Turn work-study-life balance from a tightrope walk into a well-choreographed dance with UniSQ's flexible postgraduate programs.
Dreaming of up-skilling with a postgrad degree but dreading the monumental task of balancing your current job, personal commitments, and study? We get it. Most of us can’t afford to take time away from work to pursue an additional degree and the thought of adding homework to an already bursting schedule seems like a recipe for disaster. That’s why we created flexible postgraduate programs, so you can have your cake, eat it, and still have time to write that dissertation!
The benefits of balancing work and study to pursue a postgraduate qualification
Balancing work and study may seem daunting at first, but the rewards are well worth it for a variety of reasons.
Improved career opportunities
A postgraduate qualification can help you leapfrog the corporate ladder while you're still earning your current salary. As you gain advanced skills in your chosen field, you're more likely to catch the eye of your boss during promotion season.
Increased earning potential
And let's not beat around the bush – postgraduate education often equates to higher pay. With your shiny new credentials, you can negotiate a better salary, either with your current employer or at a future job. And a postgraduate degree opens the door to a far higher salary ceiling.
Improved time management skills
Of course, juggling work and study can be a challenge, but it's also an opportunity to become a time-management ninja. These skills are invaluable, both at work and in life, and will leave you equipped to handle future challenges with ease.
Personal growth and development
Even better, the journey of learning to balance work and study can lead to tremendous personal growth. You'll build resilience, discipline, and a newfound belief in your capabilities, all of which are priceless in the workplace and beyond.
How UniSQ's flexible postgraduate programs support those wanting to study while working
At UniSQ, we understand the challenges of a busy professional life and know how few people can really afford to slash their household budget in the short term to pursue full-time study, even though that sacrifice would lead to a higher income in the future. That's why our postgraduate programs are designed to offer maximum flexibility and support working professionals to up-skill in a variety of ways.
Part-time and online study options
The most obvious ways to juggle education and work are to choose part-time study and cut out travel time by studying online. Unfortunately, many institutions that allow part-time and/or online study aren’t really set up to help students thrive under those conditions.
UniSQ is different.
We have over 40 years of experience delivering distance learning. So, over decades, we’ve honed our processes to ensure our students can learn just as well online. And the proof is in the pudding. More than 80% of our postgraduate students study online, so you know we’ve got that aspect of flexible education delivery down-pat.
We also offer part-time options, meaning you can balance your commitments while working towards your degree, no matter how much time you have available.
The long and the short of it is you're not alone in this journey. Many of our students are in the same boat, successfully navigating the waters of work and prioritising time to study, thanks to our part-time and online study options.
Flexible courses
Part-time and online study options are incredibly valuable when you want to study while employed, but we haven’t just stopped there. We’ve also built our programs to be incredibly flexible. For example, you can visit your online classroom from anywhere, at any time. And you can increase or decrease your study load to account for fluctuations in your other commitments, so you can take fewer subjects when things are a bit hectic and enrol in more subjects when life allows.
Credit for prior learning
At UniSQ, we value your experience. Our recognition of prior learning policy can potentially reduce the number of units you need to take, meaning you can use your past experiences to get ahead in your degree and complete it faster — without having to increase your study load.
Support for working professionals
We also offer an array of support services for working professionals. From academic mentorship to counselling, we're here to ensure you're supported throughout your journey.
Strategies for balancing work and study while pursuing UniSQ postgraduate study
Pursuing postgraduate studies while juggling work and personal commitments is an achievable goal, especially with the right strategies. Here are some effective ideas that you might find helpful.
Create a study schedule
A realistic study schedule that complements your work commitments is crucial. Allocate specific time slots for study and stick to them. And remember, it's okay to take a break sometimes. In fact, your study schedule should include breaks so you’re not constantly finding yourself falling behind your expectations because you’ve been taking breaks.
Prioritise tasks and responsibilities
Effective task prioritisation is essential. Not all tasks are created equal. Learn to distinguish between what's urgent, what’s important, and what can wait. The important thing to note here is that important things aren’t always immediately urgent, and the things that are ‘due’ imminently aren’t always the most important things. Sometimes you might need to ask for an extension on coursework due dates in order to fit things in, and that’s okay. Just remember to talk to your course coordinator early on so they know any extension requests aren’t due to disorganisation.
Make the most of free time
Every minute counts, so it’s important to use your free time wisely when you’re studying and working. For example, can you listen to lecture recordings during your commute? Or maybe get some reading done during lunch breaks? Also, new productivity technologies are being released all the time, so consider exploring tools that may help you learn more efficiently.
Maintaining healthy habits
Remember to look after your wellbeing. A balanced diet, regular exercise, and adequate sleep can boost your performance both at work and in your studies. Many students are tempted to stay up late to get in extra study or skip their regular physical activities during exam time or when assignments are due, but these strategies often actually result in reduced productivity and degraded performance.
Seeking support from family, friends, and UniSQ
Don't be afraid to ask for help. Whether it's from family, friends, or our support services at UniSQ, remember you're not alone on this journey.
For example, iConnect is our dedicated platform for all your questions about balancing work and study. And we have student success advisors who can provide support and advice throughout your journey at UniSQ.
If you need someone to help with childcare or need some financial or hardship assistance, we have dedicated resources to help you. And if you’re keen to master postgraduate study material faster, so you can better manage your available time, we host Peer-Assisted 精东传媒app Sessions where you can work with your course-mates to further your learning. There’s other dedicated study support as well.
One of the most challenging parts of studying while working can be finding time to maintain your physical and mental wellbeing. So, our wellness resources are some of the most popular support services among our postgraduate students.
We offer many other support services as well, so be sure to explore them. You’re bound to find services that exactly fit your needs at every point in your postgraduate study journey.
Embrace the future: Your journey starts with UniSQ
Balancing work and study may seem like a tall order, but with UniSQ's flexible postgraduate programs, it's more achievable than you might think. Remember, you're not just earning a degree – you're improving your career prospects, boosting your earning potential, and growing as an individual. So why wait? Explore the possibilities with UniSQ today and take control of your future. Trust us, you've got this!
