Hi Wowzers,

Thanks for sharing your experience, this was the type of advice I was looking for!

I enjoy studying, this year I've had out of education has been nothing but boredom and frustration of not doing anything productive.

Reading your experience has made me feel a bit more confident. If it's possible to make it work around a full-time job as well as children, then I should be fine!

Many thanks again, and good luck on the dissertation results!

Hi Pikirkool,

Many thanks for reading & replying.

That is actually a brilliant idea, I have played with the idea of private tutoring and during my undergraduate years would have been perfect as our subject group was very small and specialized. Its definitely an idea to consider for during my PG to get - as you said- experience, networks and a few ££ on the side too!

As far as reading and writing are concerned, I might be a bit rusty after taking this last year out of education, but again during my UG years, I was in a similar situation to you and able to more or less understand articles in about 20 minutes or so. The work which the PG may throw at me isn't really phasing me, its more the expense it incurs.

After speaking to a friend, I'm doing a bit of budgeting to see how far my savings and current earnings can get me.

Thanks again for your help!

Hi ReaderinPikey,

In clarification, my prospects are of lecturing probably in a less prestigious university as my undergraduate degree is not from a highly recognized university (Edge Hill University).

I would consider any industry employment based around the Geoscience/ Earth Science subjects, however these are the jobs that are rare and are the ones that you mentioned will probably get 10,000 applications per 2 places, as well as needing the MSc for entry level.

I understand the world of academia is a very competitive and a hard ladder to climb. As for looking into lecturing, I'm talking on a time-span which extends into decades rather than merely years. I'm hoping that in the progression of reaching that goal, I could get a few years of industry/private sector experience behind me before even considering applying for a PhD.

It seems from quickly searching that an MSc seems to be beneficial in terms of getting a job in specialist industries, but it looks to be the opposite at the moment for those exceeding MSc level.

The main concern I have if I do the MSc is about affording to live whilst having to pay tuition fees and the ever-increasing costs of living. I guess it is worrying me more because I'm currently on minimum wage and not on a yearly salary. My hours and pay vary a lot and are mainly weekend/anti-social hours, however my employer is willing to be flexible around me and my studies. I feel as if I don't progress further in education I'll be stuck in a low paying job for the rest of the foreseeable future, yet if i do progress onto the MSc I will have yet more debt, a lower quality of living for 2 years and have marginally increased chances of employment in the fields related to my degrees.

Many thanks for your advice and apologies if I seem to be talking utter jibberish- its a big step to take and I want to make sure its the right one!

Hi, I'm new to this forum but thought it would be a suitable place to turn for some advice.

Firstly, I graduated from my undergraduate course in Physical Geography & Geology last July with a 2:1, since then I have been working full time and I am now living with my other half.

I am looking at applying for a masters starting in October 2013, however because I'm going to have to fund the postgraduate course myself, I'm worried about being able to afford tuition fees, maintenance, rent, bills, running a car, commuting to uni ect. The tuition fees are looking to be in the region of around £7000p.a, but I shall be doing the course part-time in order to work, therefore will be around £3500p.a over 2 years. I know about the CDL that is on offer and will be looking into it whilst applying. I have also read extensively about alternative funding methods such as charities, but I do not qualify for the majority of those advertised.

I would be very grateful for any information on how other people out there have managed to balance work, masters, costs of living and life in general.
Also, I'd like to know (especially in the current economic climate) whether it is worth spending so much money on a masters? I'm worried that I may be left in the position I am now - qualified but not able to find a relevant job using my degree. Ideally, I'm looking into continuing in academia on completion of the postgraduate course.

Many thanks for reading, again any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated.