Should I do a Masters degree?

[MarkE70]

Okay, I hope someone can give me some advice that may help to end my dilemma. I have been accepted on a masters degree, for this coming september, in Wildlife conservation and management. I have for several weeks had doubts to the actual value of the course, in terms of the benefits it holds over my BSc degree. I want to get into the ecology/ environmental/ conservation sector and on one hand I think the masters will give me a little bit extra when it comes to getting a job. Yet on the other hand I think is it worth the cost (£3500, and lost potential earnings). Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers, Mark.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by MarkE70

Okay, I hope someone can give me some advice that may help to end my dilemma. I have been accepted on a masters degree, for this coming september, in Wildlife conservation and management. I have for several weeks had doubts to the actual value of the course, in terms of the benefits it holds over my BSc degree. I want to get into the ecology/ environmental/ conservation sector and on one hand I think the masters will give me a little bit extra when it comes to getting a job. Yet on the other hand I think is it worth the cost (£3500, and lost potential earnings). Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers, Mark.

Hi, I am an ecological consultant and I have no masters and it hasn't held me back, but I think that's partially because I met the right people early on and they were aware of my abilities. I am very aware that everyone else I work with seems to have an MSC, I don't think you'd be excluded for not having an MSc provided that you have lots of experiance on your cv otherwise you probably would be filtered out for those with the extra letters. I personally do regret not taking on the behavioural ecology msc when I had the chance as now I'm just too busy and my love for ecology and wildlife and desire to learn more is more than catered for in my job so the drive to do so on an academic level in addition just isn't strong enough at the moment

I think my advice would be do the Msc, and join the bat conservation trust, hawk and owl trust, butterfly conservation etc...- almost as many groups as you can afford and volunteer with their survey work, meet people and learn things and apply for jobs all at the same time..... You can always drop out of the MSC if you get a job offer that's not compatible or the new company may even pay for you to finish it

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by MarkE70

Okay, I hope someone can give me some advice that may help to end my dilemma. I have been accepted on a masters degree, for this coming september, in Wildlife conservation and management. I have for several weeks had doubts to the actual value of the course, in terms of the benefits it holds over my BSc degree. I want to get into the ecology/ environmental/ conservation sector and on one hand I think the masters will give me a little bit extra when it comes to getting a job. Yet on the other hand I think is it worth the cost (£3500, and lost potential earnings). Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers, Mark.

No academic qualification is a guaratee of employment, but lack of qualification certainly serves to lessen the range of opportunity. In this case I think that without the MSc you will be significantly less competitive in Public Sector and Instutional positions, especially so if you are looking at possible employment outside of the UK, which in itself is an important aspect of broadening your career options. If you've got the option and no immediate better alternative it would seem wise to do the MSc. And if you choose to do so my advice (and if the course allows for it) select a reseach project you are passionate about and get yourself published while you have the resources of the University available to you.

CM

[Paul mabbott]

I agree with the other points, but do choose something that appeals to you.
The main consideration is that nowadays more and more people are doing Masters degrees (from extended BScs, for instance) so whereas twenty years ago it was icing, now it's approaching the norm and a plus for your competitors if you don't have one .... Good luck.

[MarkE70]

Thanks Gill, CM and Paul for the advice. I am going to think long and hard about the MSc course and look at other options. You seem to mention about gaining experience, to which I totally agree. At the moment this is something my cv is lacking and is yet another dilemma down to my circumstances. I'm a 37 year old single dad of 2 girls (one of which is disabled) and I can't afford to pay for childcare while I do voluntary work, so this is a bit of a problem and something I am worried about, in terms of having a disadvantage againgst my competetitors. I will endevour to do a few hours a week volunteering, but I'm not sure if this will be enough. I would hope other experience I have will count for something aswell.

Another question. I also have doubts to whether I should do the MSc in environmental consultancy course instead of the MSc wildlife conservation and management. I reckon there may be better prospects doing this and there may be more jobs in this area. Do you agree? or are both equally relevant to employment in the field of ecology? Sorry for going on, but any advice would be welcomed, Cheers, Mark.

[Adam Cheeseman]

I was discussing this very topic today with my line manager (I'm an Ecology Officer with no MSc) and he was saying that so many people gain an MSc and yet have virtuaslly no practical field experience and very poor identification skills. His opinion was that a degree or BSc was usfficient to be a field ecologist, but if you wanted to really specialise in an area then a PhD would be preferential. Trouble today is that there are too many watered down courses available. Choose a course that suits your needs and aims, preferably one with a decent taxanomic content - there's not much point knowing how things work if you don't know what those things are in the first place, or how to identify them.

Cheers,

Adam

[GME]

Hi Mark,

I have been accepted on a Masters course in September and can't wait to get started.

I think it will definitely help you in the long term - it certainly shouldn't do any harm! As to the effort and expense, well that's the dilemma.

If you are lucky enough to get a supportive job they may pay for your Masters for you if they feel it will benefit their company and profile. They may even free up time for you to do it and still pay you full wage. Like I said, if you're lucky. I teach at a college and they are putting me through mine. If you get a Masters it could also open up Higher Education teaching as another option for you in the future.

Something to think about perhaps.

Good luck whatever

Gareth

[eeyore]

its also possible to do masters course by distance learning so that you can work at the same time - I supported myself through my masters in countryside mangament by working on golf courses in the summer and contracting in the winter. - its alright so long as you dont need a social life as well

[hlperry]

Im in totally the same position (I have just posted my own dilemma asking for advice!!) and think from reading the comments that people have given you, I am definately going to go for it and do the masters (im doing conservation biology) but also fit in as much volunteering work as I possibly can.

Good luck

Helena

[wellies101]

Mark, I'm about a year further down the line than you and was asking the same question around 12 months ago. For my response look at the thread "MSc or not???", hope it helps. Any questions drop me a message.

James