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Mature study and retraining

Talk to other Mumsnetters who are considering a career change or are mature students.

Original poster

This is awkward. Apparently I'm starting a master's on Monday.

90 replies

TrashPandas · 13/09/2023 12:52

I've been wanting to do another master's for ages. It's related to my work and I just started at a new, small company, so my plan was to prove myself, show I'm a good investment, then ask around summer time if they would fund the course for September 2024.

The university website said applications for September 2023 had closed in August. So although the button still said "apply for September 2023" I assumed it just hadn't been updated. Though I'd get my application in nice and early and make a headstart on the reading list for 2024.

Well, no. I got an offer this morning to start on Monday.

Am I mad to go for it? It feels like a huge thing to do with so little prep, but at the same time I'm very excited about the course and feel I should strike while I'm motivated.

Or should I defer a year? If I do I can perhaps get my employer to fund it (I definitely can't ask them to fund me right now) but the course is pretty cheap and it won't cause me hardship to self-fund.

Ahh I'm excited and nervous!

OP posts:
Bottlerecycle · 13/09/2023 14:23

JaukiVexnoydi · 13/09/2023 13:26

I would defer a year. Let the admissions person know that you just intended to make an application for starting in 2024 and assumed that this would happen by default as the closing date for a 2023 start has passed. It's just an admin issue.

I think you are much better off putting 100% effort into your new role. Given the circumstances of your hiring I would be a bit miffed as an employer if I found you were combining work with study like this. It waves a flag that you aren't giving your all to the business.

After a year you can make a business case for how much additional benefit the company could get with you having this additional qualification. If the answer to that it huge, they may pay your fees. If it's modest they may let you self-fund but give you half a day off per week for study leave. If you can't make a case then signing up may be a signal that you will be job-hunting soon.

This

Going to an employer of a few weeks, knowing that employer is new and small - to ask for thousands of pounds - would be a seriously bad early impression

and it is a new full time job. Surely just head down, amaze them with your skills and then ask for funding

Bottlerecycle · 13/09/2023 14:28

Is your job WFH, office or hybrid?
ate you still in probation presumably?

MattDillonsEyebrows · 13/09/2023 14:48

Do it! It's going to be tough whether you start now or next year, but if you start now, next year you'll be much further on!!

I did a similar thing in 2020, started a masters on a whim, got to be honest, it was brutal!
But it wouldn't have been any less brutal if I'd 'prepared' for it. I used the quotation marks as I'm not sure what you can do to prepare. I'd have probably just panicked and talked myself out of it if I'd given myself a year to think about it.
It was a long two year slog, but I surprised myself with a Merit and I could not have been more proud of me, so yes, my advice, like everyone else's here is just do it and good luck! 😊🍀

TeenLifeMum · 13/09/2023 14:49

Yes, do it! Otherwise it’ll feel like you wasted a year. I’m on year 2 (part time) of a post grad level 7 diploma and to be honest, my enthusiasm is seriously lacking. I’m just looking at it that by Christmas Day I’ll only have 2 more assignments left to complete (plus most of my portfolio but I have a plan for that). I’m ignoring the final 4000 word business case, presentation and interview at the end. When I write it all out I feel overwhelmed so need to break it down but by bit in my head.

i have to say, once done, I’m never doing anything like it again! That doesn’t mean I’m not enjoying it… I work full time and have 3dc so it’s a lot. I’m glad I’ve not waited though. It’s never going to be a good time.

Highandlows · 13/09/2023 14:50

Go for it. So exciting!!!

mytitshaveshrunk · 13/09/2023 14:50

Go for it OP. We regret the things we don't do. This could be your sliding doors moment. Good luck

Luana1 · 13/09/2023 15:01

I would be a bit miffed as an employer if I found you were combining work with study like this. It waves a flag that you aren't giving your all to the business.

Completely disagree with this - the OP would be doing this in her own time. Your employer doesn’t own you and your free time once they have hired you, how ridiculous.

OP as you have done a masters before and know the level of time and mental energy it would take, sounds
like you know you can handle so why not just start now and you could always defer if things get too much. How exciting!

housethatbuiltme · 13/09/2023 15:16

People questioning it my uni did the exact same thing.

I applied for several universities (mature student pre-UCAS) and heard nothing back, assumed I didn't get in. Then a week before freshers got a casual email with all my start stuff through and I had to phone and check because I assumed they made a mistake. They hadn't and I started my course within a fortnight.

