thread: Masters: How Much Study Time Per Unit?

  1. #1
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    Apr 2007
    Recently treechanged to Woodend, VIC
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    Masters: How Much Study Time Per Unit?

    So I want to enrol for a Masters but don't want to overstretch myself as I'd promised myself a fair bit of fluffing around time (need to finish decorating the house, getting the garden sorted, solving the Middle East crisis ) this year.

    I plan on studying part-time distance but wondering how much time I would need to devote per unit.

    Basically the girls will be in care for two days per week but I can't devote all that time to study as it will also be spent cleaning, running errands, cooking etc. as well as fluffing with aforementioned stuff.

    Another mum I know said that she needed two days, plus every night plus virtually the entire weekend but I think she also said she was trying to finish her degree asap. That amount of time scares the bejesus out of me because DP often isn't here at nights or weekends so by the time I've finished doing the dinner, bath, bed thing with the girls my brain feels fried.

    Interesting in hearing how much (or little) time people devote to study.

  2. #2
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    Apr 2007
    Recently treechanged to Woodend, VIC
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    just bumping

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Jul 2008
    Melbourne
    3,244

    i think it depends somewhat on the course (whether it needs lots of reading, has assigments spread over the semester or all comes down to one exam etc).

    when i was doing my masters i had classes 2 nights a week for about 3 hours on each evening. on top of this i needed to set aside maybe an hour per night for reading. the time needed upped considerably whenever there were assignments due. mine was on campus & we had a number of group assignments so i often spent a few hours on weekends meeting with my group to work on the assignment.

    this was doing the course part time - 2 subjects per semester. i don't know how i would have coped with children but as a guide - i was still playing hockey (once a week), coaching a junior hockey team (training one night, game another night) & working full time as well as going to the footy through winter . for me, the key was setting aside some time each day/night to do my reading, otherwise i got so far behind it was difficult to catch up.

    i'd love to study again - just can't think what at the moment!!

    good luck

  4. #4
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    Mar 2008
    still on the teaching contract roundabout
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    I planned to average about 5 hrs per week per subject when I did my masters via dist ed.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk so sorry if I'm confusing you

  5. #5
    BellyBelly Member

    Jan 2010
    2,793

    I know this is really late, but depending on whether or not you have started yet, this might help you. I studied my Masters in Special Education externally. Due to being external, I had lots of readings to do as I couldn't just sit in a lecture and be 'talked at' to get a lot of the information. Most weeks I'd probably spend 5-10 hours per subject studying. For about 3-4 weeks before an assignment was due, I'd probably spend 10-15 hours per week (per subject).

  6. #6
    Registered User

    May 2007
    3,220

    I'm doing masters of social work. I study about 4 hrs a week for 2 subjects last year, but one of those subjects was very familiar to me. Doing 2 this year. Not sure how I wil go....

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Jul 2007
    melb
    8,498

    I am doing another post grad dip. And It is all online and I have LOTS of readings today that is very time consuming as well as activities for the modules and assisgments and research for them as well as placements. Last year I had 1 subject per semester, this semester I have 2 subjects and next semester will have 1.

    I have kids in CC 1 day a week so I can do placements, and I need to do uni work in evenings and weekends (when not working). Each module take about 4 - 6 hours work and thats without essay work and research for it.

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Sep 2009
    743

    I'm doing teaching. I spend about 10 per week per subject. Lots and lots of reading and 2 assignments plus an exam per subject per semester. It's full on.