unsure about applying for a masters

I've just finished my undergrad and I am already itching to be back in academia. I just know deep down I can't really afford a masters this year and with covid-19 I don't want to be taught online for a year. should I just apply anyway or should I apply for 2021?

Reply 1

sophiexnolan

13

2021. 100%

you will be wasting a year of tuition fees if you are taught online. no matter how good the teaching is, it will not compare to face to face lessons.

it’s completely up to you, but if you’re already struggling with finding money for further education, don’t waste it on a year of average teaching online.

Reply 2

l_monk

4

Original post by beckylitto

I've just finished my undergrad and I am already itching to be back in academia. I just know deep down I can't really afford a masters this year and with covid-19 I don't want to be taught online for a year. should I just apply anyway or should I apply for 2021?

I second the previous respondent. MA study online without a HUGE tuition fee reduction is a waste of time and money. You can only do a Masters once, and I would really think about taking a year or so to consider exactly which course and where you would like to do it. Part of the benefit of doing an MA is making connections with academics in your area of study - you won't have the opportunity to build connections and network if the teaching is online.

Take the year to earn some money to finance your PG study - you'll enjoy it more if you have some extra funds to see you through it too, because everyone is a bit older and the lifestyle is quite different to UG.

I would also recommend PT study if you need extra funds - this way you may get your 2nd year of MA taught in-person too, so could be an option if you decide you would really like to go this year.

Reply 3

Keele University

13

Original post by beckylitto

I've just finished my undergrad and I am already itching to be back in academia. I just know deep down I can't really afford a masters this year and with covid-19 I don't want to be taught online for a year. should I just apply anyway or should I apply for 2021?

Whilst I'm sure that all universities are going to do their best to ensure that students still receive the quality and quantity of tuition that they would expect from face-to-face courses, sadly it is likely that at least part of the 2020/21 academic year will be taught online.

At Keele, for example, we are hoping to be able to conduct some small group teaching for those courses where practicals, fieldwork, and lab access are essential (we've put up guidance on our plans at https://www.keele.ac.uk/coronavirus/applicants/, which might give you an idea as to the sort of thing universities have planned for the coming year) before moving to introduce more students back to campus as, hopefully, the lockdown restrictions ease.

As @sophiexnolan has said, it's up to you as a person how you feel about the prospect of online teaching and socialising. Universities will certainly endeavour to ensure the quality of teaching is there but it will, of course, be a different experience to if you were being taught face-to-face and campus was fully open. I can honestly say that I haven't found the quality of my teaching and supervision to have diminished as a result of moving to online teaching (I'm an English PhD student). However I was 6 months into my PhD before lockdown closed the university campus so I'd had time to get to know my supervisors, settle into what I was doing, and get to know other students.

It's also no bad thing to have a year out between undergraduate and postgraduate study. As a few others here have said, the MA is a very intense year so it can be good to have a bit of a breather before going into it to allow you to focus on what you want to achieve as a result of undertaking the MA. Working for a year can also give you a chance to save up some funds - although there is now the Postgraduate Master's Loan, that'll just about cover tuition in most cases so extra funds to support your MA year are always useful! As @l_monk has also said, you could also consider a part-time MA to allow you to spread the cost and work whilst you study.

Amy :smile:

Reply 4

mike23mike

16

Original post by beckylitto

I've just finished my undergrad and I am already itching to be back in academia. I just know deep down I can't really afford a masters this year and with covid-19 I don't want to be taught online for a year. should I just apply anyway or should I apply for 2021?

There are pros and cons of delaying or applying now. A pro of delaying is that there is more likelihood of going back to face-to-face teaching next year rather than in 2020-21. A con is that applications will be up for the academic year 2021-22 since lots of people may be thinking as you are.

Reversing that logic, a pro of applying this year is that most universities are struggling to fill their places because international students are not applying so that means you have a good chance of getting into a really prestigious university this year (assuming you are not sitting on 3As at A-level and expecting to get a first). A con is that - at best - there will be a blend of face-to-face and classroom teaching in 2020-21. Worse case, the whole course is taught online. A final pro for doing your Masters this year is that 12 months from now there will be a shortage of people with Masters (if folk hold off for a year) so it will be easier to get a job where a Masters is a pre-requisite.

Swings and roundabouts.

unsure about applying for a masters

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