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

[Namechangelikeits1999]

I'm a lone parent, 2 DC, one about to start high school and one going into Y9. I work full time term time only. My DC are fairly independent and support the idea.
I think this might be the ideal time to finally do my MSc. It would be done in 12 months if I can manage it. Therefore finished before Y10 exams etc for eldest.
I can't drop work hours because of finances, I don't particularly want a student loan either.
Am I completely mad? Anyone done it and have tips?

That’s what I’m doing but as day release from work over 2 years (fully paid my salary and course costs so no financial impact). I’m also a single parent.
It’s a lot to take on and I’m managing ok doing 6-8 hours per week. Over the next month I’ll have to do a bit more which will be a stretch but I can make it work.
There’s no way I’d add an extra 40 hour commitment on top of a full time job and looking after my family/home/having a social life to do it in 12 months. Think very carefully before you commit to this. It could lead to burnout and a significant impact on your physical and mental health.
I appreciate the driver to get it done quickly, but will you be able to do it well and take on board the learning with everything else in your life?

Can you write out what your weekly schedule might look like with your masters programme included? (Not necessarily here, if you don’t want to. But I think that would help you see if it fits in.)

40 hours per week is a second full time job. Over a week, that averages nearly six hours per day. I don’t think that’s feasible in reality.

I did it and it was pretty gruesome. Lots of very very late nights and early mornings.

You can do it, but genuinely it’s a really really hard slog

I am halfway through a two year, part time masters, working full time with two DCs (older than yours and near enough completely independent) and not a single parent.
I am managing ok but it can be a lot at times and I have to very organised to fit everything in. Group tasks are a pain as fellow students always want to leave things to the last minute when I can't always do that if I have work commitments.

I think trying to do it in one year is too ambitious with everything else you've got going on. Can you do it over two?

Not gonna happen. You have too much going on.

What course are you doing and what job, and how did you get them to finance it? Presumably course and job are linked?

Did you do it in a year and while working and parenting full time?

As I come to the end of my professional qualifications that have taken 2.5 years, I suggest going for it. Depending on age, you may still have between 25-30 working years left

You will be showing your children what dedication, hard work and learning looks like. You will be a great role model for them in working towards bettering yourself. You may also be showing them if they study early in life, they won’t have to later on

I won’t sugar coat it, it’s been incredibly hard the last couple of years. More so this year as I enter the hardest level of exams. Whilst I’m in a relationship with my DD’s dad, I honestly think it would be easier to study being single. I still do the majority of the house and childcare, all the life admin and work full time alongside learning, but having to give time to another adult who can clearly see what a huge impact extra learning is having on my life (especially around crunch times of exams) and not stepping up, has left a big dose of resentment in the relationship

Monday - home at 4, out 5-7 with eldest, cook and eat. Maybe time for an hour or 2 of study but maybe not.
Tues-Fri - home at 4, time for 3ish hours of study? (Don't think I'd personally manage 4 hours of focus)
Sat and Sun and all school hols are completely free for me to do as much as I can manage.

I'm taking on board that over 2 years may be preferable.

Yes, my kids were younger 4 and 7 - so I did have the early bedtimes which made it easier in the evenings but still it meant a lot of 3am finishes….and work the next day

Well done to you @FriedFalafels !
Apart from the obvious benefit of improving my own prospects, I'm really hoping my children will be inspired by my work ethic. I'm envisioning the 3 of us sat around the kitchen table studying together 😆 maybe a little idealistic but you never know

That's less than half the 40 hours. Realistically life gets in the way and you won't be studying 10 hours a day both days of a weekend, even if you did manage 3 hours 4x a week as well. I'd definitely consider splitting over 2 years instead.

I fully support people going back into education but 40 hours a week of study on top of a full-time job without two children would be very very difficult. As a single parent it sounds like insanity!

If you can do it over 2 years that will be so much less stressful and isn't much longer in the long run.

Best of luck!

Its too much to do a full time job and a full time masters, why not do the masters part time? You could stretch it over 2-3 years and everything would be much more manageable. If you found it easier than expected in the first semester, you could pick up more modules in the next one.

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.

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 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 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.

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 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!

Was this the conversion course, out of interest?

This is kind of what I was thinking - I have relevant knowledge and experience and tend to work quickly anyway, so was wondering if the 40 hours was an absolute max and I could do it in less.

It's surprising how much extra time I suddenly have, compared to the last decade which has been relentless! Some evenings I barely know what to do with myself!

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.