Masters 10 years after bachelors?

[Furrywurry]

Hi everyone:

I’ve been toying with the idea of doing a masters for a couple of years. I always loved the challenge of education and recently discovered I can’t have kids so I have more freedoms than I expected at my age. For further context of my life, I work full time - from home - and am soon to be married.

Considering doing sustainability and management masters. 2 year online.

I have a scientific background and work in R&D (scientific role but not super sciency) for a big chemical company and I’d like to rise up through the ranks so I am open to different roles.

Always had an interest in environment and sustainability is an area we are expanding into. My area of expertise is quite niche so my role is in demand in my industry and I think it would open even more doors if if I added a sustainability string to my bow. Also think the management side would be very useful.

Am I mad for doing a masters in my circumstances? 😂 If you did it how did you find it? Anyone done a similar course?

Thank you

Nope! Not even slightly mad! Your situation sounds great and I hope you really enjoy it.

Which uni?

Do it! Learning is never a waste. Good luck 😀

Thank you everyone!

@swanling Keele

Do it! My ds has just completed an MSc in Sustainable Development six years after his bachelors degree. He did it full time for a year (thanks to grandparents for their financial support!) and loved every minute and regularly used to call me to tell me about the fascinating talks, lectures and debates they had.

I did a masters 30 years after my BSc and loved it - go for it 😄

I did mine straight after a second degree at 50.

It took me a while to learn how to research and write essays etc so I am glad I did degree first. As masters is so short (started 1st October and first exams /essays due early January) so you need to hit ground running in terms of how to write or reference etc

I did it full time whilst working 1 day a week. Not sure how I would have done if working more. (And work et flexible about me moving round days worked to fit each terms timetable)

I did mine a year after finishing uni and it was a bit odd as my mind had already shifted to work mode. Most of the people on my course were straight from undergrad and I felt the difference quite a bit.

Definitely go for it though. I would probably see if work can support it because they can then pay for it and you can use work hours to do work. I didn’t do it with work and so when life happened it was really hard. I had courses mon-Fri 9-5 for a week and then the assessment week. So I would be using a week of annual leave, in work for a week trying to do an assignment in the evenings, off the following week for another module, in work the week after and trying to catch up on two weeks of annual leave, do my assignment/revise. I was also job hunting and my best friend’s mum died so had to use another day of leave to travel to the funeral. If I’d had support from work it would have been significantly easier.

I did one in my early thirties and was the youngest! I really enjoyed it but did attend at the university one day per week so went down to four working days with the agreement of my employer. Go for it!

I had a 16 year gap between undergrad and starting my masters, then a smaller gap between masters and starting my PhD.

You are definitely not mad!

I'm a lecturer on a Sustainability Masters programme (not in the UK), and have done a Sustainability Masters in the UK about a decade ago. Before jumping into it and spending thousands of pounds, I would strongly urge to reflect on what you're hoping to get out of the Masters.

I had a quick look at the Keele website and it seems like their MSc in Management and Sustainability focuses primarily on the Management side, but with some sustainability-focused modules added to it. I believe Keele offer multiple online Management Master programmes - I would not be surprised if you would share quite a few courses with students on these other programmes, which do not have a sustainability focus. That makes me question how strong the sustainability focus of the programme really is.

I have found the website also a bit devoid of information. Is it a new course? For example, it would be helpful to know who is teaching on it, so you can look at the lecturers' expertise. How many of them actively conduct research on sustainability-related themes? That might also give you a bit of an indication of how much of the programme will actually be sustainability focused.

I guess I'm just slightly skeptical as the number of sustainability-focused Masters programmes has exploded in the last 10 years, as universities know there is interest in it. That's not a bad thing, but it does mean there is huge variation, from courses that really have sustainability issues at their heart versus ones that have sustainability tagged on to an existing course simply as a way of attracting more students but don't have the staff/expertise to really teach extensively on sustainability issues.

If I were in your position I would ask for 1. Info on who is teaching on the programme. 2. If the programme has run previously, can you see the syllabus for one or more courses to get a better idea of what is actually covered? 3. Can they put you in touch with a current student or previous graduate?

I don't think your age/10 year study gap is an issue, but I do know Masters programmes have become a hgue money making business for universities, so it's good to properly investigate before committing to sign up for one!

Not mad at all. There's 15 years between my BA and MSt. Do it!

I should add: I'm not trying to discourage you! I think it's great that you want to explore new directions. It's not so much whether you should do a Masters but more to make sure you pick the right one for you!

Go for it, I did my Msc equivalent 9 years after by BSc (at 32 with a 8 year old)! Applying for medicine in October, if I get in I will be 34 if I don't get in I will reapply for 2025!

I'm doing mine 30 years after my BFA.🤷‍♀️

Not mad in the slightest!

I did my MA 25 years after my BA and have just finished a PhD at the age of 58. I did both post graduate degrees while working and bringing up children/caring for elderly parents. It was fine, I enjoyed it and it has already opened doors for me in my career.

I did not feel different to the other students, it’s quite usual to have mature students on post graduate courses (I lecture as well) and I also made younger study buddy friends.

Go for it!

Did my Masters 20 years after graduating with my BA Hons!

I've done it in a work related subject 12 years after my degree and it's really revitalised my interest in my career and it feels great learning something new.

Have a look at the OU course. It looks much more suitable. The OU is much better at delivering online courses than most places and is well regarded.
https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f65