Is this a really bad idea?

[TheNotoriousPMT]

Next year I will be doing a 'full time' MSc. It's a 1-year conversion course for people who didn't study the subject at UG level, so there's a lot of content.
Aibu to think that I can work 20 hours a week throughout? Is it a really bad idea? Will I go mad with stress? The job is easy...

Being honest my conversion masters was really tough to get through without working. Think essays due every week, numerous seminars/practicals on top of lectures.

Obviously I don't know what subject you are doing but think of it this way you are doing a one year course instead of three years, it's nothing like undergrad and conversion masters are (generally) known for being genuinely full time in nature - mine was 9-6 at uni four days a week (the fifth half a day) with essays due every week. There was zero room for extensions.

Like I said I don't know what course you are doing, but there is no way I could have done anything but the conversion masters I did. It was really tough, I did better than I did at my undergrad but not as well as I wanted due to lack of time. I loved the course but all I remember from it was struggling to get the work done. We managed two socials as a course, one at the start of term and the other at the end of May the following year, when teaching stopped and everyone's funding stopped as well (no funding for dissertations).

With mine there was a partial professional qualification exemption, which may have added to the work. It was totally worth it in terms of expense and progressing my career but there is no way I could have held down a job as well.

Sorry.

Perhaps ask your department?

Please don't apologise! Thank you very much for your reply!
I really want to do well on the course and I really don't want to screw it up - it is good to know ahead of time what arrangements to make for the best.
It was only yesterday I sat down and properly worked out what I'd be doing in terms of lectures etc and figured out I wouldn't be seeing much of DH, but quitting work is a pretty big deal too...

Definitely ask your department, they may be able to give you more accurate advice. It's not an uncommon question to be asked, definitely ask about essays/assessment for modules and how many you will be doing - that's a good indicator.

I know not all MSc courses involve practicals and seminars - that took up most of my timetable. The first semester was the worst, the second was better but still essays most weeks though it wasn't 9-6 every day, and there was the expectation that we would be available 9-6 every day for other things e.g. Lectures from professional bodies or things like that.

If you want to get the most you can from it you'll probably need to leave your job (I do understand that Isn't ideal) the other alternative might be to go part time instead.

Do you have children as well? if no kids and you are good at focussing and not a procrastinator it sounds doable. Trying to play mummy and cook meals etc as well sounds impossible