS is now 3 months and I'm considering starting my MSc in September next year, when he'll be 15 months old. I also have a DD who will be 4 when I start.

I started my BSc when DD was a baby and obviously managed it but it was pretty stressful! But my BSc was three years and the MSc will only be a year. But now I'll have two children instead of one, and obviously a Masters is a bit more challenging intellectually.

I do have a very supportive DH and family. Did anyone else do a Masters with young children? Am I completely mad? 😂

YABU - you're mad, don't do it
YANBU - do it

You’ll find lots of them here on the Mature Study and Retraining board:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

I’m doing it part time although my children are primary aged rather than toddlers. It’s taken a long time and I’ve needed deadline extensions but I’m nearly finished now. You just have to be disciplined with carving out time to work (I make myself do early mornings at weekends before the kids wake up, but that’s harder with tiny ones!). I would look at your typical day now and be honest with yourself - could you find an hour a day to study? Do you get that much down-time (ie time when not working or looking after the children)? If you do and you’re happy to study rather than watch TV or whatever, go for it. If you can’t see where you could fit it in, there’s your decision made.

@GiantCheeseMonster I can definitely see when I could fit in a couple of hours of study!

You'd be ok doing the course, but the two small children would struggle with the work I think

Think future - what will you use it for and what's the plan post MSc? Masters are heavy work and you'll need to do practical work I suspect, so depends on the childcare provision.
If it's for a career in academia can you go straight to PhD? Many of us have done that route and avoided the MSc completely but it depends on your future plans more than anything imo

I did a Masters, online distance learning though. It was part time over two years. Started with a 6 month old and had a newborn when I finished. It was hard but worth it. I had one day of nursery childcare during the week and then used weekends and evenings . It worked out at about17-20 hours a week..probably more towards dissertation and assessment deadlines. Not much of a social life during it but we were also in lockdown for about a year of it. Good luck ! I think it’s defo possible with support and it helps if you have flexibility with distance learning

I did my MPhil with 1 child (she was 1-2 at the time) and an unsupportive family. I think with lots of support you'll be fine.