Part time Postgrads

A Masters can be completed in one year with a full-time focus on study, but part-time postgraduate study is becoming increasingly popular, and with good reason too. One of the biggest benefits of part-time study is the ability to balance study with part-time work or a current career.

According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, 311,150 out of 545,370 postgraduates in 2005/06 opted for a part-time programme, allowing them to work part time or even full time while they study. Spreading the course over two years lightens the fees and the study load each year, which gives you time to work and finance the course.

‘For students with already large student loan debts, the chance to continue their studies and earn money at the same time is invaluable as it can reduce the need to get further into debt,’ says Dr Caroline Coleman-Davies, Student Recruitment Officer at Swansea University.

Part-time postgraduate study can also be a good career development move by building on current expertise at work without interrupting your working life. The company also benefits and may be willing to finance the course. Jemma Cornish works for One NorthEast the regional development agency for the North of England. Her employer is paying the fees for her Masters in Regional Development, which she is studying at Newcastle University.

‘I work full time and did not want to (nor could afford to) give up my job, so this was the best option for me,’ says Jemma. ‘I hope to achieve a better understanding of the issues surrounding regional development and to help me to be better able to contribute and understand the issues we face at work.’

A new career
Another benefit of part-time study is being able to kick-start a new career while continuing to have an income. Kathryn Carr decided to undertake postgraduate study to improve her employability. ‘I wanted to restart my working career and find work that is mentally stimulating and satisfying. I hope to use contacts made in the university to find job opportunities,’ she says.

Kathryn’s first degree was Agricultural Zoology. She is currently studying an MSc in Environmental Management at Northampton University. ‘The Masters linked to my previous study in land and countryside management and it sounded current and interesting,’ she says.

Having family responsibilities and also working for her husband’s business meant the part-time study option made postgraduate study possible for Kathryn. ‘I work two afternoons a week allowing me to fit in my study. There are six hours of lectures a week for the two modules I am studying and I try to do another three or four two-hour sessions of study every week, but it all depends on what assignments are due,’ she explains.

Seeking work
For those who are seeking part-time work, your university job shop is a good place to start. Job Shops in careers centres can help with jobs on and off campus and there may also be employment opportunities within the university, for positions such as tutors, demonstrators and note takers as well as in libraries or bars.

‘And postgraduates should not forget that residence tutor positions may be available in university halls, which provide free accommodation in exchange for pastoral duties,’ says Caroline.

The usual job hunting spots such as job centres, recruitment websites and the local press advertise vacancies. Your university careers service can help update your CV and fine tune your interview skills. Temporary recruitment agencies are useful in providing short-term positions that you can fit around your study.

A helping hand
Universities have a lot of support for part-time students to help them manage their work and other commitments. Students have all the resources of full-time students available to them and universities offer a lot of flexibility with part-time students in mind. Online recourses and journals mean you don’t even have to visit the library to tap into a lot of information. Most courses have supervisors and tutors available throughout the course to support students and offer advice.

Fellow students are another resource of help and support and some courses integrate this into the learning process. One of Coventry Business School’s postgraduate programmes called Management by Work-Based Learning is intended for people who are at work and all the assignments are to do with real life work. Senior Lecturer Caroline Mottram says:

‘It is very much about building up relationships with fellow students who become collaborate and supportive. Students can share any problems or issues they may encounter at work in order to find a solution, and can also post drafts of their assignments online for fellow students to provide feedback.’

A delicate balance
Finding the right course for you is important and studying part time means you need to maintain your interest and commitment to the subject for two years. ‘The obvious disadvantage of part-time study is that a course will take twice as long to complete as a full-time course,’ says Caroline Coleman-Davies, ‘and that such studies may require students to be rather more self-motivated and self-disciplined.’

Kathryn admits that part-time study is hard work but very rewarding. ‘It is hard work and the standards are high, but it is mentally satisfying and I think the work will get easier as I get more into the work ethic. Don’t fool yourself that it is easy, it is challenging but ultimately satisfying. You have to self-motivated and accept criticism and learn from your mistakes.’

Caroline says part-time students may also experience feelings of isolation or detachment from their studies because they divide their time between various commitments, rather than immersing themselves fully in their studies. ‘To avoid such pitfalls, part-time students should plan their study time carefully, organise course notes and study materials to ensure continuity, and make sure that they are in regular communication with both course tutors and other students,’ she says.

Jemma has been able to manage her time effectively. ‘If you get your essay deadlines at the beginning of term you have months to plan your studying in. It does require commitment and the ability to dedicate time when assignments are due, but it is possible to achieve a good balance between studying and maintaining a life outside of that and work.

‘My lectures generally take up four hours a week and they are after work which fits in well for me, and I do get some study leave from work which is helpful when an essay is due. Overall, I find university doesn’t impinge on my life too much. I think it has been worth it to challenge my thinking and ensure that I understand what is going on in the field within which I work.’

Sara Newman

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