It can be difficult to balance work and full-time education, but it is not impossible. With careful planning and dedication, you can complete your Master’s degree while working full-time. Listed below are some tested tips to help you get started.
Online Courses
For those who like learning online, there are plenty of free and paid courses available to take that will be recognized by universities as fulfilling the requirements for a Master’s degree. There are even 1-year master programs online! These online courses also allow you to plan your schedule to accommodate work and family life. For instance, if you need a week off from work and do not want to take vacation days, the flexibility of online courses allows you to adjust your course load accordingly.
Even regular universities now offer accelerated Master’s degree programs for those who already hold a Bachelor’s degree. Such programs are much shorter, and it is possible to complete the program in half the time that would be required for normal admission. Even in-demand and challenging courses like an online law degree are now available. This means you can finish a Master’s degree two years sooner than expected, so you can get back to work or enjoy more family time!
Hire a Tutor
If you need more help understanding some of the more challenging concepts covered by your Master’s degree program, consider hiring an individual tutor. Just like anything else, there are different levels of tutors with varying degrees of experience and various price ranges. Ask around friends who completed a Master’s degree if they know someone they would recommend or ask at your university’s student resource center.
No matter what situation you may be in, there is probably an online tutoring service out there that can help you complete your Master’s degree. Such services allow students to ask questions and receive timely answers from experienced professionals. Keep in mind that not all such services guarantee a high level of satisfaction, so make sure to do your research before committing to anything.
Self-Study Courses
An alternative approach to completing a Master’s degree program is through online courses that are not associated with any official university. These self-study courses typically lack the recognition and respectability of more traditional programs because they teach you how to fish rather than giving you the fish, so to speak. However, these self-study courses are perfectly acceptable for those who do not want or need formal recognition of their Master’s degree.
These self-study courses typically have varying academic requirements, but most will require you to complete some sort of final project to receive a certificate or diploma. Fortunately, these projects can easily be completed at home without anyone’s help. Just download the course materials onto your computer and push yourself to finish them on time just like any other homework assignment.
Conferences and Workshops
If you have some money to invest in your education while working full time, consider attending conferences and workshops that are related to your career path. Learning is more effective when it involves a practical application, so this type of experience makes the most sense for busy adults. It is also a good way to make connections in your industry or area of specialization with potential employers or clients.
These conferences and workshops often host workshops that go into more detail about specific topics covered within the conference, which you can then apply to your Master’s degree program. For instance, in an entrepreneurship conference, there might be a presentation about best practices for starting up in the field of marketing. This is time well spent towards completing your Master’s degree when it comes to developing original ideas or strategies that can be applied to your work.
Become a Teaching Assistant
If you don’t work full time, consider becoming a teaching assistant for some of your courses. As a teaching assistant, you can assist professors during lectures and even engage with the students outside of the classroom. This will give you valuable insight into how these courses are taught and what type of information will be most beneficial for the students.
Most teaching assistant positions require advanced education or experience, so make sure to check with your university before applying. Some schools offer these positions to any student regardless of their degree program, but they might not be paid positions if you are still in school.
No matter how difficult it may seem, completing a Master’s degree while working full time is absolutely possible with the right approach and motivation. If you put your mind to it and stay focused on your goals, you can earn this degree within a reasonable amount of time and on a reasonable budget.
