Is anyone studying a Masters/MBA part-time at the moment? I have just been accepted onto the Loughborough MBA International Sports Management course which will be part-time. This is block-release (one week every 7), which should give me at least a very concentrated study week though I've still no doubt it is going to be very hard! Any tips other than the usual 'time management' guys??

Thanks :)

Not doing a MBA and this comment does have to do with time-management but rather indirectly-more to do with how others might perceive your 'release time'. I'm posting this because it is one of the things that impacts on my own use of time during 'blocks'.

Block release and block study work very well for part-time research degrees. Just make sure though that when you get your blocks-you put your other work aside completely.

You can get a huge amount done in a concentrated chunk of time as long as you do not allow your other 'work' responsibilities and commitments to infringe on your blocks.

It makes sense to do this but sometimes it can be harder than you initially think. In my own workplace people took a bit of getting used to the 'I actually really have to focus completely on 'this study' during this period-I'm not available for 'that work or that social activity just at this moment' kind of discussion sometimes.

Given that you are 'released' from work this may not be a problem for you...most of my block time occurs during holidays and long weekends and a scattering of 'leave days' over the year and people don't understand how much research and writing you might have to do at these times.

I don't mean be a hermit either-just respect your study as much as your work (and the socialisation that can occur around work or friends). Eg: if you are home all week writing something up, you need uninterrupted periods of time to focus-you are not available for coffee, etc at any given minute at the drop of a hat. These sorts of things can be scheduled into breaks and time off, just as you would if you were at work.

I don't like saying 'no' so when I have sometimes turned something down or asked someone if I could get back to them after my work was complete-it has felt awkward at times-I've learned to just sit with the feeling and continue on working. It has something to do with learning to take your study and postgraduate research seriously-and because it is a choice-not a necessity-sometimes if feels hard to justify.

Good luck though-it sounds as if you have some excellent support from your workplace :)
Should be an exciting time for you...congratulations also on receiving your offer-well done!

Hi Claire,

Having studied my Master's part-time, I have some things you may find helpful, but I think a lot of it you will figure out along the way.

The issue I have found to be hardest to deal with is that the majority of your course mates are going to be full time students, not working, and probably most of them will be doing the master's right after their undergrad. You can't manage your time and workload in the same way they do, so don't even try. They might be able to get away with drinks after lectures, but I had to manage my expectations regarding the social side of things and understand that I couldn't go with them all the time. Also, as they won't be there as long as you, you'll have new people to meet, friendships to form and working relationships to develop as one intake leaves and the next comes along. I found that quite tough.

As for work/life balance, I agree with the sentiment of pjlu, and my advice is to guard your time. I mean really GUARD it, like a lion or something equally scary. You're going to have so many time pressures in your life that you will need to be selective with what you say yes to. I made a habit of setting aside one day every week that was 'my time', when I only did what I wanted to do at my own pace, and nothing else. If you're anything like me, its quite hard to say no to things but this is a word you may well get quite used to saying.

Studying part-time is the best thing I ever did. There have been a few tough moments, but the good points far, far outweigh the bad and I would do it all over again.

Good luck!