Part-Time MA/PHD Students

[tiffanyamber81]

So, there have been many posts related to full-time graduate studies but not so much related to part-time grad studies. Perhaps, you are like me and want to continue working full-time or maybe you are a parent and part-time is the only feasible way to obtatin a graduate level degree. I found an article that provides some great advice for those who would like some insight into work/life/school balance: http://chronicle.com...-students/27267 .

I will be attending a joint program at York/Ryerson University in Toronto for a MA in Communication and Culture - Poltics and Policy. I currently work full-time as an Administrator with a human rights education nonprofit. I did my undergrad Human Rights and Equity Studies. My main focus is gender equity and empowerment. I want to evaluate emerging technologies and assess how they affect the advancement of women in Canada and around the world.

What's your story? Why are you attending grad-school part-time and what are you going for?

Edited April 9, 2012 by tiffanyamber81

[robot_hamster]

I'm not part-time, but there are tons of people in my program who are (both MS and PhD). I think it just depends on if you want to be eligible for funding (need to be full-time in my program) and if you have a full-time job you want to stay in. Some people have kids, but I think their decision to be part-time has more to do with their job.

[tiffanyamber81]

Well - I'd love to be eligible for funding....but the amount of Full-Time funding is way less then I receive working full-time. I did a trade off analysis and it made more sense to attend part-time. Though, there are busaries and scholarships for part-time students. So, we are not entirely out of luck. I know some people who have children and are attending part-time as it is difficult to balance full-time grad studies and all the resposibilities of parenthood.

[comm1980]

I worked full-time through both my MA and my MBA. I'm now back to working within the university system on the administration side and starting my PhD this fall. Luckily, they pay for it since I'm an employee which makes the part-time thing much easier to handle. I'm single with no kids, so it's quite easy for me to balance work/life. From what I've gathered, I think there are fewer people doing part-time in the PhD; for the master's level, almost everyone was working (especially the MBA).

[UnixGuy]

I'm like you, I can't quit my job right now. So I will start my MSc through distance learning on September. However, I plan to do PhD full-time once I'm done with the MSc.

I need to save some money right now, so this is the most feasible option for me at the moment.