Many students work alongside their postgraduate degree, usually to earn money and gain industry experience. Working alongside your course is a balancing act, but it can be done if you’re determined and focused. We’ve put together your options for working and studying at the same time.
Studying part-time and working full-time
This is a popular option for master’s students who are established in their careers and want to continue working or students who need to keep earning a full-time wage to manage their expenses.
Your course and assignments would be spread out over two years rather than one, meaning you would most likely only need to attend university once a week and you could complete work in the evenings and weekends.
- Laura Shorney, MSc Environmental and Spatial Planning graduate
Postgraduate Open Days
Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about our postgraduate courses in detail, explore our campus and chat with current postgraduate students.
Studying full-time and working part-time
This means that your master’s degree will only take one year. You’ll need to dedicate a substantial amount of time to your studies to complete the degree in one year, so you won’t be able to work every day, but you will be able to take on a part-time role.
Time management will be key and it’s important to remember that your health and wellbeing come first, so always make time for yourself. Our support services and Centre for Academic Success can help you take care of yourself and be productive.
If you plan to work part-time, you'll need to consider how to budget your student loan and income from your salary to fund your studies and lifestyle.
- Hannifa Best, MSc Marketing and Management graduate
Distance learning
A distance learning course is taught completely remotely, so you can study from home, meaning you can complete the work at your own pace. This allows you to fit the course around your lifestyle and study at a time that suits you.
You’ll still be supported by tutors and receive the same quality degree; you just won’t be required to come onto campus. Teaching and assessment often include webinars, use of interactive resources and quizzes or tests to ensure your self-directed learning is still engaging.
- Christopher Cheeseman, MSc International Logistics and Supply Chain Management (Distance Learning)
*Not all courses can be studied via distance learning