Today’s job market is highly competitive and challenging. To prove your metal, one has to exhibit why you outshine in the crowd of thousands of job applicants. Higher education has increasingly become necessary for anyone seeking career advancement. And in today’s dynamic environment, just a bachelor’s degree may not suffice to get the top jobs. A master’s degree in your specialization will help expand your knowledge base and experience required to make your next career move or get the promotion.
Photo credit: Unsplash.com
The benefit of a master’s degree to you in 2023
Everyone has their reasons to pursue a master’s programme. Here are some popular ones:
1. Shield against recession and job cuts
Once you equip yourself with master’s degree knowledge and skills, you level yourself above the rest of the employees. The employer will choose the employees who are better qualified and experienced should the situation of job cuts arises. One can better their chances of sustaining their jobs and ensure job security by creating value for the company.
One can better their chances of sustaining their jobs and ensure job security by creating value for the company.
2. Building a vast professional network
While studying for a master’s, one of the benefits is that you get to interact with like-minded professionals. One gets to know people from different cultures, intellects, and business acumen from across the world. The connections you make are made from the standpoint of mutual learning and growth, which usually are impossible to make at the workplace due to competition and professional jealousy. These connections last forever.
3. Potential of earning a higher salary package
Depending on your field – a master’s degree usually means the potential of earning a higher compensation package. Being a master’s degree graduate, you can negotiate your pay package on your terms. Employers recognise the value you bring to the table and are willing to offer compensation dollars ($$) accordingly.
4. Better probability of promotions
Having a master’s degree betters your chances for that promotion at work by raising your bar to the top candidates running in the competition. So, if you are aware of any arising opportunity for promotions at your workplace in 2023, start your application for a master’s degree now.
5. Advanced knowledge
You maybe are the head of the department running the show for the company in sales, finance, supply chain, marketing, commercial law or artificial intelligence. One feels the need for new ideas to run a business efficiently and increase profitability by implementing new/better business processes. Beyond a point, one needs to learn management and leadership skills to be a better manager and effective leader. Such knowledge can be acquired by furthering your horizon with a master’s degree.
I can extend another reason for you to start a master’s programme in 2023 with the special fee promotion. You can now join a master’s programme with a deposit of just 500 CHF. Also, benefit from discounts up to 2,100 CHF. You can connect with our education advisors on WhatsApp for a live chat to learn about the application process for intakes starting in January 2023.
What is your reason for starting a master’s in 2023? Share in the comment section below, and get started with the next steps now!
As a former Education advisor, if I had to pick one of the most frequently asked questions by prospective students, it would be “How many hours do I need to study?”
The vast majority (if not all) of our students are working and leading hectic professional lives. Some are motivated and have already decided to undertake a master’s, while others contemplate the unknowns of an online programme. In my experience, two things affect their decision the most.
First – finances, and second, being able to strike the perfect work, study, and life balance. While I cannot completely help you with the finances (partially yes – check out the discount offers currently being offered on our online MBA, MSc, and LL.M programmes), I thought what I could do to help was to bring some facts to light about the other unknowns – what does a typical day in the life of an online master’s student look like?
Today, we’re looking at overview of one of RKC’s student typical day who is taking MBA Learsership and Management, offered in exclusive partnership with York St. John University.
An Introduction
Which programme did you choose and why?
I am studying MBA Leadership and Management. I chose it because I am a finance professional but work with the Operations unit which oversees the running of the office. And leadership and Management skills are required be able to manage people.
The Study Plan
How did you plan to study each module, and what was the reality? How many hours did/do you have to put in each day/or in a week?
The course is conducted online. I mostly study on weekends and sometimes week days in the office when everyone has left. I usually listen to lectures and make my own notes from them. In total, I put in more than 10 hours a week, as I also have to do research and listen to the videos over and over, alongwith reading relevant text books.
What part of the day did/do you find most suitable to study? (e.g. early mornings, lunch break, evenings, weekends?)
On weekends I would study early mornings and also late evenings. On weekdays, I preferred studying late evenings after work in the office when everyone would leave. I usually stay back for at least 2 hours.
In total, I put in more than 10 hours a week
How much time did you devote for each assignment?
Quite some time you need to do proper research and also understand your subject matter for you to be able to get a pass mark. So I had to drop out some social commitments and devote more time to my studies.
Travelling and Communication
Did you travel for work? How did travelling impact your ability to study?
