The Pros and Cons of Taking Night Courses & Studying Part-time

The number of part-time students in higher education in the United Kingdom has decreased by 53% in recent years. Where there was once a robust culture of colleges, courses, and evening classes, the number of adults who study later in life is now far lower than in other countries, including Germany. Since leaving school, 49% of those in the lowest socioeconomic classes have had no training.

Those with qualifications up to level 3 receive 93% of the £20 billion spent on post-19 education by the government each year (A-levels). This has improved marginally during the pandemic, but what are the benefits and drawbacks of part-time study?

Thousands of high school graduates pursue a full-time education each year, but the reality is that this is not feasible for everyone. There are times when full-time study isn’t possible due to finances, working or caring for a new baby, so we’ve produced a breakdown of the pro’s and cons of studying part-time…

Pro’s

• Finances

The ability to work more regularly and earn more money is without a doubt one of the most important factors in selecting part-time study versus full-time study. To fit in with their busy schedules, full-time students frequently work night and weekend shifts, but part-timers have more freedom.

• Lifestyle

Combining part-time study and work with leisure time can be a winning combination. There will be less coursework to deal with, and your routine will be less intensive than that of a full-time university student, allowing more time to do what you enjoy and have a bit of a social life.

• Support

Tutors and lecturers will be familiar with part-time students and should be able to offer guidance on how to approach the course efficiently. Completing a smaller portion of the workload will also give you more time to seek out the help of the teaching team if you have any questions.

• Variety

There is great variation in the people that choose to study part-time. They could be in their forties with a successful career, a young professional starting a family, or a young student anxious to start their careers while studying.

Con’s

• Duration

When you are studying part-time, it takes longer to obtain a degree or diploma. This might be frustrating, especially if other students in your course are graduating while you are still in university.

• Balance

Trying to balance job, school, family life, and other duties can be exhausting. Poor time management may be disastrous, especially if you neglect your study and fall behind on your course requirements.

• Stress

Just because you aren’t a full-time student doesn’t mean you won’t have to deal with the usual stresses of university life. Regardless of your circumstances outside of education, you will be required to fulfill deadlines, finish assignments, and pass exams.

• Availability

Part-time study is not available at all institutions. This can be true of individual faculties or courses, therefore it’s worth looking into before deciding on a university.