If you’re studying a part-time Master’s to climb the career ladder, your employer may contribute to your tuition fees if you study while working for them. Our guide can help you work out how your employer can help, if they're likely to help and how you can ask them.
Step 1: Find your course
The course you choose should relate to your current career and the company you work for. Research course pages and contact the university if you have any questions about the course. Find out what the course will teach you and it will benefit you and the company you work for.
Step 2: Find out if your employer has a sponsorship policy
Your employer may have a sponsorship policy, so make sure you check:
- Is there a specific criteria you have to meet?
- What are the terms and conditions?
- If there is a policy, find out what it asks of all the parties involved.
- What commitments do you have to make and what is your employer’s commitment to you?
If you can't find a sponsorship policy, it doesn't mean you can't ask, it may just mean that your company has never funded anyone's degree before.
Step 3: Making your request
After you’ve done your research you’ll be in a great position to make a business case to your employer. Your business case could be an informal meeting with your manager or part of your application (if there is a sponsorship policy in place), but whatever form it takes you should address the following concerns:
- How the course will benefit you
- How your course will benefit the company
- How the knowledge you develop on the course will fill gaps in the company
- How long will you be expected to stay at the company after you've completed the degree?
- What happens if you can't complete the degree (in the case of illness or special circumstances)
- Will you be allowed study days away from work?
- How will you be supported by your employer throughout the degree?
What if my employer says they can't fund my postgraduate studies?
Support from your workplace doesn’t always have to be financial. Asking your company to support you in other ways can be a big help during your degree.
You can ask your employer to allow flexible working or study leave, so you can easily attend lecturers or spend a little more time on your studies during the exam period.