I am studying online so travelling did not impact me.
How were you able to interact with peers and/or professors given the time differences?
There was a module that required a group interaction and my fellow students lived in two different time zones. But we were able to agree on a time that we could meet. Time differences did not affect my interaction with my professors as they always responded to me in time and they could be reached whenever need be.
A typical day as a master’s student
What does a typical day as an Online Masters’ student look like for you?
A typical day for me starts early at about 5:30am on weekends with me going to our OnlineCampus listening to videos and reading the online materials. On week days it also starts at 5:30am and getting ready for work. I usually work till 6:00pm and after I finish, would study for 2 hours, sometimes more in the office.
Any advice?
Any advice you have for students to better plan their studies.
The best advice I can give to students is
1. Find a time in the day for up to 2 hours that you can concentrate on just your studies
2. Reduce social activities especially if you are working and studying at the same time
3. Try to ask a lot of questions to your professor if you don’t understand the instructions given for an assignment. I had to retake a module because I misunderstood the instruction.
4. Find a fellow student within the course you are doing, with who you can discuss few topics for better understanding.
5. Learn to submit assignment 2-3 days before the deadline. You might get unexpected internet challenge uploading your assignment at the last minute and miss the deadline by few minutes which will make you get a capped mark.
Guochang used reading tools, as Acrobat for reading, Zotero for note…
All right, so this was a sneak peek of a typical day in life as a master’s student. I hope you find it insightful and informative and that it gives you an idea of what to expect when you enrol for our master’s programmes. Watch this space as we have many more interesting insights always!
Sometimes we do not know what we want in life. How do we change our plans into actions to develop our careers? When is the best time to enrol for a master’s programme?
As it is said, opportunity knocks only once. And when opportunity knocks on your door, always be willing to take a chance. You never know how perfect something could be or when the next opportunity will arise.
Sometimes instead of waiting, you have to create the right opportunity for yourself. One should look for the universe’s signs pointing to any arising opportunities.
One such opportunity is receiving higher education. Studying for a master’s can be a life-changing event and sometimes even the best decision one can make. While it may sound great and exciting, studying for a master’s requires a unique kind of resilience, commitment, dedication, and drive to complete the programme. Time-sensitive assignments, group discussions, researching, dissertation submission – your strengths will be tested on many levels.
Photo credit: Pexels.com
Whether a fresh undergrad or a seasoned professional, the decision to start a master’s is always excruciating. But here are five signs that you are ready to take the leap:
Stagnation in current career/job role
Working in the same role and doing the same job every day becomes mundane. Self-motivated people feel less challenged at work, and their level of job satisfaction declines drastically. Studying for a master’s brings new focus and challenge to an otherwise dull routine.
You have clear goals
You always wanted to obtain a prestigious master’s degree and add another feather to your hat. Some people plan and define their career path in an early stage of their life, knowing exactly when they will start working, when they will study for their master’s, get married and even when they will have a baby.
You are ready and keen for the academic challenge
Despite busy work and home schedules, you are an avid reader and keep yourself abreast of the latest happenings worldwide. You have been actively researching the field you want to study for your master’s, reading textbooks, and reaching out to current students and alums to understand the academic challenge a master’s programme poses.
You want to network with like-minded people
One of the benefits that most master’s students look forward to is growing their professional network. Students from all over the world, with varying professional experiences, from different cultures come together to study for a master’s degree. Peer relationships formed during the master’s programme over group discussions, or forum chats, usually last a lifetime! This brings an opportunity to create a truly enriching academic experience.
You are ready for the time investment
Sometimes people keep the idea of studying for a master’s at bay simply because of time constraints. Job, family, and social commitment abstain you from committing yourself to the study environment. When you are focused on developing yourself academically and have set aside time, it is the right time to enrol for a master’s programme.
So, in summary, a desire to learn more, earn more and advance more could be your sign to enrol for a master’s programme today.
If you feel this is the right time for you to do a master’s degree, then look at our list of 100% online master’s degree programmes and see if we have anything you are interested in doing.
You can also chat LIVE on WhatsApp with one of our Education Advisors for more information on the programme that is right for you, the application process, and details on discounts we might be offering at this time.
In one of our most popular blog series featuring our female students, we asked our students to share their experiences with us – the challenges of getting back to school, managing work and study along with family, and the unique challenges they faced being female students.
