Thanks for your encouragement - I shall certainly continue to look into it for the timebeing.

I started my masters with The Open University when I was 24; I'd previously completed a BA(Hons) 2:1 with them too, so carried straight on. I really enjoyed it - far more than I did the undergraduate stuff - although it sounds odd, I actually found the work easier; maybe it's because it's more specialised? That said, I wouldn't have considered a PhD or suchlike going straight from an undergraduate degree - I know people do, but thinking about all the people I know with PhD's, they've all done a masters degree first. More than anything, I think it probably helps you to narrow down what you really want to do.

David

Thanks, I think you might be right there;-)

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At the age of 27, I've recently completed an MEd with The Open University. I really enjoyed it and it gave me a real thirst for research and academic writing. I'd really like to find some way of carrying this forward.

I've thought about MPhil's, PhD's and EdD, but the impression I get from people I talk to is that they're a nice luxury if you can afford it, but otherwise they're not worth the hassle. In fairness, these are people who haven't gained a qualification at this level, and I'm sure those that have may tell a different story. I've got a reasonable idea of what I'd like to focus on, though it would obviously need some thrashing out.

Like in all these things, the deciding factor for me would be money. I get the general impression that unless you're doing research in science, there isn't really any funding available - I might be quite wrong in this assumption, but it is the impression I get. I certainly couldn't fund it all myself at the moment. I guess that like most things, cuts are being made to funding opportunities as well at the present time.

So, I suppose what I'm saying is, am I wasting my time even thinking about this, or is it something at least worth investigating further?

Any experiences, thoughts etc. welcome!

David