Apologies if my questions are repeats of some already on here! I have been considering pursuing a postgraduate qualification for a while now and the time has come to do something about it! I have a BA(Hons) in Sociology (2:1) and a PGCE in Secondary Geography (as part of which I have 60 Masters credits but only in the field of education, they can't be transferred). I am a full time teacher in my third year and want to do my postgrad through distance learning so that I can keep working - this is a necessity! I wish to look into something within the realms of Tourism so I suppose it's human geography, but don't know whether a Masters is a must, if I can skip that and go for a PhD, or indeed how to approach any of this so I am very much hoping some of you guys take pity on me and offer me some direction!! Thanks :-)

Well, I am working full time in Greece (also in education :-) ) an d I am doing a part time PhD in UK. Strictly speaking it is not distance learning but in reality it is, as I go to my uni every three months to have meetings with my supervisors.Your supervisor may agree to this way of work (mine did) and now I am in my third year and I have started writing.
I don't know if you can do it with the qualifications that you have, this is a matter of the university, so you should ask there.

It is possible to do an MA or a PhD part time (I did my MA part time while working full time and am now doing my PhD part time) but it depends where you are - some part time masters are in the evenings so fit around full time work but others you have to attend during the day. PhDs are easier to do part time from that respect although you may still need to go to research methods classes but part teim study is hard (I did my MSc full time and it was much easier to fit in even with young children)

How are you planning on funding this? My part time PhD fees are £1750 per year and student loans aren't available (although you might be able to get a career loan) plus I spend nearly the same on books, equipement, travelling for conferences (and fieldwork).

Do you know what area of tourism you want to do - you need to have some idea if you are planning on doing before you contact a department (unless you go for a funded PhD which has a defined project already). I did a lot of reading before I approached a department with my research proposal. I decided to do my PhD at the nearest unviersity to where I live as I am not in a position to mvoe around the country but you might decide to go where the best expert is.

Feel free to PM me with more questions.