Darija is a graduate of our MA programme in Leading Innovation and Change (MALIC) through our exclusive partnership with York St John University, UK. This programme has been discontinued and reincarnated as a 100% online MBA programme in Leading Innovation and Change.
“The MALIC program was the enabler to put all the puzzle pieces together that I had acquired in my working life. It made all things very logical and made me understand all the interactions even better.
I enjoyed the learning journey a lot! Since it is an online course, I really liked the freedom to learn in my pace and time.
The residency week was just great! Not only the learning but the people made it very special! It was wonderful to meet new friends from all over the world.
I cannot imagine any program to be more international than MALIC is! This aspect brings in fantastic personalities and perspectives.
Thank you to all who made this learning such a fun journey!”
Darija Barrech, Managing Director – Culcha gmbh, Zurich, Switzerland and an alumnus of Robert Kennedy College
Darija Barrech, Managing Director – Culcha gmbh, Zurich, Switzerland and an alumnus of Robert Kennedy College
An Introduction
Who are you, really (How do you define yourself? Professionally, personally?)?
My home is where my heart is. That describes me quite well. I am 1 of 4 children of my Croatian mother and my Pakistani father. I was born in Germany and grew up in Pakistan. At 15, I returned to Germany for further education. So maybe now you know why I ended up in HR :). I love people, I breathe change, I innovate, and I am culture… After heading HR for a multinational medical device company, I wanted to give some “fresh air” to my brain. I had been looking for a program for over a year. After completing MALIC, I founded my own company (www.culcha.world), where I consult organisations in the area of organisational culture, leadership and change. Since August 2017, I have been a mom of our daughter Aviva which is another BIG learning and blessing in life. For almost 10 years, my husband and I have been living in Switzerland – which is a lovely and beautiful country.
Getting back to education
Photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash.
Your story of getting back to do a Master’s degree
What was the driving force behind your enrolling for an online degree? Who inspired you? What motivated you?
After heading HR for a multinational medical device company, I wanted to give some “fresh air” to my brain. I had been looking for a program for over a year. My husband, who saw an advertisement for the MALIC program in an aeroplane magazine, made me aware of it. The program was THE PERFECT FIT for me. It was blended, and the topics were spot on.
What were the thoughts/situations/people/challenges holding you back from starting (if any)? How did you overcome them?
Nothing.
What surprised you the most when you started your studies?
One thing I had never anticipated or thought of while looking for a good program was the mix of students. We were around 40 students in my cohort and “only” 4 where from Europe – the others coming from all over the world! I really made friends for life!
Do you feel there are unique challenges women face when deciding to get back into education?
When I started MALIC, I was without children but in a challenging job. From today´s perspective, I can imagine starting a program like MALIC could be very challenging in terms of time capacity (if you have children). Of course, like everything in life, it’s a question of priorities. Another thought might be in the direction of other national/geographical cultures… I could imagine that women in certain geographies might have the wish to conduct such a program but do not have the financial or family backing to do so.
Getting the degree
Photo by Mohammad Shahhosseini on Unsplash.
The work to get the degree – what did you learn, how did you balance, what would you do differently
Which programme did you do? Why?
MALIC, the program was THE PERFECT FIT for me. It was blended and the topics where spot on. I liked the focus on change, leadership, culture, strategy and innovation.
What is the single most important thing you learned during the programme?
That I can learn everything, I want!
How did you balance work and studies?
Discipline and backing from my husband.
Any particular challenges to being a woman and studying online, or do you think all students face the same ones?
I do not see any particular challenges women face other than in time and/or culture/geography.
Life post-degree
Photo by Christopher Gower on Unsplash.
What changed, if anything?
What’s new in your life since graduating/starting your studies? Any visible impact already?
I feel very sure and am very curious about the topics. I still keep learning.
Anything you are doing differently now because of the things you learned?
My way of learning has changed. I have been more academic-driven since MALIC. I more often consult studies when evaluating a topic.
Do you feel that getting a Master’s degree or doing other online programmes can reduce gender discrimination in the workplace?
I don’t think it can.
Advice for other women
Or other students, really.
Imagine you could send a message back in time to your pre-degree self: what would it be?
Why didn’t I do it earlier?!
Imagine you could send an object back in time to your pre-degree self: what would it be?
My MALIC Degree 🙂
Closing thoughts
Anything else you would like to add that could help with the goal of increasing women’s participation/access to a Master’s degree?
