Can you hold a job while you earn your Masters?

    Tuesday, 5 January 2021



    Whether you decide to earn your masters degree online through distance learning or in person through a traditional, on-campus program, you will be signing up for an important commitment. 

    Any full-time Masters Program is both an exciting step in one’s professional and academic career as well as an important financial and time commitment. Both Online Masters and Traditional Masters require serious effort and commitment. 

    In general, Online Master’s Degrees are more flexible and allow you to structure your online class time around your preexisting personal and professional commitments. However, some Traditional Master’s Degrees that are taught in-person on campus are also offered with flexible structures. If you are set on learning in-person and working full-time, then keep your eye out for the words “Part-Time” or “Weekend-Only” when it comes to finding the right Masters program. 

    Are interested in a Masters but not yet sure if you will be working full or part-time while you earn your degree? Consider the following.

    Take some time to yourself and reflect on the following:

    • Is a job worth taking time away from my university studies?
    • Is a job worth taking time away from any on-campus activities?
    • Are there career-related work opportunities available near campus?
    • Will the job violate any school or master’s degree rules or requirements?
    • Will the job add more stress or relieve it?

    Is a job worth taking time away from my university studies?

    Any full-time Masters program will require that students dedicate a huge amount of focus and energy to their education. For master’s students to do well in class, they will need to stay on top of a dense amount of reading assignments. Masters students cannot be anything less than fully prepared for classroom discussions. 

    Sometimes, taking on a new job commitment can act as a distraction and put you at a disadvantage particularly if it is your first semester or year of grad school.

    Working a job can make more sense for students who are in part-time Masters programs. However, students must always be highly conscious of the time and attention they take away from their masters education and put towards their job.

    Is a job worth taking time away from any on-campus activities?

    Top universities in Australia will offer huge opportunities for master’s students to participate in outside of class. 

    If you are making the commitment to attend a traditional masters degree in person, know that it is up to you to make sure you take full advantage of the wealth of on-campus resources that your university provides.

    Neglecting on-campus opportunities may lead to you failing to open doors you will never know existed. Think about the opportunity cost of the time you spend working off campus.

    Are there career-related work opportunities available near campus?

    If you can find career-related work near campus, perhaps you can earn money while also boosting your resume while boosting your professional experience. 

    See if you can find career-related job options with part-time or temporary commitments.

    Will the job violate any school or masters program rules or requirements?

    Some universities and masters programs require students to respect certain rules regarding outside work commitments during a graduate program.

    Check in with the program that you are thinking about and make sure that a job will not result in the loss of any financial aid or even your full-time or part-time status as a masters degree student.

    Will the job add more stress or relieve it?

    Full-time masters are huge commitments, and they can result in a lot of physical and intellectual exhaustion. It is all too likely that a high-pressure job will contribute to major burnout during the course of your postgraduate career. 

    Many masters students consider finding part-time work that may not be directly related to their field of study but gives them a chance to exercise their creative hobbies or partake in enjoyable activities. Flexible hour jobs can be a good fit for master’s degree students.

    A job may help to relieve stress if finances are something that you are seriously worried about, and if financial aid is not enough to cover the costs. It is ultimately up to you to find the balance between dedicating yourself full-time to your master’s degree education and finding a job that both pays well and does not add to your burnout.