'Part time' studying

It depends on the nature of the degree and the ability to leverage your actual work with course work, otherwise it sucks. It can, however, be very motivating but my own experience is based on there being no familial distractions.

I would also consider the quality of the degree - will it really enhance your CV or destroy your work life balance for no value add, either on a personal satisfaction or intellectual level or increase your ability to secure work you enjoy in the upper earnings quartile for your profession?

My experience is with MBAs where they now appear to be two a penny and where the three letters mean nothing unless secured from a credible source, e.g. LBS will get you an interview, Henley College will not. This is speaking from a global perspective, but I don't even get to see CVs if the qualifications are not from top schools.

You also have to consider the financial implications of not succeeding as many employers will now only fund courses retrospectively or insist on a claw back of the fees if you do not succeed or leave post graduation.

What does your employer gain from this Jamie?. I hope it's a genuine offer and you are at liberty to say 'no' without repercussions if you so desire.

I delayed finishing the last part of my Professional qualifications and was only prompted to do so by the imminent arrival of our second child.  It was tough going. G

There are no financial comebacks

Get pay rise on finishing it and lump sum if I get a First.

They get to say they are enhancing the skills/badges of some of their employees and it will almost certainly ultimately lead to a decent promotion track though the firm if I take it.

But, and it's the big but, I'm still leaving the house to go to work in the morning every day and coming back in the evening, sorting out the kids and doing all the domestic stuff too, I'm not sure it's worth being more remote to the kids for close on 3 years...

FWIW Jamie, my experience is that one has to make a decision about when to stop trying to 'get ahead' as otherwise it can be an endless pursuit.  Pass the exams well, get promoted, more responsibility etc etc.

I ducked out of hard-edged commercial practice 13 years ago for kids, health and work/life balance and it's the best decision I ever made.  Particularly now that the 'hard-edged' practice I worked for now looks like it's going to the wall.

It didn't stop me having ambition - just more on my own terms - you need a thought through plan that's right for you and that might include an advanced qualification.

My kids are 16, 14 & 10 and it has gone in the blink of a shutter! 

Graeme

Good luck Jamie. As a doctor I had specialist post grad degrees to do and was studying, along with doing very long hours as a junior doctor, until my mid 30's. I didn't have children at the time and can't imagine the pressure that would cause. You will need a lot of support from your wife and it is with her that you must make your final decision. 

ATB

Steve

I got my Ph.D. before having kids, so no personal experience. A friend went through four years of law school this way. He had the full support of his wife and 5 (!) kids. He conciously decided to shoot for the middle--not put in the time needed to set the academic world on fire--and he'd spend time with his kids one day each weekend. It worked for him. He got his degree, went to work for a big company in Utah, and seems quite happy with having done it.

The 2 1/2 years will go by one way or the other. Three years from now, will you regret not having done it?

I did both of my degrees BSc Hons and MBA whilst working full time and raising a family. You have to be prepared to be really organized and make every minute count. A bit of strategic studying does help when time is really tight (i.e. cover just enough to hand in and pass the assignment) Both were done through the Open University.

Tim

In preparation for Pharmacy school, I would work an 8+ hour day, rush to class, be there until 9:00, then have to come home and do homework until past midnight...then up at 6:00 AM again.  This was because the classes (Advanced Algebra, Statistics, and Calculus) were all summer session, meeting 3 hours every evening 5 days a week for 5 weeks, and falling behind one day was like missing a week of material in a regular class.  And of course since it was math, it all built on the prior, so you couldn't just gas off part and get back to it.

It almost killed me...and I remember a gal in my class prior to one exam saying, "I have been so mean to my body..." because you eat crap and irregularly, don't sleep, don't exercise, and don't relax or rest. 

Then I started pharmacy school, and it was class all day, study all evening, and work 3 part-time jobs just to slow the cash hemorrhage.  I ended up on the surgeon's table before it was over.  And I didn't have a family so I can't imagine how that would factor in - in some things it might help a bit, but on the balance I would say it is much tougher your way.

Is there any way you could take it in smaller bits and get through it in say 3-4 years instead of 2.5? 

Remember, family & health (both physical & mental) are the 2 most important things...no amount of money can buy those.  But if you go for it, I wish you the best and yes it can be done.

I did six months of an MEd about twenty years ago and found it difficult while working full time. Then my wife fell pregnant with our second son and I realised it wasn't going to work.

I wish you well. I have nothing but admiration for anybody who can work full time and study for a degree.

All the best my friend. You're a better person than I.

I completed a one year, 60 point OU course about ten years ago. The 'average' 15 hours study per week they promised was accurate, but it worked out at about 5 hours at the start and 25 hours at the end. Sat in front of the computer every evening, no kids, hot weather, distractions....

The upshot is that if I see an OU advert, my heart sinks and I fill up with nerves. 

I've just completed a nine month part time course at work that was supposed to have no homework. Guess what!

Like others here, I value my time with friends and family too highly to run myself into the ground for a company. I wilt fairly easily, and realising that has saved me from myself.

If you thrive on extra work, and your wife understands the sacrifices to be made, go for it!

Tony

Thanks all. it's been interesting to read your comments and of your own experiences.

I'm waiting to see if there is anything coming to reduce my work hours, otherwise I just don't think I'd feel happy with the additional commitment to work and reducing the time I have with my family over that length of time.

If they are so keen that you should do this and are willing to pay for it, then try to negotiate paid time off from your daily regime?

If not, are the potential rewards such that you are prepared to disrupt your home life?

Would you have to sign some agreement about not seeking work elsewhere for a period of time if you were to get a degree?

Do you live to work or work to live (to use a cliche)?

Undertaking the course would undoubtedly be a huge commitment.

I had some poor experience of undertaking a part time course several years back.  I completed two years of it and dropped out before commencing the last year.  The reasons for dropping out?  I thought long and hard about it and concluded that the course material was very poor quality; working remotely with only 3 residential working sessions per year did not work for me; there was precious little feedback from the course tutors; and no interaction with other students.  And it was a massive burden at a time when I was working very long hours.  High on the list of considerations was the conclusion that the course was not properly accredited and I felt it would not ultimately add to my career prospects.

From the above I have to stick my hand up and confess that I simply did not thoroughly investigate the course, relying on the fact that it was acknowledged within my profession as the thing to do.  My advice therefore is, in addition to you considering the impact this may have on family life, make sure that you are convinced the particular course and study arrangements/ material are suited to your character set and that the piece of paper at the end of it will help you do your job better, improve chances of promotion and mobility within the market sector you have chosen.

Huge decision and one not to be taken lightly.  Best of luck.

Peter

The other thing to check would be the position on starting but not finishing - ie if you decide it's all too much.

I'm sure this can be done, but it needs discipline and organisation.  Personally, I'd suggest it's a worthwhile thing.