Completing MALIC was not only fun and smooth due to the topics, but it just gave me so many AHA moments and it clicked so many things I knew from practical work. It was THE BEST thing to do for me! Of course it is not easy doing such a program next to full time work, family, kids,…. BUT it is worth every minute spend. Professionally I grew by doing MALIC. I founded my own company (www.culcha.world) where I consult organisations in the areas of culture, leadership and change. While being on the residency week in York, we had the opportunity to see the graduates (a year above us). This picture was THE motivator for me to continue and keep on learning when times got tougher.
If this blog has motivated you to challenge yourself and do a master’s degree, then have a look at our list of programmes and see if we have anything you are interested in doing.
You can also chat LIVE on WhatsApp with one of our Education Advisors for more information on the programme that is right for you, the application process, and details on discounts we might be offering at this time.
Here’s another gem of our #dilo (a day in the life of) series featuring our students. We asked some of our past and current students to share their thoughts and opinions and give feedback on how they handled the challenges of online learning.
Learn from those who came before and see if what worked for them will help you become a better student! Hopefully, this will help you to make an informed decision.
An Introduction
Who are you, really?
I am an ambitious 40 (soon to be 41) year old woman, juggling a very demanding job while trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle and continually developing myself on a professional level.
Which programme did you choose and why?
MBA Coaching, Mentoring and Leadership. I manage the HR function of a law firm, and I thought this programme would give me added skills which I can use in my current role.
The Study Plan
How did you plan to study each module, and what was the reality? How many hours did/do you have to put in each day/or in a week?
I tried to watch all the videos and do as much reading as I possibly could during the first three weeks. I always aimed to start writing by week 4. A great piece of advice I got was, “Just start by writing sentences. The more you read, the more you’ll be able to articulate your ideas”. I found the advice to be very true and a good strategy. I would say I dedicated an average of 20 hours a week approximately.
What part of the day did/do you find most suitable to study? (e.g. early mornings, lunch break, evenings, weekends?)
I would stay a couple of extra hours in the evening at work and dedicate that time to my studies. I found that to be easier than coming home and starting again. On the weekends, I would typically dedicate mornings to studying.
How much time did you devote to each assignment?
I honestly cannot quantify that. One particular assignment required a lot more time than others, as it required a lot of practice. So I would say that I dedicated as much time as I could depending on the requirements for each module.
Photo credit: Canva.com
Travelling and Communication
How did travelling impact your ability to study?
My work does not require me to travel, so it was a matter of ensuring that any holidays would be planned in a way that they would not interfere with my studies.
How were you able to interact with peers and/or professors given the time differences?
The online platform makes this pretty easy. Professors are usually quick in replying. I think the residency in York was an essential part of this programme because it made the whole experience real. You realise that most people are struggling with the same issues as you, and keeping in contact with several peers (mainly via Whatsapp) has provided a great support network, especially during dissertation!
A typical day as a master’s student
What does a typical day as an Online Masters’ student look like for you?
Go out for a run first thing in the morning before getting ready for work (currently back in the office 3 days a week). Deal with everything the day throws at me. At the end of the working day, I either spend an extra couple of hours at the office to dedicate to my studies or go home. I would summarise it as busy; however, now that I am in the final stages of this programme, I can honestly say that I would do it all over again. Looking back, I can say that the past two years have gone by very quickly, and all the effort was well worth it.
Photo credit: Canva.com
Any advice?
Any advice you have for students to better plan their studies.
Always give yourself sufficient time to write your assignments, and don’t leave them until the last minute. Read, read and read, as that is the only way you’ll be able to write. If you have a block on some days, that’s fine, pick up the next day, and if you don’t know what to write, it means you haven’t read enough.
I hope this blog has answered some of your questions, and please watch this place for similar blogs. So, if you have been considering doing a master’s degree and now understand how to study better for an online programme, look at our programmes and see if anything interests you.
Our students come from different walks of life. Robert Kennedy College (RKC) takes pride in being a truly international college, with over 7000 students from 140 countries.
Our 100% online programmes have been designed for busy managers. Our students and alums work for many international organisations and top companies from all over the world.
Let me introduce one of the RKC’s proud students – Daniel Blackburn. Daniel is the owner and Managing Director of Blackburn Consulting (Pty) Limited, based in Beau Vallon, Mahe, Seychelles, and is an LLM student. Daniel is currently enrolled in the LL.M International Commercial Law programme offered by the University of Salford (UoS). Daniel chose this programme because he wanted to improve his legal knowledge to become a legal consultant and an expert witness.
