Monk Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 For a long time I have wanted to do a masters degree, partly to get out of Banking, partly because I really want to get into the environmental sector. Problem is I have no idea how to fund it and after 4 years out of uni I'm not convinced I'm cut out for being a student again. The degree I'm looking at is MSc Carbon: Society, Science and Change at Kings College... tuition is £5100 Has anyone here done a masters (I know at least one of you....) and if so - how did you fund it. What is life like as a postgrad, and how much more advanced is it than final year undergraduate study? Answers on a postcard...
James. Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 Girlfriend is doing one, she got a special postgraduate loan from Natwest. Think she got £4,000 and will only pay it back once she has finished the course and has a job.
Alexikokopops Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 The ERSPC gave funding to Warwick Uni and they used this to support people who did the course. I had to write a statement about why I needed funding and I think I had an interview too. I managed to get it, which is good or else I couldn't have done my course. I found Postgrad study very different to Undergrad. I lived in postgrad halls and found it a bit boring to be honest. I spent a lot of time hanging around with friends who were still undergrads, and people from my course who weren't boring. As for how much more advanced it is, I didn't find it too bad because I'd done a degree in a similar subject area. I know some people who struggled. There we go, short and sweet!
James. Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 What uni is she at James? Middlesex, doing it part time now.
Jon the Hat Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 The fees are the least of your worries if you plan to live in Town.
Monk Posted 20 March 2009 Author Posted 20 March 2009 The fees are the least of your worries if you plan to live in Town. i know - not sure how do get around it yet. Think I'd need at least £20,000 for the year inc tuition...
welck12 Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 Post grad loans are easy to get; but the tricky bit is getting one where you can delay repaying it until you finish (if your doing it full time) I found they are more favourable to people who are doing what they class as "professional" courses, so it screwed me over. The same applies to a lot of grants, but there is a few out there, just takes a lot of searching and dedication to get one.
Guest Mickyblueeyes Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 Ever considered doing it part time?I did my Postgrad part time, worked in the industry, built up valuable contacts and was able to fund myself. It is tough but very rewarding at the end of it provided you get the right experience, you can walk straight into a job.
Monk Posted 20 March 2009 Author Posted 20 March 2009 Ever considered doing it part time?I did my Postgrad part time, worked in the industry, built up valuable contacts and was able to fund myself.It is tough but very rewarding at the end of it provided you get the right experience, you can walk straight into a job. I have considered it... but a little uneasy about it taking 2 years - graduating at nearly 30 years old.....
Dr The Singh Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 For a long time I have wanted to do a masters degree, partly to get out of Banking, partly because I really want to get into the environmental sector.Problem is I have no idea how to fund it and after 4 years out of uni I'm not convinced I'm cut out for being a student again. The degree I'm looking at is MSc Carbon: Society, Science and Change at Kings College... tuition is £5100 Has anyone here done a masters (I know at least one of you....) and if so - how did you fund it. What is life like as a postgrad, and how much more advanced is it than final year undergraduate study? Answers on a postcard... I did a MSc in Organic Chemistry!! WHen I did it ( nearly 10 years ago), I got a loan and the agreement included that I was to pay it back only after I started earning 16k or more. I found getting funding really difficult from industry but I was told because I applied too late and that grants are given way in advance!! So what I did was some research for a large pharmacuetical company the university was affiliated with to gain some valuable experience and alittle cash!!! Good luck mate!!
Alexikokopops Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 My mate's doing a PhD. He gets paid 18k untaxed a year. Bastard!
Dr The Singh Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 My mate's doing a PhD. He gets paid 18k untaxed a year. Bastard! That's very good, at the time i did my Msc, people were getting around 10-12k to do phd's, but you had to work very very hard for your money, these guys were expected to work long hours and meet deadlines!!!
Monk Posted 20 March 2009 Author Posted 20 March 2009 Singh - do you use your masters and how much has it helped your career?
