Taking uni courses while being a growed up

anksta

anksta

anksta

Soldato
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19 Jan 2005
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As some of you know I'm trying to become a screenwriter, I've had some progress but without an agent and the contacts that come along with having done a filmschool degree, I'm quickly approaching a point where I'm out of ideas.

I'm still writing, still submitting and getting good feedback but getting the whole 'foot in the door' thing is still proving somewhat of a challenge so my next idea is a screenwriting MA.

I've had a look at a few going on in London, general idea is part time, 2 years and they cost around 3 grand.

Has anyone done anything like this before? Not necessarily screenwriting just a degree while they're working full time?

I'm not a particular fan right now of my current job but if I was to start something like I would probably need to keep it but there isn't much info on day to day life on these courses in terms of hours involved etc. can you do these things while holding down full time jobs or is a part time course equivalent to a part time job?

Any input would be appreciated.
 
If you want to do it that much then go for it. Life is all about taking risks.

Btw check the thread title :p
 
I did a Quantity Surveying Consultancy Degree at Kingston as a mature student (started at 22) one day a week for five years, there will be other mature students on the course an you will fall in with them as you won't have the same interests as the full timers, also after a year they move on you don't.

A large majority of top grades were given to the mature students and most of the drop outs will be the full timers, our class started with 60, people sitting in the aisles and on windows cills and at the final classes there can't have been 20, 30 turned up for the exams
 
Spenty said:
If you want to do it that much then go for it. Life is all about taking risks.

Btw check the thread title :p
Click to expand...

Yeah I did that on purpose mate, I am a writer.

Anyway, thanks for the support. I've just sent off a load of other writing but I'm quickly approaching the end of my tether, amount of BS in the rest of my life and writing is a lifeline to me but if I can't break in on my own then I'd gladly spend the next 2 years doing a screenwriting MA.

Only 2 problems are I want to stay in London to do it and I might as well keep my job to do it.
 
I am currently working + studying for an undergraduate degree in London part time.

It is hard work, just like a normal degree.
In my case, my degree is not particularly related to the work I do day-to-day which makes it a little tougher.

I am surprised that you can get a Screenwriting MA for 3k.
My friend just started an Art History MA, which is costing her 15k this year (full time).
 
I am currently looking at doing an MSc in a some what related field to my job, although would provide a bit of a change of career.

I work full time so my options are really either 2 years part time (attend 1 week per semester at the uni) or 4 years purely distance learning.

If I obtained the required funds I would consider taking a year out and doing the MSc in 1 year full time.
 
I did a PG Dip (MSc minus the final research unit) via the OU while working full time, took me 3 years. If you work an office job then I found studying during your lunch break helps as it reduces the impact on your free time outside of work.
 
Am I the only one thinking that a degree in screenwriting wouldn't be much of a benefit, unless you were totally new to the field. If you can't find the right people already then I doubt having a vague MA will be much help.

As for studying when you're an adult. I'm all for it, age shouldn't stop people studying.
 
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