Considering doing a masters degree on day release at age 56 and with elderly parents. Am I mad?

[Snowbell]

I am considering doing a masters degree over two years part-time and my employers are encouraging and will pay the fees - it is directly related to my job. I have a first degree, though it is not at all related and got this decades ago! I didn't really follow that field and I have had not made a great success of things career-wise. Now I have found a job that I enjoy. The masters would lead to being paid more, though I want to do it more because I am very interested in the subject and want to make the most of the next ten years before I retire. However, my DD is 16 and needs help with the usual stuff. My parents are very elderly now and still living at home, 300 miles away from me! My mum has dementia, and is not too bad as yet, but it is going to get harder for my Dad to look after her. I have two sisters and we are visiting them often now, although they both live some distance away as well. Am I mad to be considering doing a masters, with the inevitable stresses that will be coming my way?

Absolutely not! Do it!

Thanks for your encouragement Jenijena. I went to a masters open day yesterday and am going to another one tomorrow. Feeling a bit wobbly about it all now!

Go for it! I'm studying again after many years and I'm really enjoying it.

Yes, for sure.

Hi to all the mum's (and DH's) thinking of going to study at uni. I
wanted to share my recent experience, as I was really surprised how
easy it has been for me to get accepted to do a degree at uni.

Although I'd always wanted to go to uni, I was unable to go with my
friends, as when my DS made an unexpected surprise at 18, I took the
decision to focus my attentions on raising him.

I'm now 28, and with my DS at school, I felt it was time to work on
bettering myself. However, with so many courses and uni's out there I
really didn't know where to start. I spent a lot of time looking
around and researching the different options available I wanted to
share what I found.

My biggest concerns were whether I could afford it, if I had the time
and whether I'd be in a classroom with a load of 18 year old kids! :s

I was speaking with a friend of mine whose mother recently started a
new masters course and she recommended I speak with Studyinthe.uk.
Having been submerged in course prospectuses, they were a real breath
of fresh air.
They
were incredible friendly and helpful, clearly explaining what my
options were. Because they work with lots of Uni's around the country
they were able to help me see the wood from the trees and find the
right course for me.

They really helped me throughout the whole process. I was able to find
a business management course that fitted around my existing work (only
2 evenings and a Saturday), and was also a surprisingly easy process
to get a student loan to cover my course fees and living expenses.
They also let me know about a couple of grants that I was entitled to
for being a mature student and having children.

I really wanted to share this experience, as it has shown me that it's
never too late to go back to uni and work on bettering yourself. Yes
it can be a little daunting to start, but speaking with the right
people can really help you feel comfortable and positive about the
choice. I'd be more than happy to answer any questions or give any
guidance to anyone who is thinking about going back to study, just
send me a DM or post in the comments.

With my course starting in June, I'm very excited. I will keep you
updated and I'm looking forward having BSc after my name in 3 years,
and all the opportunities that will bring with it!

Sarah, I'm sure you are absolutely doing the right thing to go to university now. You will really enjoy it, probably more than if you had gone when you were 18. It might be hard to juggle everything but it will be worth it in the end. Keep us posted!

Thanks for your encouragement. I've decided I will apply and am trying to write my personal statement now. The idea of it all is making me panic sometimes in the night though! How far through are you?

Do it! I’m currently juggling a MSc, full time job, 2 kids (one with autism) and caring for elderly/frail in-laws. It’s hard juggling everything but it’s the best thing I’ve done in a long while. (And my husband is amazingly supportive which has made it easier) I’m doing it for me and learning as a more mature student is a totally different experience to doing an undergrad.
It sounds like far too good an opportunity for you to pass up. Good luck with it.

I did a Masters while working full time. If you enjoy the subject and can get yourself organised it's totally doable. For me, the only tough bit was the thesis as it was harder to chip away at this bit by bit it needed but some focus so took 2 weeks unpaid leave at the end and wrote up intensively-barely left the house. Good luck!

I think I would regret it if I don't just go for it now. It's like having a baby - there's never going to be a best time to do it. Having said that I think the academic work will be easier for me now than if I had done this in my early 20s somehow!