Dr The Singh Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 Singh - do you use your masters and how much has it helped your career? I'm not a very good example to be honest, unfortunately at the time, for the effort and work and knowledge I had after it was worth less then a guy with a poxy Microsoft qualification which anybody could do in 6 months!! There wasn't alot of demand for 'organic chemist', most pharmaceutical companies were merging at that time!! I must admit I really enjoyed the Msc, we were in the same group with phd students and people were graduating with masses of knowleadge and getting 17k a year! So after the masters I did a Microsoft course and within 6 months was earning the same as a guy who spent 5 years working his bollocks off....such a travesty!!!! But, I keep in contact with some of the students and many did go onto to do phd's and aslong as your researching on topics to with 'environment' or 'global warming', there's masses of money and job security is certain!!! So,, maybe I panicked acted quite hastily, nobody knows!!! So, my advice is to research what the course really offers after graduating. Speak to people in the industry, universities will always sell the course and give you wonderful stats!! I know alot poeple that thought it was dead cool to do masters in forensic and they were left unemployed, as recruitment in that industry is about 2 vacancies a year in the UK!! Specialising can be dangerous but in the right industry can be a gem, another mate from uni went on and did a masters in art restoration and preservation, and now he works independantly and charges 1.5k a day for some of the richest people on the planet!! SOmetimes you need that bit of luck and in todays environment those poeple that make it quick usually know people in the industry!! I hope that helps, Monk!!
Monk Posted 20 March 2009 Author Posted 20 March 2009 Thanks for the advice. That's basically the idea - get a masters that is very much in demand from a top university. Going to take some project management courses as well at the time. Hopefully I'd come out of it when the recession is over and very employable in the sector... the only thing that is holding me back is living costs while at Uni....
Daggers Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 Got Union Carbide to fund the first one and my employer in Ven to fund the second. Compared to an OU degree, I found the level of study more than manageable. Is it full-time? Part-time study is a bitch unless you have time off in lieu.
Guest Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 I will be doing my post-grad studies full time. As they are for a professional qualification, I get all the "don't have to pay it back....." balls. The fact that it's £11,000 is totally irrelevant......
Nationwider Posted 20 March 2009 Posted 20 March 2009 I got massively lucky as I applied for, and got, a grant which covered most of my study fees. Right time, right place. Although not directly related to what I do now, the MSc carried a lot of weight in the selection process (or so I like to think). The heuristics part of the course also helps me with problem-solving in my job in a roundabout way, which is all good. If you've got a firm idea of where you're headed - and your reasoning sounds good, Monk - a post-grad can give you a huge edge.
Saladin Posted 21 March 2009 Posted 21 March 2009 been thinking of doing a masters in Forensic Computing at De Montfort. Not many jobs out there at the moment, so this sort of makes sense and hopefully will make me more employable in the future... Best bet is to get a loan, like every other unfortunate mug...
Daggers Posted 21 March 2009 Posted 21 March 2009 ...a post-grad can give you a huge edge. In a market where degrees have been devalued through dumbing them down over the years at the behest of Government targets.
davieG Posted 21 March 2009 Posted 21 March 2009 I have considered it... but a little uneasy about it taking 2 years - graduating at nearly 30 years old..... I suspect this will become more 'normal'. Employment opportunities are forever evolving. I also think as a 30 year old with a post grad and considerable work experience you'll find it easier to make the post grad work for you than someone who's just got the qualification. Can't you get your bank to sub you tell them (lies) you want to progress in banking and need this qualification to do so. It's a log slog but you could try the Open University at least you wouldn't be in debt at the end of it.
Monk Posted 7 April 2009 Author Posted 7 April 2009 Just getting my references together and then going to get my application in... might post my personal statement on here later for you guys to pick at... but could be counterintuitive.
lou Posted 7 April 2009 Posted 7 April 2009 Good luck! Christ theres some clever sods on here........ makes my 4 'O' levels look shameful!
Guest Posted 7 April 2009 Posted 7 April 2009 Good luck! Christ theres some clever sods on here........ makes my 4 'O' levels look shameful! Quality, not quantity! Good luck Monk - if I can do it, you can!!
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