What You Need to Consider When Undertaking a Postgraduate Degree as a Mother

You don’t have to choose between motherhood and a successful career, despite what the narrative of our patriarchal society might tell you. However, there will certainly be more challenges as you attempt to balance being a good parent and pursuing your passion. But these obstacles are always worth overcoming in the end because you will get to fully self-actualise and demonstrate to your children what being a powerful woman looks like. One of the hardest decisions that mothers often face is whether they want to continue their academic studies after giving birth.

After all, obtaining a master’s degree is hard enough when you don’t have toddlers to contend with. But it is certainly doable. There are plenty of educated women out there who can prove this. If you need a little more help in making your decision, then you should keep reading this article. We’re going to be discussing everything you need to consider when choosing a postgraduate degree as a mother.

Career Path

For starters, you need to decide whether a postgraduate degree will send you in the right direction for your chosen career path. Postgraduate studies are usually best for people who want to specialise in a subject and move into academia. If this is what you want, then a master’s degree is right for you. However, for those who think a postgraduate degree will guarantee them a job in their desired field of work, you might need to do further research or look elsewhere.

Most graduate jobs only require a bachelor’s degree for you to qualify regarding your education. Experience – as opposed to additional qualifications – is oftentimes more important. Therefore, you might be better off channelling your energy into obtaining vocational experience rather than a postgraduate. Research the general requirements for jobs in your chosen field and work from there. Of course, if you’re more passionate about learning, this doesn’t matter so much.

Choosing a Course

Now you have figured out whether a postgraduate degree is right for you, it’s time to decide what course you’re going to do. Some of you might be interested in Physiology Postgraduate Courses, whilst others would prefer studying an MA in Screen and Scriptwriting. Have an in-depth look at the modules that each university course offers and decide from there which is best suited to your interests. Another important factor to consider is whether you would like to study full-time or part-time.

We generally recommend mothers choose a part-time course because this offers them a good balance between study and childcare. Though these courses will last two years rather than one, it’s better to pace yourself and not drop out because your life has become too intensive. There are plenty of comparison websites that highlight which university degrees offer part-time courses and full-time courses. For example, the Manchester Metropolitan University has part-time Physiology Postgraduate Courses, whereas the University of Glasgow has none. These comparison websites can also help you find the best courses in your area if you don’t want to relocate for your studies.

Level of Commitment

Before deciding to complete a postgraduate degree, you must first be realistic with yourself. Even when studying part-time, will you be able to juggle both your masters and children simultaneously? It is possible because plenty of educated women have done so before. The logistics aren’t the concern – it’s more about your time/stress management skills and the amount of self-discipline you’re able to exert. You need to ask yourself a series of hard questions and give honest answers.

For starters, would you be able to study and complete assignments outside of the time you spend in university? Or do you think you would end up being distracted by your children? Secondly, would you be self-disciplined enough to complete projects like your dissertation? Postgraduate degrees are, for the most part, about independent studying. Your lecturers are there to support and teach you, but it’s not their job to motivate you.

You also must consider if you’ll have the time and energy for studying in addition to your current lifestyle as a mother. It might be worth waiting a few years until the children are more self-sufficient to undertake a postgraduate degree. You should also ensure you’ll have enough support from childcare providers or friends and family. Finally, with all these factors combined, do you feel you’ll be committed enough to see your studies through to the end? A master’s degree isn’t something you can do on a whim or half-heartedly when you have motherhood to contend with. This being said, we truly believe those who are passionate and dedicated will succeed at both.

These are the main things you need to consider before undertaking a postgraduate degree as a mother. Prepare yourself for what obstacles you might need to overcome and pursue your dream career path in spite of them.