Apart from balancing his busy study schedule and demanding professional life, Daniel also participated in the African Excellence Award 2022 to showcase the strength and success of his consultancy in their field of business.
And based on various judging criteria of business performance, longevity, sustained business growth and innovation, Daniel’s firm Blackburn Consulting (Pty) Limited won the “Best Project and Contract Management Company Seychelles” award.
Daniel’s firm Blackburn Consulting (Pty) Limited won the “Best Project and Contract Management Company Seychelles” award.
Thrilled with this achievement, Daniel is chuffed about the recognition and brand exposure his firm will achieve, attracting new customers and employees wanting to work with the best in the industry.
As the winner of the “African Excellence Awards 2022”, Daniel was also invited to take part in the “Africa’s Business Heroes’ Competition”.
About his study experience with Robert Kennedy College, we asked Daniel to tell us more about a typical day as an RKC student.
Daniel has so far completed two modules with success. Each module comprised two assignments, a group assignment and an individual assignment. He devoted 15 to 20 hours per week towards his studies; however, more during his preparation for the assignments (approx. 35 hours). Daniel would spend time early in the morning for studies and then again in the evening. Daniel said, “When I wake up every day, the first thing I do is to check my inbox to see if there is any news in connection with my ongoing course, check the tutor’s posts/guidelines and other information such as classmates’ discussions and forums”.
Daniel Blackburn with ABH logo
Regarding online learning, Daniel says RKC has an effective communication platform, allowing students to contact and receive replies from their tutors/student care/ administration. “For example, if I have any questions or clarifications on any subjects, I always contact my professors by ‘direct questions to the tutors’ or email the student care, and I usually receive the reply within 2 to 3 days.”
Further, Daniel shares that the professors/tutors are proactive course leaders and high-calibre persons. They uploaded several video lectures and a list of helpful reading materials from reputable authors to facilitate the students with their studies.
“During the discussions in forums, I was fascinated with very high-ranking classmates.
This kind of interchange with classmates in forums is fruitful and seen as reflection-on-action, that is, being open to new ideas. Through it, for example, my practice is developing and remaining vibrant. Working on a group assignment helped me learn a lot and discover my weaknesses.
Group and individual assignments enhance my legal knowledge to tackle daily problems/situations (i.e. putting what I learned into practice).”
Based on his experience thus far, Daniel advises current and potential RKC students:
“If you really want something, you’ll make time for it. Prioritise your time to meet your goals. Successful students always focus on the tasks at hand. No doubt time management can help students prioritize wisely and set goals correctly and a set time limit to complete all the tasks/activities.”
A truly inspirational and motivating life story of one of our students, driving success in his career. I am sure you feel inspired enough to take that plunge of investing in education, investing in your future, investing in yourself!
Chat LIVE on WhatsApp with one of our Education Advisors for more information on all the programmes we offer and the application process. For information on discounts, we might be offering at this time.
Have you been asking yourself – What is the best way to study online? Should you do an online programme? How to better manage time when learning online?
Photo by Emily Morter on Unsplash.
These are all questions that we at Robert Kennedy College (RKC) get regularly asked by students looking to join one of our online programmes. Undertaking to do an online master’s degree programme will be an additional commitment to your time and finances, and it is wise to get information beforehand.
Through this continuing series of blog posts, some of our past and current students have shared their experiences, thoughts and opinions and given their feedback on handling some of these choices and situations. This series has fast become one of our most appreciated blog posts. This “day in the life of” series focuses on the challenges and rewards our students derive from doing an online master’s degree with us, and we have been blessed with students who were more than happy to volunteer their time and share their experiences.
Hopefully, this will help you to make an informed decision!
An Introduction
Photo by Rock Staar on Unsplash.
Who are you?
I am Patrick Kyamanywa, a professor of surgery and medical educator heading a health sciences university campus of Kampala International University. I am an active researcher in the fields of human resources for health and injury epidemiology, and socially I am a family man with a large extended family under my care.
Which programme did you choose and why?
I chose the MBALIC. Having been in educational leadership for over 10 years, I found that many higher educational institutions were lagging behind just because of poor leadership. In addition, I was seeking to position myself for even higher leadership opportunities. Therefore, I found it necessary to find and pursue formal leadership training to cement my competencies.
