Currently considering it, or an MRes/MPhil. Completed my undergraduate degree in a subject which is typically more of a postgraduate specialism/conversion course from the wider subject. Thus I don’t think a taught postgrad would actually add terribly much compared to my original undergrad.
Probably going to reach out to one or two prospective supervisors in the new year for a starting conversation. I have a vague idea of a topic but it certainly needs more work before a formal proposal.
It would need to be part time though, and a part time PhD looks like a very long slog. At least research degree fees seem around £2500pa, compared to the often sky high costs for a taught MSc/MBA.
Depending on your current employment status - and of course your employer’s staff training policy - if you can prove how the course would benefit you AND your emplyer - they MAY considering either part of fully funding the fees - and MAY allow you company time to complete it.
Your employer MAY even foot the cost of part or all of your course - with there being NO direct correlation to your employment - but sign you up for a period of contractual employment to repay the cost on a sliding scale…
Lastly - They may consider offering you an interest free loan to cover the cost of the fees and repaid over time etc…
also a PSB reminder that the levels stated in the opening post are the English & Welsh ones - specification of educational levels is devolved, so in Scotland:
Highers (~AS level): Level 6
Advanced Highers (~A level): Level 7
HND: Level 8
Ordinary degree (these are actually rare: typically what you get by not meeting all the requirements of a “standard” degree): Level 9 (*)
Honours Degree: Level 10
Masters: Level 11
* it’s actually even more complicated than this - it’s also possible to be awarded a Certificate (Level 7) or Diploma (Level 8) of Higher Education, depending on the number of credits gained - but these are even rarer. Note that the English framework doesn’t have a direct equivalent to Level 9.
First module completed and scores finally back too!
This was my first module at a higher level for about a decade, so I’ve been pleased to cap it off at a 65 - strongly in the middle of the “Merit” banding - with a 70, 68 & 61 score in each of the assignments.
Hopefully with more time and practice again, those scores will improve further and I’ll be able to target a Distinction. I’m weighing up targeting a Doctoral Training Partnership offer, and a Distinction makes an offer more likely.