Daughter wanting to do a masters. What would your advice be?

[Sup3rCooper]

So my DD will be going into her final year at uni in September. She's studying media with a special interest in feminism/women's studies.

She would like to go into publishing eventually and was lucky enough to have several work experiences at two of the biggest publishing houses last year. She's doing well and in track for a first.

So that's all very good for her. She's now told me she wants to do a masters. I asked 'err in what?!' and she said Gender studies. She's had several meetings about it to find out more etc etc and her plan is to live at home and commute to where it would be - not far and especially not too bad when she'd only be going in a few times a week

My issue isn't her living at home - although she was outraged at my suggestion that 'student favours' end when she finishes uni and that I consider a masters to be a bit of an indulgence in the subject she wants to do it in. She says she intends to work alongside it

What do you think? I'll support her whatever and clearly this isn't up to me but I'm just unsure what a masters in Gender studies adds to anything really - does it make the job market more favourable to you? Or just a waste of time?

My DD1 got a First and works in publishing. She didn't need a Masters degree to get her job. Having said that she has a 4 year Scottish degree so i think she got an MA rather than a BA.

DD2 graduates this year and is dithering about doing a masters or just trying to get a job.

I am not sure doing a full time, graduate job plus a masters would work easily. Maybe casual work and masters would be okay.

My dd is just finishing at Durham and is doing a two year masters in social work. I was surprised initially, but good things are 1. It is totally financed - fees, living costs etc 2. It is practical so trains her in a certain field. 3. Gives her good experience in management/leadership skills that could be transferred into a different field. Not knocking it, but not sure where a masters in Gender studies would lead her to? She may have to go on to do further training to secure a job?

Oh she wouldn't be doing some high flying job alongside the masters. She'd probably work 12-16 hours a week in retail or similar.

And yep, I agree that I'm not sure what a masters in gender studies will add to anything. It just seems like an indulgence to me

I would try and do a Masters in publishing. Gender studies is not really job specific and I’m really not sure how valuable it is regarding work. The most successful people I know do further study closely allied to work. Publishing is very competitive and doing something that makes you employable is a better bet.

I got a career development loan for my masters, but this was 10 years ago, so not sure if they still exist. But at the time, they froze the interest for the duration of the masters, and then you paid it back afterwards.

I moved away from home to do mine, as it was the other side of the country. I worked part time in M&S throughout, and I think my parents gave me £200 a month towards bills. I did spend two years between my first degree and my masters working however, so had some savings.

It's a tough call. I'm a big believer that education is a wonderful thing to pursue just for the sake of it, rather than it needing to be "helpful", but I'm aware that's a view that comes from a position of privilege and being financially stable enough to do so.

Who is paying the fees for the Masters?

I worked for a few years and did a Masters part time. Is that an option?

THERE ARE GOVERNMENT POSTGRADUATE LOANS FOR MASTERS DEGREES.

Tsk!

Keep up at the back.

No need to shout george 🙄

Both DDs will be doing Masters, then at least one will be doing a PhD, but they need that level for the roles they're aiming for.

It's the reason I'll be working for a couple more years (my choice) to help fund. They'll both be working part-time around their studies.

So, I'd say she should go for it if it actually adds significantly to her academic portfolio and she needs it to get a job. If not then I'd be doing this face , especially if having her living back at home doesn't fit with your plans.

She will get an unmeans tested £10k towards Masters, which probably costs £7 k full time? If she gets a part time job in the uni she is taking it she could get discounted staff fees, which could stretch that £10k a bit.

I'd advise if she can support herself you will support her choices.

Well otherwise the thread will be derailed by people giving ‘helpful’ out of date advice ...

OP I have no useful opinion on Gender Studies - but there doesn’t seem to be any specific problem with your daughter pursuing an MA. (Only she won’t be able to get another Postgrad Loan from the same source if she later decides she should have studied a different subject.)

It’s a shame that you think eduction is “an indulgence”. No wonder she was outraged.