The Study Plan
Plan how you are going to study. Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash.
How did you plan to study each module, and what was the reality? For example, how many hours did/do you have to put in each day/or in a week?
Taking on a demanding program while still serving as a full-time head of an educational institution was a brave move I had to make, although it was not the first time I was doing so. I enrolled for and successfully completed a PCAP at York St. John in 2009, and with this experience, I believed it would still be possible. What has always worked for me is starting my day early when the rest of the world still sleeps. So, for this MBALIC program, I set aside three hours every morning (4am to 7am) and occasionally added an hour or two after work (8pm to 10pm), depending on how the day had treated me. Discipline and consistency paid off, and I am happy that I achieved distinction grades in 3 of the 4 taught modules.
What part of the day did/do you find most suitable to study? (e.g. early mornings, lunch break, evenings, weekends?)
As mentioned above, I am most efficient in the early mornings, and this enables me to produce a piece of work in half the time I would take if I did the same task during working hours.
How much time did you devote to each assignment?
I always started the assignments early in the module. This allowed me to identify and archive relevant resources early enough, and after the first assignment, I had a template to work with. I knew what the expectations of the program were in terms of depth of literature review, quality of critical analysis and arguments required. With this, I was able, at some point, to have two overlapping modules.
Travelling and Communication
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash.
How did travelling impact your ability to study?
Travelling often allowed me more private time. Being away from family and office demands afforded me extra hours during the day, depending on the mission demands, and so I was able to read and write more.
How were you able to interact with peers and/or professors, given the time differences?
The 24/7 forums and the ability to email colleagues and professors personally made it possible to keep in touch on all manner of issues.
A typical day as a master’s student
What does a typical day as an Online master’s student look like for you?
A typical day would start at 4am with 3 hours dedicated to study. I would usually go through the typical working day and then try to find another 2 hours at the end of the day. I tried to fit all office work within the 8am to 6pm working day. I also endeavoured to keep up with my 30 minutes to 45 minutes workout sessions at least three days a week. The workout sessions helped relieve the stress.
Any advice?
Any advice you have for students to better plan their studies?
My honest advice is to carve out protected study time that one can reliably and consistently devote to the program. The second is the need to start early and dig deep with every module and assignment and to ensure that one collaborates with peers and regularly engages in forum discussions.
We at Robert Kennedy College are here to support you through the entire process and encourage you to get in touch with our team of Education Advisors and chat with them Live on WhatsApp if you have any questions about our programmes, fee structure, the application process, or details on discounts we might be offering at this time.
If you have already made up your mind and are ready to apply, then just click here.
Through the #DILO series of blog posts, we have been bringing you insights into the life of our master’s students, sharing their thoughts and opinions, ups and downs, and key learning points during their online studies. The whole idea behind this series is to make you aware of the realities of online studies and aid you in decision making.
This week we take a look at a day in the life of one of our master’s degree student, Tomislava. Here are a few insights and some words of wisdom that Tomislava has to share from her own experience:
There is no better way to learn than from those who came before and see if what worked for them. It will help you become a better student and, hopefully, help you make an informed decision.
Tomislava is a mother of 3 kids and works as an assistant in emergency team at WHO
An Introduction
Who are you?
My name is Tomislava B and I am a mother of 3 kids, 8, 15 and 17. I work at WHO and as a assistant in emergency team who today are fighting the Covid-19 by supplying to the countries in need several essential items like Oxygen, masks, etc. and sending off different vaccines, medicine to be used in solidarity trials in testing and, so much more.
Which programme did you choose and why?
University of Cumbria’s MBA International Healthcare Management programme. I have been offered a job in WHO and I thought it would be good to learn on the subject.
The Study Plan
Photo by Jessica Lewis on Unsplash.
How did you plan to study each module, and what was the reality? For example, how many hours did/do you have to put in each day/or in a week?
I worked in the evenings. I would block minimum 3 hours, reading a lot and getting all information by searching on the subject that I was studying. I did not have any experience, so it was all very new to me . I read every message and comments by students. That helped me a lot. Also asking a lot of questions.😀.
What part of the day did/do you find most suitable to study? (e.g. early mornings, lunch break, evenings, weekends?)
I used to study in the evenings during the week and part of the day in the weekend. But mainly evenings for there were no distractions at that time of the day..
How much time did you devote to each assignment?
