Working full time plus OU MA History. Any helpful advice, please?

[vintagesewingmachine]

I am planning to enrol for this coming autumn and am wondering how many credits per year are realistic. I would like to complete in 2 years but realise this may be ambitious. I work full time Monday to Friday in General Practice and have no interest whatsoever in any more health related qualifications but have always adored history and would like to study it at Masters Level. I have DD8 and DS6 plus DH, 2 dogs and my beloved garden. Am I just taking on too much?

I have just had a look at the History MA and there doesn't look like there is a lot of flexibility with the modules but I would just make sure you give yourself enough time to think about what you are going to do in the dissertation.

I'm just finishing my dissertation for social science masters with the OU and it is a bit relentless at the moment - work/study/ironing/work again! It hasn't been like this in the earlier modules its just so time consuming and stressful at the moment. I would always advise to take your time as the studying is far more enjoyable when you have enough time to do it in.

Thanks for the reply, web wiz. I will reign in my impatience and take my time. Good luck with your dissertation!

I did 60 undergrad credits per year with a busy full time job and found it v tough with DC, dog etc. Meant most free time was studying and annual leave too. Definitely pace yourself so you can enjoy it

I did an MA in English with the OU. I found it fairly easy and enjoyable.

I take it that you already have a degree and are used to studying. I found it no more difficult than my degree.

In my day, we had face to face tuition which sort of structured everything for us. I think we had one meeting per essay.

I think we started round about October. I may be wrong. By the time we finished the first part of the course, the following summer, we were expected to have a good idea about our dissertation.

From memory, the dissertation didnt take long. We had finished round about Christmas. You are expected to book your awards ceremony before completing your dissertation. I didnt, and missed out on the ceremony. I wasn't bothered.

I think we had about 3 tutorials for our dissertation. It was interesting because we all did different topics. Our tutor was fantastic. Most OU tutors are. I think we had to submit our first 3,000 words of the dissertation by a certain date and the tutor gave us feedback.

We also had email contact with our tutor. All essays are submitted online. The tutor will often allow a few days late submission but I wouldn't advise doing it unless necessary. I suppose all tutorials are on teams now, which is a shame. My husband used to collect me from tutorials and we always went to the pub afterwards.

I completed the MA in the time that the OU said. I followed the schedule that they set out, which will be similar for the History MA. I can't for the life of me remember if it was 18 months or 2 years.

One strange minus about it. I think I studied through the summer. I spent a lot of time online. Someone on my course stated that she'd put on 17lbs in weight! I stepped on the scales and discovered that I had too!!

Ive Just looked at the course. I envy you, it covers Irish History, which I love.

The course which I did broke down into 120 points and a 60 point dissertation. Yours is 2 x 90 point courses. I think it is doable. My only concern would be the end of course assessment. I don't know if this is an exam or an extended essay. I didn't have any exams. You may find it difficult to cram for exams alongside everything else in life. Do not despair, your tutor will help and guide you.