I agree that I'm not sure what a masters in gender studies will add to anything.

It will add to her knowledge if gender studies and give her skills at masters level. She’s going to work. She can take out loans to finance it.

Be clear about what you expect her to pay so she can budget accordingly.

I did a masters and loved it. Think I peaked academically that year. Mine is in an arts subject and although not essential to my job, I know it definitely made me more attractive to my current and previous employers. You never know what the competition is like when you apply for a job but if a degree is essential then you can bet everyone else has one and you're going to need something to set you apart. Postgraduate study requires a lot of skills and organisation which may not be tested or demonstrable at grad level. Thank goodness my parents saw the value of this to me and supported me, rather than thinking I was being indulgent. They also supported me through a PhD which didn't 'need' but it sets me apart in the workplace and it's an achievement that nobody can take away. Good luck to your dd. Gender studies sounds great.

THERE ARE GOVERNMENT POSTGRADUATE LOANS FOR MASTERS DEGREES.

Yes, for tuition fees, but not maintenance.

You’re wrong watcher.

www.gov.uk/masters-loan

Government loans help towards fees and living costs.

I did a masters degree much later on and it was brilliant. I did it in a subject that was very closely allied to my work.

If I had done it straight after my undergraduate degree it would have been in the wrong subject and probably a big waste of money.

@PurpleDaisies it certainly is a bit of an indulgence that's for sure! Especially when she wistfully talks about becoming Dr afterwards! Adults really should be working. And she's always outraged about something - she's 20 

It isn't about money. We can support her with no issues if we chose to and have done so far - she's the richest booody student I know! However, grown ups need to support themselves and damn right I do this face  when she talks to me about gender studies because I'd like to understand how this assists her getting a job in publishing. Because a masters degree will ALWAYS be a nice little indulgence if it's just something you fancy and won't actually add to furthering a career.

Having said that though, I'm of course very proud of her and how she's doing but I do have visions of an eternal student scenario and I don't want her to be left behind job wise in any way

And can I just make clear ... I can see value, growth and enrichment and opportunities as well as also thinking it's a bit of an indulgence.

My understanding is that she can do one year full time or two years part time so it makes sense to do the one year full time. We are more than able to support but that wouldn't be good for her so she will be told she needs to work part time alongside it if she goes for it

Thanks so much for the useful responses. Food for thought and some really interesting links

Gender studies at masters level in universities is currently an indoctrination into the current —cult—thinking of stonewall. Trust me, I’ve been there!

I would fully encourage her to take on a masters in ANY other subject.

Strikeout fail....ah well

@AgnesNaismith yes I can see where you're coming from here. It wouldn't be my preference for her at all

I'm also not sure where the interest in gender studies has come from either really. She's a feminist and straight. Im not entirely sure if she would who Stonewall are

Especially when she wistfully talks about becoming Dr afterwards! Adults really should be working.

Y’know, it distresses me to think that a single person with access to the Internet genuinely believes that advanced degrees (PhDs!) have no value and don’t constitute ‘work’.

I fully acknowledge that some might have greater practical or creative value than others but surely you understand that every, single aspect of your life is enhanced or even made possible by the fact that someone, probably many someones, have laboured to doctoral level and way beyond? No?

I'm about to start a masters, aged 40. My career and interests have lead me to want a change and a conversion masters is the first step to qualification in my chosen field.

My 1 yr course costs 10k and I'm SO glad that I didn't jump into anything else directly after my degree, because I would not have been eligible for a postgrad loan if I had already completed a postgrad qualification (and I don't have a spare 10k knocking around!). I'd be stuck saving for a long time or paying through the nose for a bank loan.

Unless this masters genuinely adds tangible career progression value I'd encourage her to think very long term about the decision. Work experience might hold greater value at this stage and a masters further down the line could have a lot more impact.

If 10k is no problem to fork out in the future then crack on but if not, think carefully.