Bram
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Registered: 25th Mar 02
Location: Derby
User status: Offline
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My new employer have encouraged me to undertake a second degree in Construction Management and Quantity Surveying.
It will be part time over 5 years  It will be fully funded by work and I will get day release to attend uni once a week.
Has anybody else done a part-time or correspondence degree? I do think it will be good in the long run but the thought of another 5 years of coursework and exams is really off-putting! 
Is it really going to improve my salary/career prospects that much? Not sure what to do 
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dan_c4rsa
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Registered: 12th Dec 06
Location: North Yorks Drives: MK3 Seat Cupra
User status: Offline
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do it anyway - meet fitties!
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Bram
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Registered: 25th Mar 02
Location: Derby
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by dan_c4rsa
do it anyway - meet fitties!
 don't think they'll be too many fit QS's 
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charcoalgrill
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Registered: 23rd Oct 02
Location: Bristol
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i was in the same situation as you...
but just taken the plunge, leaving my job after 6 years and will be studying surveying full time come september... giving up car, flat, and money to improve myself in 3 years plus time.
i did a 2 year surveying course, and it made me so stressed working and studying, aswell as fitting in social life...
best of luck matey!
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Mad Moe
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Registered: 14th Jun 01
Location: Northumberland
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I'm just about finished the first year of my part time QS Degree and wont be finished until I'm in my 30's. But the way I see it it's a great qualification that will secure my future and allow me to progress within the business.
I must admit it's taken some getting used to after a 5 year break from study but I'm getting back into the swing of it now with my end of year exams a little over a month away.
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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Being a 'normal' undergrad student, having the best of both worlds experience, money and Uni qualification sounds appealing. That way, you continue to have the things you already may do i.e. flat, car but still progress your career qualification wise without struggling.
The only think I'd be concerned about, as mentioned, is the Uni work/work work all at once. And 5 years is a long time to put up with that.
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Mad Moe
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Registered: 14th Jun 01
Location: Northumberland
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The work load actually isn't to bad you just need to starting planning early as deadlines sharp creep up on you. One thing I've learnt since goiing back is you can never start doing an assignment or revision too early
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
User status: Offline
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Tell me about it. Uni full time is like that as well.
I, for some reason, can't do assignments early. I'm just not motivated. I don't leave it too late. Just one day, I'll suddenly be motivated and do it.
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Mad Moe
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Registered: 14th Jun 01
Location: Northumberland
User status: Offline
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It's taken me best part of a year to get my head around planning my time effectively. Started using tasks and calendar in outlook to try of force me to set aside time
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Simon
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Registered: 24th Apr 03
Location: Oxfordshire
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Im working pretty much full time at the moment but have day release which actaully works out at two half days to go into uni and finish my architecture degree. I have hardly any free time, I have got deadlines coming up so im working harder than usual but evenings and weekends are taken up mainly by uni work which is the last thing you want to do after a week at work. 5 years of it would be pretty hard going but sure it would be worth it, it can be done if your good about it and time manage.
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
User status: Offline
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Simon, that seems to be the tough thing with the scenario.
However, as the work will be paying for it and you'll still be potentially earning a decent wage, you could look at it as if, when you're doing your Uni work, you're still getting paid for it, and it's part of the job.
The tough thing with Uni full time/not supported by employer is that you work part-time to live, then when Uni work gets tough, you have the mentality (well, I know I do) that instead of doing this, I could be earning money.
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Simon
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Registered: 24th Apr 03
Location: Oxfordshire
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My work are pretty good with it, its an architects practice im at so they are giving me a over a week off before the deadline to finish of the work. If its in their interest for you to do well then they should do things like that for you. It can be frustrating though when you know a load of work you need to do but you just cant find the hours to do it. I know exactly what im doing when I get home but I have to sit here till 5:30 till I can do anything about it.
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Bram
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Registered: 25th Mar 02
Location: Derby
User status: Offline
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Mine will be fully supported by work, just not sure that it isn't going to wreck my work/life balance
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