2012
“I wanted to get a Masters qualification, but it was really the delivery method of the MA Business Studies course than drew my attention. I was already interested in blended learning from my work as an Academic Quality Officer, and I didn’t want to have to attend weekly classes. It was just really convenient.
“The whole point of a blended learning course is that you come in, you get a bit of class contact time, and then you go away and essentially work on your own. But with this course, instead of it feeling daunting, we are given various e-tools and online learning methods that keep us engaged. It really helps me stay motivated and inspired in between physical classes.
“Another great thing about the course is its flexibility. Although it is set out as four units per year, you can change this depending on your personal circumstances. For example, a classmate on the course has decided to drop it down to two units per year in order to have a baby! If this had happened on a less flexible course, she probably would have had to leave the course. It’s really reassuring for me to know that I have the option to slow down my studies if the rest of my life starts to get too hectic!
“Even though the way the course is delivered allows you to study on your own terms, you still shouldn’t underestimate the challenge of studying part time and working full time. On top of this, I’m also involved in my partner’s business, but luckily I can use this experience in my course work, and I often use his business as a case study. I just have to make sure I am on top of all my assignments and get them in on time.
“After I’ve finished the Masters, I am hoping to go on and do a PhD, although this is still some distance in the future – I might change my mind after I hand in my dissertation!”