Back to Higher Education: Pros and Cons

I just thought I'd write a quick post about the things I have found most difficult and most enjoyable about going back into higher education. I am taking the LLM International Law, Globalisation and Development taught course at Oxford Brookes, part time.

The Downsides:

1. Budget, budget, budget. Studying part time means only working part time and this can put a strain on finances. I wouldn't recommend starting a course without a savings cushion just in case the course work builds up and you want to take some time off work to get on top of it. Part time is a two year commitment at most universities so it is important to be prepared for that.

2. Tick Tock. Time management skills are pushed to the extreme. Considering the hours you are expected to put into each module to get the most out of it (pushing full-time for a part-time student!), it is a challenge to balance university, work and other commitments. But don't forget that time off is important too!

3. Commute. I am fortunate enough that I have to drive against rush hour traffic, but the commute is still not ideal. Public transport is unfortunatly so unreliable (and expensive) that I gave up on it after the first month even though driving means getting nothing done for an hour. All is not lost. I use my communte to relax, put some music on and enjoy the countryside (fingers crossed for sun).

 The sun doesn't always shine.

The Ups:

1. The Brain High. I love to learn. I especially love to learn from people who are passionate about their subject and that's exactly what I am getting from this course. But it's not just in the lectures and the seminars, it's in everything you do for the course, all the reading, all the research, all the arguments to work out and get down on paper. It's all an opportunity to learn.

2. It's a Melting Pot: There is such a fantastic variety of people on the course who all bring their different perspectives to the table. Some have experience in law, others have experience in other fields. Our cohort is lucky enough to be made up of classmates of so many different nationalities and from so many cultural and academic backgrounds. There is a wealth of varied experience and everyone is generous with their knowedge.

3. Mental fist bump moments. The sense of achievement when you grasp a concept, put things together or get back a good grade for a challenging essay is undeniable. Yes the work is challenging, but where's the fun if it's easy.

But oh my! The shiny, shiny old books!

Formal taught programmes aren't for everyone. They will certainly test your work ethic and time management skills. But for me it's a challenge worth taking on. The benefits I have reaped from it so far show me that. I go on, looking forward to the next semester, starting my dissertation in earnest and learning about international human rights law and corporate social responsibility.