Studying Part-Time: Five Things You Need to Know
Choosing to study a degree part-time is an option that offers more flexibility for anybody who may need a slower pace or time to work alongside their studies.
As someone who was also in this boat at the start of their part-time MA, here are five things I wish I had known before starting!
You Can Still Join Societies
Whether you’re studying your undergraduate or postgraduate degree, joining a society is the easiest way to socialise and add a new (or existing!) hobby into your routine. The benefit of part-time study is that it also gives you more time to invest in societies and give yourself a break from work and study commitments. No matter if you are a new or returning student, socialisation is key to making the most of your time here and with part-time, you may have longer than usual to be a part of your chosen society.
Structure is Your Best Friend
Though it seems obvious, it can be harder to create a routine during part-time study because you’re having to balance additional working commitments or have more free time between modules. For those who do work alongside their studies, making sure you give yourself time to relax and consider your mental and physical health is essential so that you don’t burn out.
When starting your degree, you will likely have the option to select the modules you wish to take during your time here. It is important to remember that you can pick these in a way that helps you maximise your schedule and make it as efficient as possible. For example, during my MA, I opted to do the majority of my modules in my first year of study, leaving just one module and my dissertation to be done in my second year!
Top Tip: If you are looking to work part-time alongside your degree, a great place to look is the University’s Employment and Recruitment Service, as they offer a range of roles and internships to help you gain experience in the fields that interest you. The benefit of this service is that they are also incredibly understanding of your academic commitments and help you to prioritise your studies while gaining important work experience in a flexible way.
LUSU is Still For you
Studying part-time has absolutely no bearing on your place within the Students’ Union. No matter what support you need, Lancaster University Students’ Union will be around to offer advice and support when needed. You are also still eligible to take part in and vote in the elections, as well as any other participation opportunities.
In fact, the best way to improve the system and ensure that other part-time students feel represented, is to take part in surveys and events held by the Students’ Union so that your voice is in the mix.
There’s a Support Network outside Your Department
At times, it may feel like you’re isolated from your full-time course mates, particularly if you’re the only part-time student on your course. This can lead to feelings of loneliness, or worries that you are behind in some way, which may even have an impact on your studies. However, the chances are that other part-time students in other courses are feeling the exact same way outside of your own department.
Finding these connections is something that could make all the difference to your time at University, as it will help you experience University at the same pace as likeminded individuals. Utilising popular social media platforms to find and create these communities and put yourself out there could be the difference between a positive and negative University experience for both yourself, and others.
Also worth mentioning is that your departments Academic Reps are there to offer you support no matter how you decide to undertake your course. You could even make a difference by becoming an Academic Rep yourself and representing other part-time students!
Keeping in Touch with Your Department is Key
Your degree is your own, and if there is any way that you can make your study schedule work better for you then it is always worth asking. Keeping in touch with your department and making yourself known as a part-time student is something that will help you hugely throughout your degree, as there may be times where you have different work submission dates than that of your full-time cohort.
Alongside being able to design your module timetable in a way that suits you, it is also helpful to know that it is okay to question emails that you feel have conflicting information to what you have been told prior. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and contact your department for any kind of support whether its personal or academic - at the end of the day, they are there to help.
Written by Jess McMonagle
MA Linguistics and English Language Graduate