Part-time study is becoming increasingly common as people seek to combine learning with earnings. Most of the students prefer part-time education because they can focus on their job and experience as well. So, if you are having doubts about whether to study part-time, here are the pros and cons of part-time education.

Pros

  1. Finances

This is a common reason why students prefer to choose a part-time mode of study. Full-time students often do evening and weekend shift work to fit their packed schedule, whereas part-time students have more flexibility to choose when to work. Besides, if your qualification is taken for career development reasons, then your employer might agree to pay your tuition fees.

  1. Social life

Combining part-time study and job along with leisure time, social life can be a good mix. There’s less classwork to do, so it’s doubtful that your schedule would be as intense as somebody who’s full-time at university, leaving more flexibility to do what you’re loving and meet with friends.

  1. More time for studying and preparation

Another advantage of part-time study is that you will have fewer modules per semester. Therefore, you will have more time to focus on the subject. In contrast, when doing a full-time course you have to be versatile and get used to being under pressure. Besides, the completion of a smaller proportion of the material would also allow more time to obtain assistance from teaching staff to explain any issues.

  1. Practical experience

During a part-time study, the students are likely to find an internship in order to gain experience in the field that they study. Hence, students would be able to apply the theoretical knowledge to the practice, and there will be more job opportunities for them after completion of the course. It is common that employers require experience in the field, so those who have relevant experience are one step further of those who don’t have.

Cons

  1. Duration

Part-time courses take more time to achieve a degree or certificate. It can be stressful, particularly when other students graduate while you’re still at university.  Sometimes, it can feel that it would be better if you decide to study in a full-time mode.

  1. Balance

Studying part-time might feel stressful for someone because of poor management of time. This can add extra pressure when juggling with career, education, social life, and home. On the other hand, it all depends on your attitude and able to prioritize.

  1. Different experience

One of the biggest drawbacks of part-time study is that it’s harder to integrate yourself in the studies. You’re not going to get the same experience as full-time students, so you certainly won’t get to know your fellow students in the same way. Besides, the students need to handle more of the studies on their own, so it is hard to obtain in-depth knowledge when studying part-time.

  1. Unavailability

Some universities do not offer a part-time mode of study. There are specialties, which training is only available for full-time education, for example in medical schools.