Thought I could handle an MSc - now really not sure

This is a normal feeling. Once you become more familiar with the structure and routine of everything, doing a masters can be a very enjoyable experience.

Everyone on the course will have different strengths and weaknesses but as others have said you shouldn't be comparing yourself anyway.

You say you love the subject. Seriously keep going

Is this a common feeling at the start of a Masters? Oh hell yes! I felt like this for months when I first started. Wait until you get your first bit of coursework back. That will give you an independent indicator of your suitability for the course and - if necessary - pointers for improvement so you can focus on particular issues.

As the above poster says, you need to stop comparing yourself to other people who may be at different levels of basic knowledge/understanding. You're paying your tuition fee to increase *your* knowledge - nobody else matters. If you knew the answers, you'd be wasting your money. Being wrong is a great way to learn the right stuff. Keep on being wrong! Make them guide you - that's what the staff are there for. And read - read like a maniac. Feed new stuff into your head as often as possible.

The uni wouldn't have given you a place if you weren't up to it. As long as you're learning, then you're doing the right thing.

It's early on and it's natural to feel like this. A masters degree is very different to an undergrad degree into which most people come with just their A levels and little life experience so everyone is on pretty much the same page. People do masters degrees at various stages of their lives and careers and for various reasons. You need to stop comparing yourself to everyone else and get what you need from every learning situation irrespective of whether you feel silly compared to others or not. Your profs and tutors are there to help and guide you so use them and maybe talk to your personal tutor about how you're feeling and what options you may have at this stage.

Thanks for your advice! I have spoken to my personal tutor, and we're exploring my options (e.g. going part time). Thanks again!

Your love for your subject will help you to overcome all odds and barriers that may hinder you from being successful at it. I am certain you will find your rhythm very soon and you will be immersed in your MSc!

Re part time: don't be too quick to do this. Initially my plan was to do all the taught units in one year and then the dissertation the next year with my masters I've just finished. As the year went on I got more confident and decided to do the whole thing in a year. I am still waiting for my result so am feeling pretty nervous but I'm glad I proceeded with full time because once I became more familiar with the structure of the course and what was expected of me (everyone has to learn this as they go along anyway) then the thought of doing the dissertation in the same year became manageable.

I would recommend keep running with all the taught units and then whether or not you're full or part time can be based on whether or not you do your dissertation this year or next. That way you keep more options open to you. If you drop any taught units this year then you definitely won't be able to finish this year and you might regret that once you get into the swing of things.

This is a normal feeling. Once you become more familiar with the structure and routine of everything, doing a masters can be a very enjoyable experience.

Everyone on the course will have different strengths and weaknesses but as others have said you shouldn't be comparing yourself anyway.

You say you love the subject. Seriously keep going

Is this a common feeling at the start of a Masters? Oh hell yes! I felt like this for months when I first started. Wait until you get your first bit of coursework back. That will give you an independent indicator of your suitability for the course and - if necessary - pointers for improvement so you can focus on particular issues.

As the above poster says, you need to stop comparing yourself to other people who may be at different levels of basic knowledge/understanding. You're paying your tuition fee to increase *your* knowledge - nobody else matters. If you knew the answers, you'd be wasting your money. Being wrong is a great way to learn the right stuff. Keep on being wrong! Make them guide you - that's what the staff are there for. And read - read like a maniac. Feed new stuff into your head as often as possible.

The uni wouldn't have given you a place if you weren't up to it. As long as you're learning, then you're doing the right thing.

It's early on and it's natural to feel like this. A masters degree is very different to an undergrad degree into which most people come with just their A levels and little life experience so everyone is on pretty much the same page. People do masters degrees at various stages of their lives and careers and for various reasons. You need to stop comparing yourself to everyone else and get what you need from every learning situation irrespective of whether you feel silly compared to others or not. Your profs and tutors are there to help and guide you so use them and maybe talk to your personal tutor about how you're feeling and what options you may have at this stage.

It's been 7 years! I'm back on here thinking about studying again.

Just wanted to say thanks again to everyone. To anyone reading this, I ended up with a distinction and stayed full time. As I became closer with my course mates (and academic staff), it turns out everyone feels out of their depth at times. That's basically what a lot of PG study is, apparently.

Quoting below since these answers made a huge difference in my life and I'm really grateful!

That’s great that it worked out! What subject did you study your masters in if you don’t mind me asking?

I'm three weeks into my MSc at a really great uni, and I'm feeling totally overwhelmed. I pretty much feel like I shouldn't be here, even though I managed to get in with a good UG degree.

The leap from UG to PG has been massive, on both a personal, academic-capability level, and also in terms of the calibre of my classmates - they're all so amazing and intelligent. I feel like every time I speak up in class, my contributions are the least valuable (so I have started doing this less and less - tired of the negative reinforcement tbh), and it really feels like everyone's brains are operating at a higher level than mine. I feel like the dunce of the class. I feel like Elle Woods in legally blond (I know that ended well, but I don't think a studying montage with motivational music and new, serious reading glasses is going to help me as much as it helped her).

I took this MSc because I love the subject, and even though I potentially have a job waiting for me at the end of it, I also took this MSc to explore my other career options. Despite having worked (I graduated in 2012), everyone else is bringing so much amazing life and work experience to the class discussions that I can't compare to, and general knowledge.

I just wondered if this is a normal feeling - has anyone else felt like this? I know some anxiety is normal, but has anyone else felt like they are completely out of their depth, and wondered whether or not they should be doing their master's degree?

Did anyone overcome this, and do they have any advice? Should I cut my losses now? I know I obviously need to work a lot harder, and I'm planning to (literally, I have a study schedule with hours allocated and everything), as soon as I've caught up on this week's work (and this week's sleep!) - I just wondered if anyone has any tips/encouragement. Are these feelings something I should share with my personal tutor?

Thanks in advance, and apologies for this sounding like a panicked moan (although that might be exactly what it is...)