I sometimes wonder if the where last minute filling spaces that where left after clearing but that doesn't make sense as its a medical course and HIGHLY sort after and lots of people I know applied and got rejected. There where people on my course who had been applying for YEARS before getting accepted (and going of and doing more studies then reapplying).

It was a legit course at a legit university that gave me my legit qualification and I had no issues with them being 'disorganized'.

GCSister · 13/09/2023 15:22

I would be a bit miffed as an employer if I found you were combining work with study like this. It waves a flag that you aren't giving your all to the business

I would consider it a huge red flag if an employer expected me to give my all to them and also had an issue with me doing a related qualification in my own time!

CClaire · 13/09/2023 15:25

Speak to admissions, explain it and get your app deferred to next year. Hopefully won’t even cost you anything.

I think you’ll be taking on too much to coincide a master’s with a new job, esp with no time to prep.

Defer, talk to your employer and get properly prepped for next year!

CharlotteBog · 13/09/2023 15:37

I would be a bit miffed as an employer if I found you were combining work with study like this. It waves a flag that you aren't giving your all to the business.

If your employee isn't working as per their contract then you would have a right to be miffed.
What your employee does in their non-work time is entirely up to them and none of your business.

ChairFloorWall · 13/09/2023 15:47

there’s gov funding for some masters and stuff OP via workplaces.

Bottlerecycle · 13/09/2023 16:09

CharlotteBog · 13/09/2023 15:37

I would be a bit miffed as an employer if I found you were combining work with study like this. It waves a flag that you aren't giving your all to the business.

If your employee isn't working as per their contract then you would have a right to be miffed.
What your employee does in their non-work time is entirely up to them and none of your business.

Not necessarily. Often second jobs aren’t permitted

GCSister · 13/09/2023 16:11

Not necessarily. Often second jobs aren’t permitted

But this isn't a second job. No employer can stop you studying in your own time!

Luana1 · 13/09/2023 16:22

Bottlerecycle · 13/09/2023 16:09

Not necessarily. Often second jobs aren’t permitted

Show quote history

How is that relevant to this situation though??

raabbgghhrbb123 · 13/09/2023 16:23

Go for it. I love learning so if you can afford it why not. I can't afford a master's at the mo, so I'm hope to do a pg cert instead in a subject I'm passionate about, application is under review, online, part time. Seize the day.

minipie · 13/09/2023 16:27

I guess the only other possible issue is if your job is so new, are you sure you’ll have enough time left over for this?

But if it’s fixed hours then not a problem

MiddleParking · 13/09/2023 16:34

Seems you’ve really hit a nerve with someone OP. Very odd.

Anyway, enjoy it and good luck!

Josephinehetty · 13/09/2023 16:37

Do It. My MA (in my fifties) was one of the very best parts of my life.

TheGhostofLoganRoy · 13/09/2023 16:50

Is it via King's by any chance? I'm about to start an online MSc with them, and they're very good.

ohboohoo · 13/09/2023 17:29

aspirationalflamingo · 13/09/2023 13:52

That is cheap compared to £36k for an Oxford master's, though.

£36k is the fee for in INTERNATIONAL Students receiving an in- person taught master's degree course. Uk graduate student is £15800. Again that is in person. Online remote courses are way cheaper. Not all universities offer online yet. Many do and an increasing number

aspirationalflamingo · 13/09/2023 18:10

ohboohoo · 13/09/2023 17:29

£36k is the fee for in INTERNATIONAL Students receiving an in- person taught master's degree course. Uk graduate student is £15800. Again that is in person. Online remote courses are way cheaper. Not all universities offer online yet. Many do and an increasing number

Show quote history

£36k were the HOME fees at Oxford for the programme I looked up. I just picked another one and that was also more than the figure you've quoted for HOME students, so the fees clearly vary.

Bottlerecycle · 13/09/2023 18:48

Luana1 · 13/09/2023 16:22

How is that relevant to this situation though??

Show quote history

Not in the slightest.

but it was relevant to the post I quoted

Hecho · 14/09/2023 08:57

I'm not trying to hijack, but the OP and the responses have prompted me to apply for a masters starting in October. I was procrastinating and thinking I'd do other smaller courses in preparation for starting next year, but carpe diem and I registered yesterday evening. Thank you (I think!)

Yarnysaurus · 14/09/2023 09:39

Hecho · 14/09/2023 08:57

I'm not trying to hijack, but the OP and the responses have prompted me to apply for a masters starting in October. I was procrastinating and thinking I'd do other smaller courses in preparation for starting next year, but carpe diem and I registered yesterday evening. Thank you (I think!)

That's fantastic! Good luck.