Once I would start a topic, I worked on it from the first day without leaving it in the middle. The time was precious, and working and studying at the same time was a great challenge. I also used my lunch time at work for looking what was taught and took few notes. I would do brainstorming by marking on the paper anything that will be useful for my writing.
Travelling and Communication
How did travelling impact your ability to study?
If travelling, I used to take all with me. All my books were online and when I was not travelling, I used my electronics notes. For anything that would come in my thoughts, I would pen it down.
How were you able to interact with peers and/or professors given the time differences?
Evening time worked the best for me. We also formed a WhatsApp group and we could discuss any questions there. Also it was nice to hear different experiences and feedback.
A typical day as a master’s student
What does a typical day as an Online master’s student look like for you?
Getting up for the day, with books all over the place.😀. But, not a mess, as I arranged piles of books by unit and by subject in a very organised manner. I made a pile with different notes by period as to were I was in the writing. It was like building up something slowly but surely the final work was visible. Or like a song strophes by strophes 🎶 .
Any advice?
Any advice you have for students to better plan their studies.
Yes! One has to be very organised and never put anything down for tomorrow. Imagine you are making a wall and you have given yourself a goal to do let’s say half a meter. And you are ready but some other staff comes with more interesting things to do like to go out for a drink with a friend. And you say ok I will do it tomorrow. Tomorrow comes and what is going on? You have not started! You have to do everything that you were going to do yesterday and all that has been added today. You will find it very hard and will not be able to manage the way you would have done, if you had done a little part from yesterday and the part for today. It will demotivate you and tomorrow you will doubt etc.
So stay on track and do little by little but every day . Read everything and comments given by professor and by classmates is something not to be ignored! You will see that any question you have, you will find an answer in the precious discussions.
We at Robert Kennedy College are here to support you through the entire process and encourage you to get in touch with our team of Education Advisors and chat with them Live on WhatsApp if you have any questions about our programmes, fee structure, the application process, or details on discounts we might be offering at this time.
If you have already made up your mind and are ready to apply, then just click here.
Planning is imperative in every step of your master’s studies. Lot of thought process goes into deciding which specialization you choose for the masters, which university you want to apply to, when you want to start, how to finance master’s and planning the support from family and work to successfully complete the programme.
Once you are past this stage of planning, having enrolled and started with induction module, comes the next stage of planning – planning for the studies for the next 1-3 years, until you finish the programme. You may encounter lot of bottlenecks, confusions, and/or lack of ideas, apprehensions while planning for the studying the master’s programme.
It is not just about creating schedule but formulating a study plan is lot more comprehensive. A study plan helps define your goals, defines methodology for preparation, and thinking ahead of any possible difficulties in a particular subject (your weaknesses).
Planning is key to success
Before you plan your study plan (pun intended), take the following into consideration:
What is your lifestyle like?
Evaluate your learning style and habits
Study your daily schedule at work and home
Note what times of the day you have free time
How many modules will you be studying at a time?
Which subjects are your strengths and seem easier to study than the ones you dread the most?
Plan how much time you would require reading study material and preparing for assignments
Creating conducive study environment, family, peer and professor’s support
After careful analysis of above pointers, you should be able to formulate a master study plan and pledge to follow it through.
Here are five reasons how a study plan helps you plan better for master’s studies:
1. Improved productivity
Keeping on schedule will help you know what is expected out of you every day and at what time. Without a plan you will loose focus and be everywhere without reaching anywhere. You can prioritise the high importance activities
2. Better stress management
When you are studying for master’s, you will be juggling with work, home and, study balance constantly. And as our alumni always advice that there will be stressful times, but it’s all about how you manage it. There will one too many instances when you must send that urgent report at work, spend time with your spouse, kids, and pets and moreover, read the study material and prepare for assignment.
Study plan will help you stay on track and meticulously complete all tasks in time.
3. Time management
All our students and alumni cannot stress enough on the importance of time management. Most popular advice given is – to start early and do not procrastinate. Setting a study plan in place is very effective in avoiding any time wastage and better utilization of this very limited resource – time!
