Questions for those who are doing/have done a masters...

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Hello, I'm planning on doing a part time taught masters after having completed a ou psychology degree. Can anyone tell me how they found doing a masters with children? I have one DS(1) and not sure if there's a better age for me to do it at - preschool, reception? How did you manage child care?

Also how much harder is a masters compared to a first degree?

Finally, time wise if you did a part time taught masters what was your contact time and working from home time like per week?

Lots of questions! Would love to hear other people's experiences. Thanks so much.

Hi

I did a 1 year taught masters full time but my son was 9, and so at school... It is significantly harder than a degree but depends on the type of masters (i did an MRes) and you dont have the same holidays as UG's usually... Re timings, ask for the previous years timetable to give you an idea...

Good luck!

And i'm writing up my phd now and had dd (now 2) in the middle so it is possible to do post grad with kids but you have to be organised and hard on yourself! X

I am just about to complete MSc, which i have been doing part time since my DTS were 3, they are now 8! It is hard work, but as long as you keep up with the reading and don't leave TMA's to the last minute (I am much more organised than I was as an undergrad) you will be fine.

Tis annoying tho how often times TMA's seem to fall in the school hols!

I did a 12 mth masters, tho before kids.
I found the MSc MUCH easier, and a lighter work load than my BSc. It fitted into a 9-5 job sort of timetable (the research was in an industrial setting), and I often spent friday afternoon on the train to go see bf.

I did a MSc a few years ago. I started when DD was 2 and did it part time while working full time.

DH was a SAHD at the time, which helped, but he really did do the lions share of child are during those years. I found I had to strictly segregate my life. Work was work, school was school, and home was home. I didn't mix any of these, even while enduring an OFSTEAD inspection at work. By compartmentalising everything I found I was a lot more focused. No hanging out in the cafe for me, when I was in at University I spent every minute productively. Part of this was driven by parental guilt. I would go to the lab or library on a Saturday leaving DD and DH, with the proviso I would be home exactly when I said I would, usually somewhere between 2 and 3pm, so DH could have some time in the pub of his own.

I found the MSc infinitely easier than my undergrad degree. My first degree was in a completely different area, and I studied in a different country I make no comment about UK education standards I was also a lot older, there being nearly 15 years between my first and second degrees. I walked away with a Distinction and academic prizes.

I started my MA in Feb, part time as I need to work part time to fund it. Son is 3. I am expected to be in uni 1 day a week, but soon will start placement (studying art psychotherapy) for an additional day. I find this easier than doing my degree! My degree was incredibly intense, and was a totally different subject (graphic design). My son goes to the university nursery, where he has been since 4 months of age. So far, I am finding it manageable. There are some older women on my course with children and they seem to be coping fine, some of them are even full-timers. Hope this helps, and I must log off and do some work haha :)

Thanks - its really interesting/helpful to hear everyone's experiences. I'm working part time now my son is one which is allowing me to save for tuition fees. Hopefully ill be able to do a part time masters when he qualifies for his free child care hours. Good things come to those who wait...

...if this government hasn't scrapped them and raised tuition fees through the ceiling.

Hmmm.... I am thinking about doing a masters part-time over two years. A friend who is doing the course has said it is not significantly harder than the BSc which I'm just finishing.

I think I need to get hold of that timetable though.

This has been a tough year and I am finding concentration difficult (hence on here and not finishing THREE assignments due in next week)....but hopefully in time it'll come back.

I think it depends whether you are doing a science or arts and humanities. Sicence MAs require a lot more contact time. If you are doing an English or history MA, for example, you may only have about 6 hours contact time a week ie 3 lectures and 3 seminars, plus ocasional meetings with your supervisor about your dissertation