Are you ready to take the next step to becoming the person you've always wanted to be? Do you dream of bettering yourself or having a new career you enjoy?
You are not alone. In 2020 Northumbria saw an increase in applications from students wishing to return to study. In fact, the number of over 40s applying to do postgraduate study rose by almost 40%, and 1 in 4 postgraduates who enrolled last September were over 26.
Whether you’ve been influenced by a change in the job market since the pandemic, are reassessing what’s important, or have been thinking about returning to study for a while, doing a Masters can help you get where you want to be professionally and give you a huge sense of achievement.
Career confidence
MSc Real Estate graduate Pippa Heron is now Development Project Manager at a leading UK sustainability consultancy.
Pippa did BA French Studies then worked abroad for several years before she moved back to her native North East to do an MSc in Real Estate at Northumbria in 2015.
Pippa said: “The MSc Real Estate course perfectly set me up for both the jobs I’ve had since completing the masters. The teaching staff are experts in their field and have practical experience of real-life scenarios to ensure what you’re learning is not only applicable and relevant to what’s happening in the industry but will also allow you to enter the job market with confidence.
“From my experience, employers really appreciate the extra few years life experience that comes with starting a career later than the traditional graduate route.”
The advantage of experience
Senior Lecturer in the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences Derek Johnson, returned to university in 2007 after 30 years serving as a police officer.
Derek said “Returning to do a Masters after a period away from study certainly involves life changes but can be surprisingly manageable.
“It was challenging but rewarding, and a returning student has much to offer through their life skills and professional viewpoints to inform debate at that level.
“Masters’ study moves on from undergraduate and involves a greater degree of self-directed learning, but I would say to anyone considering a return to study that you have skills and experience that can and will be advantageous.”
Study-life balance
As a postgraduate student you will have set times of the week to attend university, but how you allocate the rest of your study time is up to you, giving you the flexibility you need to juggle your family, social life and work.
You should plan for a commitment of 35 hours a week for a full-time Masters (including on-campus time) and 17 hours a week for a part-time programme.
For more information see northumbria.ac.uk/returntostudy
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