Utilize the limited resources like time effectively
4. Assignment preparation
At RKC, there is no formal examination system. Assessments are done based on assignments. There is a lot of groundwork that goes in preparation and submission of assignments. This includes, and is not limited to, studying the course material, other reference materials, following the discussion on OnlineCampus forum etc. If you have planned what activity you will follow at what time, then it will become a process rather than a burden
Prepare for the unexpected
Life is unpredictable. There is always nice to have a back-up plan for any unforeseen situations. A study plan makes you better equipped to face such challenges and you will be able to navigate your way out of small or big troubles, quickly and easily
We offer personalized study plan that gives you a head start on how the modules are planned over the full-time or part-time schedule.
Here is a sample personalized study plan for the York St John University’s MBA Leading Innovation and Change:
Continuing with our popular blog series that answers some of the questions we at Robert Kennedy College (RKC) get asked frequently by students looking to join one of our online programmes, we asked some of our past and current students to share their thoughts and opinions, to give their feedback on how they handled the challenges of online learning. Hopefully, this will help you to make an informed decision.
Let’s learn from those who came before and see if what worked for them will help you become a better student!
An Introduction
Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash.
Who are you?
My name is Khuong Ho Thi Uyen, a Robert Kennedy College and University of Cumbria MBA student.
Which programme did you choose and why?
I am working in the healthcare industry – medical devices as a leader. Therefore, specialized knowledge is needed. That was why I chose the International Healthcare Management course.
The Study Plan
How did you plan to study each module, and what was the reality? For example, how many hours did/do you have to put in each day/or in a week?
Before the module, I just planned to dedicate the two days of the weekend so that I could save four days per month for learning. However, the reality was messy! My classmates were active in the class forum discussion right after the professor posted the learning theory for each objective and the critical discussion areas. Many responses and comments from classmates were posted every day, including the individual analysis of the learning theory plus sharing their work experiences, all creating a proactive class forum. Therefore, I had to change my plan and re-arrange my life and include every night after work and any free time, if possible, to keep up with the class momentum.
What part of the day did/do you find most suitable to study? (e.g. early mornings, lunch break, evenings, weekends?)
Early mornings, in the evenings after work, and at weekends.
Make sure you are ready with a schedule to maximise your study time. Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash.
How much time did you devote to each assignment?
Usually, at the beginning of each new module, I read through the overall module components, obtained an outlook on how many units per module and, which topic per unit, what was the assignment requirement to think about during the module time. Looking for an assignment topic was important and required more time consumed. Coming to the module’s assignment, I devoted at least a month to completing it.
Travelling and Communication
How did travelling impact your ability to study?
In fact, travelling had a positive impact on my studies. I utilized the waiting time at the airport and the flight time while in the aeroplane to read books, paper, and cases and think about that. Travel helped me refresh my knowledge and gave me the time to consider the subject from different angles, which enabled me to come up with more new ideas and deeply understand the discussion objective.
How were you able to interact with peers and/or professors given the time differences?
It did not matter if we were in a different time zone from each other. We were able to connect directly in the class discussion forums. There was a window for you to leave any message you would like to ask the professor; you were also able to recognize who was online at the same time you were online so that you could connect them via module forum or by email easily as each classmate and professor also had an email which was told to us. Thanks to technology, I experienced that my classmates were prompt in their responses despite being in different time zones. Besides, at the beginning of each module, there was an introduction session, and via that, we set up another class group chat like on WhatsApp.
A typical day as a master’s student
What does a typical day as an Online master’s student look like for you?
It becomes a routine and feels normal to me!
Any advice?
Photo by Medienstürmer on Unsplash.
Any advice you have for students to better plan their studies.
Order recommended books for each module: Whether you plan to purchase a hardcopy or soft copy book, you should well plan this. Make sure you have the book ready with you before the module’s starting time so that you can refer to the books. This will facilitate your learning.
Prepare your finances to pay for school fees on time and to purchase online books (if required).
Time dedicated to the study is significant. You should plan it in advance and follow it strictly. With a scheduled study plan, you will know what to expect.
All of your classmate’s comments and discussions in each module forum will add value to your learnings.
Please do not hesitate to ask or comment or share. The more you ask, comment, and share, the more you are valued by the professor and your classmates.
Read more: including recommended books, papers, and discussions. These are valuable sources for your study.
Thank you, and enjoy your learning!
I hope this blog has answered some of your questions, and please watch this place for similar blogs. So, if you have been thinking about doing a master’s degree and now understand how to study better for an online programme, look at our programmes and see if anything interests you.
You can also chat LIVE on WhatsApp with one of our Education Advisors for more information on the programme that is right for you, the application process, and details on discounts we might be offering at this time.
