Part Time or Full Time Masters degree?

[explorerdora]

Has anyone done a Masters degree full time? What sort of time commitment are most courses? I'm debating what is realistic to do, as would love to complete the course in a year but don't want to run myself ragged if part time is a better option.

Any ideas much appreciated...

I did my masters 11 years ago.
Decided to do it full time as I am very impatient person :)
If you can plan childcare and have someone to give you hand around time of exams then go fo it.
I remember studying non stop from break for Easter till mid May and that was just enough to pass :)
Single and free friends were failing - I knew I had to do it.
I think it ws pure determination on my side, I went to every single lecture, did all assignments on time. I fell pregnant with dd2 during my Msc and everyone admired me - I was just saying to them(which was true) - I have no social life.

It was worth it in the end.
You will need more time for self study than for your lectures, so don't underestimate that.
It was useful to have my own study room - I could leave my notes opened and get back to them later on.
I had an au pair/nanny, as my daughter was 1 year old, lectures were 2x11am-5pm, 2x1:30-5pm, free Fridays, my commuting was just over one hour each way which I used to relax, as getting home meant always cooking, spending time with my daughter and studying at night.

I remember I only read one novel in that time, that was during the time I was studying for my final exams (4 days 4 hours each) - my brain went on strike and needed non-subject feed :)

What subjest are you planning to study?
I did Computer Science.

Thanks Kayah - blimey that sounds like you did an amazing job! I'm planning on doing a biosciences/ethics masters, but I'm still waiting for the dept to get back to me about the timetable. I have one in school and one in nursery 2 probably will be 3 days a week so I'm hoping that part time should be no problem, but like you I'm impatient and would prefer to get it done sooner rather than later . The other bit I'm concerned about is whether realistically when kids are in bed (DH is away a lot and has long commute - so it's basically always me) will I really want to get the books out and study when all I want is wine and adult conversation telly....

Did you go on to do more study? Are you glad you did it? Was is mainly 20 year olds or where there a few oldies on yours?

I did the first two years of a masters degree, part time, whilst working full time in a very busy job.

It was very, very, very draining.

Are you working?

Thanks hairy - no I'm a SAHM at the moment. Do you regret doing it?

I just completed an MSc fulltime at a university about 45 minutes from home. DD was 11 months when I started. She went to nursery 'fulltime' but I tended to spring her by 4/4.30pm most days and take one half day a week off. I worked hard when I worked, but only worked evenings and weekends in the fortnight before exams. I reckon you could do it with three days childcare, but you may have to work one or two evenings as well.

The thing I found hard was that some lectures ran til 6pm, which is when nursery closes (45 minutes away). I couldn't have done it without DH's support.

My verdict is 'hard but entirely do-able as long as your partner is completely supportive'. I'm really glad I did it.

Thanks leaf - that is very reassuring. I have horrible feeling if I go part time I might run out of steam half way so glad to know FT is possible (esp if it won't interfere too much with my passing out on sofa after kids in bed time!)

I don't regret doing it, because I'd never been to Uni before - I quit after two years as the dissertation was very daunting whilst working full time and I was having some health problems.

It was worth it to prove to myself I could do it, as well as for what I learned (which related to my work) as I'd returned as a mature student at forty.